Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Javesh Persaud, 33, of Shirley, accused of Sex Trafficking for luring a young woman who was experiencing homelessness to Suffolk County with promises of a place to stay only to then force her to engage in sexual acts with others for money in order to repay him.
“This defendant allegedly took advantage of this victim’s vulnerability in order to inflict unspeakable and repeated traumas upon her for his own profit,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Human Trafficking is a scourge on our community that is often hiding in plain sight. My office will do everything in its power to combat this kind of atrocity.”
Persaud is charged with:
- Sex Trafficking, a Class B violent felony;
- Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Three counts of Sex Trafficking, a Class B felony;
- Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
- Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
- Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony.
According to the investigation, Persaud met the 18-year-old victim on “Omegle” at the end of July 2023. “Omegle” is a website that randomly pairs strangers online for virtual chats and video conferencing. When she met Persaud, the victim was undomiciled and sleeping in New York City subways in Manhattan. She had been kicked out of her father’s house when she turned 18 and graduated from high school. Persaud allegedly claimed that he helped people who were without homes and offered the victim clean clothes, a shower, food, and a place to sleep. He picked the victim up in Manhattan the same day and drove her to a parking lot in Shirley, where he parked next to a broken-down car. Persaud told the victim to put her things in the car and informed her that she would be sleeping there with him. The victim, who had no friends, family or contacts in Suffolk County, complied.
The next day, Persaud allegedly began to force the victim to engage in sexual acts with strangers in exchange for money which he kept for himself. He promised to permit her to sleep in the car and provide her with food. At one point, the victim refused to engage in the sexual acts and attempted to argue with Persaud. He allegedly slapped her in the face and threatened to stab her with a knife that he always carried with him. Terrified, the victim continued to engage in sex acts for Persaud’s profit. In addition to forcing the victim to engage in sex with strangers, Persaud also forced the victim to engage in sex acts with him by strangling her until she complied.
On September 1, 2023, while Persaud was not in her presence, the victim contacted Polaris, the National Human Trafficking hotline, to ask for help. Polaris immediately reached out to the Suffolk County Police Department, and officers were dispatched to recover the victim. The Human Trafficking Investigations Unit of the SCPD began an investigation and arrested Persaud shortly thereafter.
On September 15, 2023, at his arraignment on the indictment, County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis ordered Persaud to be held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $1 million partially secured bond. Persaud is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq. His next court date is October, 16, 2023.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Anne Oh of the H.E.A.T. Unit (Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias/Immigrant Affairs, Human Trafficking) with investigative assistance from Detective Joseph Collins and John Paul O’Connor of the Human Trafficking Investigations Unit of the Suffolk County Police Department.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.