Nov. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin
The operators of an underground swingers club in Astoria were busted over the weekend for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Cops shut down the swingers meet-up at 40-19 20th Ave. where more than 80 people were found partying at the location in a COVID-19 yellow zone. Officers from the NYC Sheriff’s Office broke up the event at around 5 a.m. Sunday.
The deputy sheriffs turned up at the underground joint in response to a 311 noise complaint, according to several news reports. Authorities also found three people having sex in a small room.
Other patrons of the swingers club were unlawfully socializing and drinking alcohol.
The organizers violated the 25 people max limit on gatherings in state-mandated yellow zones and served alcohol without a liquor license. Sheriffs charged the two main organizers for violating emergency orders and on several alcohol-related offenses.
The swingers rendezvous was thrown by Caligula New York, which bills itself as a “private, upscale, on-premise swinger social club for couples, single ladies and select single gentlemen” on its Facebook page.
Photos released by the Sheriff’s Office show a dj booth and bar, a room set up with multiple beds pushed together, a box of condoms and a sign with prices for the VIP room on display.
11/22/20 @ 0005 HRS: Deputy Sheriffs shut down illegal bottle/swingers club @ 40-19 20th Avenue, Queens (Yellow Zone): 80+ people, violation of emergency orders, no liquor license, warehousing liquor, 2 organizers, 1 patron charged with multiple misdemeanors. pic.twitter.com/2eTp9oM6V1
— NYC SHERIFF (@NYCSHERIFF) November 22, 2020