Alison A. Carey, the 55-year-old sister of Mariah Carey, has been arrested in Saugerties on a prostitution charge.

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The Daily Freeman newspaper was the first to report the story.

Police described Alison as transient and said she is accused of soliciting money in exchange for sexual favors at an unidentified, upstate New York hotel.

She was arraigned in Saugerties Town Court, sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail, and is due back in court Tuesday.

People magazine quoted a source as saying the Carey siblings have been estranged for years.

"Mariah takes care of her entire family and I'm sure this is very painful for her," the insider said of the 46-year-old singer and upcoming "Mariah's World" star.