New York, NY – A Texas man has been indicted after taking two teens from Texas and transporting them to New York City to force them into prostitution.
According to a statement by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office:
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Texas man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking of a trafficking, assault, promoting prostitution and related charges for allegedly forcing a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old girl to engage in prostitution and giving him the proceeds.
District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly subjected two young women to horrific abuse, treating them as his personal property by branding them with his nickname and forcing them into a life of exploitation and violence. The brutality these victims endured is appalling, and we will work diligently to ensure that he is held accountable for the inhumanity he inflicted.”
The District Attorney identified the defendant as Donald Roberson, 29, of Dallas, Texas. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 17-count indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking, second-, third-and fourth-degree promoting prostitution, second- and third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal sexual act, sexual misconduct, and third-degree sexual abuse. He was ordered held without bail and to return to court on October 23, 2024.
The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the 17-year-old victim met the defendant, who she knew from Instagram, in Dallas, Texas on August 10, 2024. She and the 18-year-old victim agreed to leave with the defendant, who then drove to New York, stopping several times a long the way. On August 16, 2024, they arrived in New York and went to the Hotel Sunborn in East New York where the defendant rented a room. The two victims were then allegedly forced to walk the track in East New York and engage in prostitution, with all of the proceeds going to the defendant.
On August 20, 2024, the defendant allegedly took the 17-year-old victim to a tattoo parlor in East New York and had his nickname, “Blue Cheese,” tattooed on her face. The 18-year-old also had “Blue Cheese” tattooed on her face. It is alleged that later that day, in McCarren Park, the defendant argued with the 17-year-old victim, punched her in the face, pulled her hair, and kicked her in the face, causing her to suffer a seizure. He also allegedly stabbed her on the side of her body with a pair of scissors.
It is alleged that on August 22, 2024, the victim was treated for a viral throat infection at Kings County Hospital. This infection was allegedly caused by being forced to perform sex acts. After leaving the hospital, the defendant allegedly looked for the 18-year-old in East New York. When he found her, he allegedly choked her and punched her in the face until she was crying and unable to breathe.
On August 23, it is alleged that a 17-year-old had an argument with the defendant at a hotel. She then went to his vehicle and locked herself inside. The defendant allegedly shattered a car window, causing glass to rain down on the victim and leaving her with cuts. He then allegedly used a torch lighter to burn her leg.
The victim then managed to text someone back in Texas for help, giving him the name and address of the hotel and the room number. Officers from the 75th Precinct responded, found her in the parking lot and arrested the defendant.