LIC Man Indicted On Sex Trafficking, Assault Charges

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — A man from Long Island City was indicted on sex trafficking and assault charges after being accused of forcing a 24-year-old woman to work as a prostitute against her will, the Brooklyn District Attorney announced on Tuesday.

From May 11 to June 6 of this year, Walter Pinckney, 25, reportedly forced a young woman to work as a prostitute, abusing her when she said she didn't want to have sex for money, the DA said.

The abuse began in May, when Pinckney met the woman through mutual friends. He took sexually suggestive photos of her and posted them on online prostitution forums, records show.

When the victim told him that she didn't want to work in prostitution Pinckney reportedly retaliated with abuse: giving her drugs to keep her awake and working for up to three days, attempting to strangle her, punching her in the face and body to the point where her ribs broke, the DA said.

In one instance the victim was tasered by an unknown woman and beaten by Pinckney when she left a date and headed to Pinckney's house by herself, instead of waiting to be picked up.

The abuse came to a head in early June, when the victim was taken to a house in East Flatbush where she was held in a single room without enough food or water with her wrists and ankles tied with electrical cord, according to the DA.

On June 6 she was able to loosen the cords enough to escape the house. She ran to a corner store and called 911, records show.

“This young woman allegedly suffered horrific abuse at the hands of [Pinckney]. Thankfully, she was able to escape and get help," said Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez. "We must continue to do all we can to raise awareness of human trafficking and to prosecute those who engage in this appalling crime," he said.

In addition to two assault charges and a sex trafficking charge, Pinckney was indicted on promoting prostitution, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and unlawful imprisonment charges.

Pinckney, who is expected to return to court on Nov. 16, faces up to 25 years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender if convicted.