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Prostitution Sting Leads To Arrest Of Rikers Island Imam

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An imam who works as a chaplain at a New York City jail has been arrested for allegedly propositioning an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute.

The Wall Street Journal says Aziz-Ud Bin Bilal was arrested Tuesday for allegedly offering $25 for sex to the officer who was part of a sting operation called "Losing Proposition."

He's worked at Rikers Island since 1990.

It hasn't been determined if Bilal, also known as Charles Bilal, has a lawyer. He couldn't be reached for comment.

The Department of Correction said Bilal was suspended without pay. The agency also is investigating imam in a separate incident involving a handgun that allegedly was found inside his car last year.

No criminal charges have been filed.

Should Bilal have been suspended without pay? Sound off in our comments section below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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