Arnold woman heads to trial in prostitution case
An Arnold woman is accused of promoting prostitution and providing heroin to at least one adult “escort” working in a house along Camp Avenue in New Kensington.
Athena Maria Villella, 30, of 1736 Horne Blvd. was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday but instead decided to waive charges to Westmoreland County court.
Police said the investigation unfolded over several months starting in January and involved the state Attorney General's drug task force as well as New Kensington detectives.
A detective alleges that another woman, who isn't charged in the case, was telephoned by an undercover officer who got her number from the Internet site “Backpage.”
According to court papers, the escort told the officer that he could have sex with her for $200 a hour.
The officer said he handed her $200 in marked money and the escort called Villella and then went outside the Camp Avenue house to give Villella $100 of the money.
Police arrested the escort on warrants from Armstrong and Allegheny counties.
Villella was pulled over elsewhere in New Kensington and allegedly had the $100 in marked money.
The escort claimed that Villella was her “madam,” that Villella sold her heroin and that Villella threatened to have her beaten up if she quit prostitution.
Police said they found dozens of used individual heroin packets and syringes in a dresser drawer in a room where the escort was staying.
At the time of her arrest in New Kensington, records show Villella had completed probation for prostitution in Allegheny County.
In 2014, Villella pleaded guilty to two of four charges and was sentenced to six months of probation for being an inmate in a house of prostitution and prostitution conspiracy in Monroeville.
On Thursday, Villella waived to court charges of drug delivery, conspiracy to promote prostitution in the Camp Avenue house, promoting prostitution and criminal use of a communications devise — all felonies — and a summary charge of driving while her license is suspended.
Villella was released on bond and is awaiting trial.
Chuck Biedka is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4711 or cbiedka@tribweb.com.
