NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 34-year-old Long Island man allegedly forced two women to get tattoos of his name and used violence to force them into prostitution in Queens.
Cleveland Sterling from Uniondale was arraigned on a 21-count indictment Wednesday for the sex trafficking ring, Queens District Attorney Melinda announced Wednesday.
Both alleged victims were 19-year-old women. The first he met in 2016, forcing her into prostitution up through 2022, according to officials.
He took pictures of her to use in online sex ads, arranged prostitution dates and forced her to turn over any money she made from the encounters.
He regularly used violence to force her to carry on selling sex. In one instance he allegedly pushed her down the stairs. In another, prosecutors said he punched her in the face so forcefully he broke some teeth.
He met the second woman in August 2021 and used the same tactics to force her to engage in prostitution, authorities said.
He would sometimes show the second victim images and videos of the physical abuse he subjected the first victim to in order to intimidate her, according to prosecutors.
He allegedly forced both victims to get tattoos of his name. The second victim said she thought she was receiving a different tattoo and only realized what he had done after it was finished.
“Traffickers use violence, intimidation and claims of financial debt to force victims into sex work,” said Katz. “We are determined to prosecute these predators and get victims the resources they need to get their lives back.”
The indictment charged Sterling with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, robbery, assault and other related charges. He faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
A Queens judge ordered he return to court March 31.
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