Brooklyn Couple Forced Child Into Prostitution: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn husband and wife are accused of running a sex trafficking scheme that forced a 15-year-old into prostitution, prosecutors said.

Daryl Hicks, 38, and Michelle Wicks, 31, of East New York, walked into a Brooklyn courtroom Wednesday, facing a slew of criminal charges.

The couple targeted a 15-year-old girl, coercing her to engage in acts of prostitution in 2022, prosecutors said.

“I am committed to rescuing and protecting our at-risk teens from those who seek to harm and exploit them, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "Luckily, this victim was located by police after reaching out to her foster mother. We will now seek to bring these defendants to justice."

Hicks allegedly met the 15-year-old girl in Harlem between Nov. 20, 2022, and Dec. 30, 2022, seeking to engage her in a prostitution scheme by saying "You could be working for me" and "I could put money in your pocket," according to officials.

Prosecutors alleged that Hicks and Wicks actively posted the victim's photo on escort websites and organized appointments for her at multiple Brooklyn locations. They purportedly provided instructions regarding which sexual services to provide, pricing and customer communication.

Hicks reportedly sexually abused the victim on Christmas Day 2022, according to the investigation. Photos and videos of the victim, including those of sexual encounters with Hicks, were allegedly found on his cell phone, authorities said.

On Dec. 30, 2022, detectives from the Human Trafficking Squad went to the Imperial Hotel in East New York, where they found the victim inside a room registered to Hicks, authorities said.

She had been reported missing days earlier after reaching out to her foster mother and sending her photos, prosecutors said.

Hicks and Wicks both face sex trafficking of a child charges. Hicks faces additional charges of promoting prostitution, rape, endangering the welfare of a child and other related charges.