LI Man Preyed On Women's Addictions To Coerce Them Into Sex Work: DA

BAY SHORE, NY — A Bay Shore man was indicted Thursday after reportedly using physical force, narcotics and other means to force three victims to engage in sexual acts with others for money, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to the investigation, between August 2019 and December 2023, Freddie Rice, 34, was accused of preying upon the drug addictions of at least three women to control and coerce them to engage in sexual acts with various men for his own profit, Tierney said.

Each of the victims was addicted to heroin and/or crack cocaine, which he reportedly provided to them to ensure that they complied with his directives; namely, by responding to buyers of sex and charging specific fees for specific sexual acts, the DA said.

The victims were required to hand over all the money that they earned to Rice, Tierney said. If they were caught keeping any of the money for themselves, Rice either used physical force against them or "punished" them by withholding the drugs that they were addicted to, causing the victims to experience intense and dangerous physical withdrawal symptoms, the DA said.

Rice reportedly also told the victims that they must engage in the sex acts with buyers to earn money to work off their "debt" to him, despite the fact that he only provided them with enough drugs to keep them from getting sick, Tierney said. They were never able to pay off any of the supposed debt, no matter how much money they brought in for him, the DA said.

On Thursday, Rice was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John Collins for charges including, the DA said, one count of sex trafficking (force), a Class B violent felony; eight counts of sex trafficking, Class B felonies; and one count of third-degree promoting prostitution, a Class D felony, Tierney said.

Justice Collins ordered Rice remanded during the pendency of the case.

Rice is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. His next court date is January 27, 2025.

"Today’s indictment sends a clear message to those who would exploit and manipulate vulnerable individuals," said Tierney. "Sex trafficking is a grave violation of human dignity, and I am committed to its elimination."