Eight charged in sting for prostitution and drug crimes

GUILDERLAND — Women who had advertised on Craigslist traveled to hotels in Guilderland and Colonie to meet with investigators who had posed as “Johns,” according to the Albany County Sheriff’s Department, which arrested seven women and one man on charges related to prostitution and drugs.

The women agreed to perform sexual acts with the investigators, for fees ranging from $100 to $350, said a release from the sheriff’s department.

In one case, Donald Mureness was arrested for prostituting his wife, Stacia Mureness; he wanted to be present in the room, and take photographs, while his wife engaged in sexual acts with an undercover investigator, according to the release.

During the Aug. 26 arrests, investigators discovered some of the women had cocaine and marijuana, the release said.

Craigslist had “supposedly implemented a stricter screening process” to detect and remove illegal prostitution from its website, the release said, after a call girl in Massachusetts, who had advertised on Craigslist, was murdered. The investigators will continue to search Craigslist for illegal services, said the release.

These individuals arrested on Aug. 26 were issued appearance tickets, and will appear in Guilderland and Colonie town courts on a later date:

— Tykesha Draughn, 28, of 105 Davis St., New Haven, Conn., for prostitution and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation;

— Kara J. Schissler, 23, of 32 Steers Ave., Schenectady, for prostitution, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor;

— Cassandra Keating, 21, of 24 Limerick Drive, Albany, for prostitution, a misdemeanor;

— Shylissia A. Byaum, 18, of 411 Victory Ave., Schenectady, for prostitution, a misdemeanor;

— Stephanie D. Jones, 23, of 332 1^st Ave., Watervliet, for prostitution, a misdemeanor;

— Ebonie M. Buckles, 21, of 26 Washington Ave., Cohoes, for prostitution, a misdemeanor;

— Donald R. Mureness, 45, of 55 4^th Ave., Gloversville, for fourth-degree promoting prostitution, a misdemeanor; and,

— Stacia L. Mureness, 30, of 55 4^th Ave., Gloversville, for prostitution, a misdemeanor.

— Anne Hayden