Queens, New York Valezka Echeverrias has been charged with sex trafficking and other offenses after allegedly forcing a transgender woman into prostitution on Roosevelt Avenue and demanding weekly payments, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Echeverrias allegedly threatened to extort money from the woman by brandishing a knife when she wanted to stop these actions.
The indictment also charges Echeverrias with grand larceny, robbery, and extortion involving two victims, during which he allegedly threatened them with a knife and took their phones.
The seriousness of the accusations was underlined by District Attorney Katz, who pointed out that threats were used to frighten one victim and take advantage of another for private benefit. As part of the continuous endeavor to stop these crimes, she emphasized the establishment of the Human Trafficking Bureau.
Coercion, encouraging prostitution, robbery, menacing, criminal mischief, criminal contempt, and four counts of sex trafficking are among the 24 charges against Echeverrias, a 30-year-old Jackson Heights resident.
Justice Peter Vallone of the Supreme Court has remanded Echeverrias and mandated that she appear in court in December.
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