Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 43-year-old Richard S. Swiderski of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, a Class “D” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge.

The defendant admitted that he knowingly advanced or profited from prostitution by managing, supervising, controlling or owning, either alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business or enterprise involving prostitution activity by two or more persons in prostitution.

Between June 21, 2020 to July 27, 2020, the defendant posted advertisements for prostitution online and arranged meetings between men and several women for acts of prostitution, in exchange for a cut of the profits. The defendant committed this crime while on parole for a prior conviction.

Swiderski faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Case on 1/6/21 at 2:00 p.m. He continues to be remanded without bail.

DA Flynn commends the New York State Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Western District of New York Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nathanael C. Kapperman of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.