Long Island Man Forced Women Into Prostitution: Cops

A 27-year-old man who was arrested after a hit-and-run crash in Bellport Saturday night also faces charges for sex trafficking and drug dealing, Suffolk Police said.

Rakeem Holland, of Bellport, had been the target of a five-month investigation by the Narcotics Section and the Human Trafficking Unit, police said.

According to police, Holland was sold drugs and also provided narcotics to women to act as prostitutes and forced women to engage in prostitution to repay debts.

""He was providing them heroin and crack, initially for free, but his motives were much more sinister," Suffolk Police Chief Stuart Cameron said at a press briefing, according to News 12. "He wanted them to get addicted to the drugs and then would ask for payback in that he would prostitute them out."

Holland is charged with two counts of sex trafficking: provide narcotics, two counts of sex trafficking: repay a debt, third degree promoting prostitution, two counts of fourth degree promoting prostitution and four counts of third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

SCPD photo