NEW YORK, NY – A man who thought he was answering a call for an escort service found himself kidnapped, beaten and robbed.
Today, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Destiny Lebron, 19, and Gil Iphael, 22, have been indicted on multiple charges and arraigned in Queens Supreme Court for the August 6th incident where the defendants kidnapped, assaulted, punched, and robbed the victim inside a Queens hotel.
District Attorney Katz said, “As alleged, the defendants pounced on the unsuspecting man, held him against his will and severely beat and terrorized him over several hours. This kind of lawlessness is inexcusable and will not be tolerated. Both defendants are in custody and face very serious charges.”
According to court records, Lebron, of 81 North Portland, Brooklyn, and Iphael, of 116 Copaigue Street, Valley Stream, were arraigned yesterday before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis on a 22-count indictment charging them with kidnapping in the second degree, robbery in the first and second degree, assault in the second and third degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first and second degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree, petit larceny, unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Justice Margulis ordered the defendants to return to court on September 13, 2022.
If convicted, both defendants face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
According to the charges, on August 6, 2022, the victim, a 59-year-old man, answered a prostitution advertisement with a photo of defendant Lebron. The victim was instructed to meet defendant Lebron at