The Ocean Avenue News23 years after the tragic 9/11 attacks, a charitable foundation dedicated to a fallen New York City firefighter makes a difference.
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A Texas man has been charged with sex trafficking and other offenses after allegedly forcing two teenage girls into prostitution in East New York and branding their faces with his nickname, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced Thursday.
Donald Roberson, 29, of Dallas, appeared in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Sept. 11 before Justice Danny Chun, who ordered he be held without bail. Roberson faces a 17-count indictment, including charges of sex trafficking of a child, promoting prostitution, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and sexual abuse. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 23.
Prosecutors allege that Roberson met a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old on Instagram and convinced them to travel to New York. The three arrived in East New York on Aug. 16 and stayed at the Hotel Sunborn, where Roberson had rented a room.
Once there, Roberson allegedly forced the girls to engage in prostitution, taking all the money they earned. He also reportedly took them to a tattoo parlor, where his nickname, “Blue Cheese,” was tattooed on their faces.
According to the DA’s office, Roberson physically assaulted both victims. On Aug. 20, in McCarren Park, he allegedly punched the 17-year-old in the face, pulled her hair, and kicked her, causing her to suffer a seizure. He is also accused of stabbing her with scissors.
The 18-year-old told authorities that two days later, after being discharged from Kings County Hospital for a throat infection, Roberson choked and punched her.
Roberson was arrested on Aug. 23 after the 17-year-old girl managed to text someone in Texas with the hotel’s address and room number. Before sending the message, she had reportedly locked herself in Roberson’s car during an argument. Roberson allegedly broke the car window, cutting her with shards of glass, and used a torch lighter to burn her leg.
“This defendant allegedly subjected two young women to horrific abuse, treating them as his personal property by branding them with his nickname and forcing them into a life of exploitation and violence,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “The brutality these victims endured is appalling, and we will work diligently to ensure that he is held accountable for the inhumanity he inflicted.”
Roberson faces a range of charges, including second-, third-, and fourth-degree promoting prostitution, third-degree criminal sexual act, sexual misconduct and third-degree sexual abuse.
The indictment follows four such cases targeting forced prostitution in East New York over the last two years. In Dec, 2022, a two people were indicted for forcing a 16-year-old into prostitution, while in Feb, 20223, a California man was indicated after allegedly coercing a 16-year-old to travel to New York to engage in forced prostitution in the neighborhood. Then in 2024, a couple were indicted for allegedly sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl over a month-long period in 2022, and another man was charged with the alleged rape and attempted sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl.
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