‘TRANS’ITION TO ‘BROTHEL’ UWS landlord vs. ‘squatter’
A trans woman has allegedly transformed her Upper West Side pad into a seedy brothel with men waiting in the halls, claims the landlord, who accused her of squatting in the apartment for over a year.
Josephine Tell, 37, has been operating an $800-anhour escort business out of 9 W. 73rd St., where she owes $52,150 for 15 months of unpaid rent, according to court documents filed by the building’s management company.
Johns line the hallway outside Tell’s ground-floor home just steps from Central Park, the building’s management company contends, citing complaints from residents.
Neighbors have griped about loud music pumping from the three-bedroom, $3,000-a-month pad at night, along with the sounds of furniture being shuffled around.
“At 2 a.m., I’m usually hearing stomping and the moving of furniture and music,” one resident told The Post. “You see the high traffic, lots of different men.”
The sleazy situation came to light after Tell’s landlord, 9 West 73rd Street LLC, sued her in April 2022 for allegedly failing to pay rent, including the brothel accusations, in their Manhattan Housing Court filing.
The building is a “beautiful, landmarked brownstone off Central Park West, whose character has completely changed because of the brothel,” building manager Rick Elezi wrote in court papers.
Residents have been leaving in droves because of the alleged brothel, Elezi claimed, noting police have been called to remove the johns on numerous occasions.
Tell’s online ads, which were included in court records, offer services out of her “private, upscale apartment.”
“I am truly a rarity here,” the ad begins.
“One of my true passions in life is the art of seduction and I truly love what I do,” she continues in the online ad, promising “customized encounters” for men, women or couples for $800 for one hour, $1,400 for two and $2,000 for three from her place.
Tell describes herself as a “transsexual” and says she is “avail 4 Incall/Outcall, Modeling, Roleplay, Dates Out, Events, Light Fetish/BDSM, Extended Visit and LT Arrangements,” according to the ad on the Models World website.
An NYPD investigation into the brothel allegations was allegedly dropped, Elezi wrote in court papers, which included screenshots of a resident’s texts with a detective who claimed sending an undercover officer to make an arrest would “do no good as the Manhattan District Attorney does not prosecute for the crime of prostitution.”
DA Alvin Bragg’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Tell, who has denied the allegations, said she’s always paid her rent during the three years she’s lived in the building.