Queens Couple Accused Of Sex Trafficking, 'Slavery,' Forcing Girls Into Prostitution
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Queens couple accused of brutalizing two runaways have been charged with sex trafficking, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced Friday.
Hikeem Green, 38, and his girlfriend Darcell Marshall, 22, allegedly held a 19-year-old from Rockland County and a 20-year-old from New York City in a foreclosed home they illegally occupied.
Green is accused of a raft of crimes in the case: kidnapping, rape, criminal sexual act, sex trafficking, promoting prostitution and more. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He's being held on $800,000 bail.
According to prosecutors, Green picked up the runaways by pretending to be a "John," or prostitution customer, at spots ("tracks") known for prostitutes in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Once he picked them up, he told them he was a pimp, and they now had to work for him, Brown's office said.
Green then allegedly took the women back to the house on Springfield Boulevard in St. Albans and snapped shots of them, posting them online and advertising their services as prostitutes. Green and Marshall are accused of forcing the two to take drugs.
On Nov. 30, Green allegedly punched the 20-year-old more than 20 times in the face, breaking her tooth, before forcing her to perform oral sex on him. After the attack, she managed to call 911. Responding police found a stun gun, loaded pistol, and bags of marijuana, Brown's office said.
"The defendant Green is accused of being a sexual predator and a poacher, who took custody of his two victims by pretending to be a prostitution customer and then forcing them to work for him," Brown said. "Together, he and his co-defendant are alleged to have participated in a modern-day version of slavery by holding the two young women captive and coercing them through threats of physical harm to prostitute themselves for the defendants' financial gain."
Marshall is being held on $150,000 bail. She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
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