Police: 6 would-be ‘Johns’ busted in Kensington prostitution sting

Philadelphia police arrested the men pictured above in a prostitution sting in Kensington Thursday: top, left to right, John Francis, Stevenson Alcis and Robert Santiago; bottom, Benjamin Vonyan Allen, left, and Charles Elgart.
Credit: Philadelphia Police Dept.

Police arrested six men in an undercover prostitution sting in Kensington on Thursday.

A Philadelphia Police Department vice unit set up its web at Kensington Avenue and East Venango Street. The arrests were made between roughly 10 a.m. and 12:20 p.m., police said.

Six men were charged with soliciting prostitution or patronizing a prostitute. One man was also charged with illegally possessing three Viagra pills.

Police seized six vehicles, including a taxi cab, and $2,064.

Police released the following information about the sting, as well as mugshots of five of the six men who were arrested in the operation, on Friday:

* Benjamin Vonyan Allen, 54, of Levittown, charged with patronizing a prostitute and solicitation;

* Desmond Cunningham, 47, of West Nedro Avenue, patronizing a prostitute and solicitation;

* John Francis, 49, of Gilham Street, solicitation;

* Robert Santiago, 36, of East Stella Street, patronizing a prostitute and solicitation;

* Charles Elgart, 69, of Blue Bell,patronizing a prostitute, solicitation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance;

* Stevenson Alcis, 35, of Hellerman Street,patronizing a prostitute and solicitation.