NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A man and a woman were arrested for forcing a woman into prostitution, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Wednesday.
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A Queens grand jury indicted Destiny Lebron, 19, and Gil Iphael, 22, for sex trafficking and other charges for blackmailing, beating and imprisoning a woman in a room at the Quality Inn hotel in Jamaica in July.
Lebron befriended the victim on Instagram in February where the two reportedly exchanged sexual pictures.
She asked the victim to engage in prostitution, but she declined. The victim later agreed to meet with Lebron in person though at the Quality Inn hotel at 153-95 Rockaway Boulevard, according to prosecutors.
When the victim arrived, Lebron and Iphael allegedly demanded she either prostitute for them or rob people under the guise of prostitution.
When she again refused, they started beating and threatening her, according to prosecutors.
She agreed to engage in prostitution for them, and the duo reportedly kept all the profits from the johns.
She finally managed to escape on July 31, 2022 when she was left unattended in the hotel room, according to officials.
The two defendants were arrested almost a month later for torturing and robbing a man who intended to buy sex at the hotel.
“This is a second indictment for the two defendants, who were previously accused of viciously assaulting, torturing, and robbing an unsuspecting victim in August,” said Katz. “A mere week prior to this incident, the defendants forced a young woman into prostitution through threats and physical force for their own financial benefit. Both defendants are in custody and will be held accountable.”
Lebron and Iphael now face new charges for sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, unlawful imprisonment and assault.
If convicted, they could face up to 25 years in prison in addition to the other charges filed for the robbery incident in August.
Their next court date is scheduled for Oct. 25.
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