Sex Trafficking Conviction Could Bring 50-Year Sentence For Bay Shore Man: DA

BAY SHORE — A Bay Shore man was found guilty at trial of sex trafficking and promoting prostitution after using narcotics and financial coercion to control women and force them into performing sex acts for money, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

He faces up to 50 years to life in prison, the DA said.

Freddie Rice, 34, preyed on the addictions of multiple women between August 2019 and December 2023, withholding heroin and crack cocaine to ensure they complied with his demands, according to Tierney.

The women reportedly were ordered to hand over all earnings and were punished by drug withdrawal if they kept any of the money, the DA said.

Prosecutors said Rice also manipulated victims by claiming they owed him a "debt," that could only be repaid through sex work — a debt they could never clear.

After a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice John Collins, Rice was convicted on Oct. 24 of two counts of sex trafficking, Class B felonies, and one count of promoting prostitution, a Class D felony, Tierney said.

Rice is also awaiting sentencing in a separate case for criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and criminal possession of a narcotic drug, both Class B felonies, the DA said.

He has four prior felony convictions dating back to 2009, including drug and burglary offenses, the DA said.

He is represented by Anthony Rutkowski, who said Rice does plan to appeal.

"We do respect the jury's verdict, although we don't agree with it," Rutkowski said. "Mr. Rice was acquitted of six counts of sex trafficking and convicted of just two. I do believe he does intend to appeal."

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 25. Rice will also be certified as a sex offender, Tierney said.

"Today, justice was served," Tierney said in a statement. "Freddie Rice's crimes were calculated, predatory, and devastating to his victims. My office encourages anyone who is a victim of sex trafficking to call 911 or the DA's Human Trafficking Tipline at 631-852-2950."