SHIRLEY MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEX TRAFFICKING

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Javesh Persaud, 34, of Shirley, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to Sex Trafficking, and other related charges, for luring a woman experiencing homelessness to Suffolk County by promising her shelter and then forcing her to engage in sexual acts with others in exchange for money to “repay” him. 

“This defendant took advantage of the victim who was in a vulnerable situation and subjected her to cruel and inhumane acts for his own personal gain,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This sentence not only gives justice to the victim but also sends a message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in Suffolk County.” 

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, in July 2023, Persaud met the 18-year-old victim on Omegle, the now defunct online chat platform that randomly paired strangers online for virtual chats and video conferencing. When the victim met Persaud, she was undomiciled and sleeping in New York City subways in Manhattan. 

Persaud claimed that he helped people who were without homes and offered the victim clean clothes, a shower, food, and a place to sleep.  He picked the victim up in Manhattan the same day and drove her to a parking lot in Shirley, where he parked next to a broken-down car. Persaud told the victim to put her things in the car and informed her that she would be sleeping there with him. The victim, who had no friends, family or contacts in Suffolk County, complied. The next day, Persaud began to force the victim to engage in sexual acts with strangers in exchange for money which he kept for himself.  

On September 1, 2023, while Persaud was not in her presence, the victim contacted Polaris, the National Human Trafficking hotline, to ask for help. Polaris immediately reached out to the Suffolk County Police Department, and officers were dispatched to recover the victim. The Human Trafficking Investigations Unit of the SCPD began an investigation with the DA’s Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias, Human Trafficking unit (H.E.A.T.) and arrested Persaud shortly thereafter.  

On October 25, 2024, Persaud pleaded guilty to the following charges before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis: 

•    One count of Sex Trafficking (by force), a Class B violent felony;
•    One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
•    Three counts of Sex Trafficking, a Class B felony;
•    One count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
•    One count of Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
•    One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony. 

On December 11, 2024, Persaud was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Jason Bassett, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Veronica McMahon of the of the Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias, and Human Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Unit, and the investigation conducted by Detectives John Paul O’Connor and Joseph Collins of the Human Trafficking Investigations Unit of the Suffolk County Police Department. 

To report suspicious activity or get help, contact:
•    911 
•    The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office H.E.A.T. Tipline at 631-852-2950.
•     The National Human Trafficking Hotline, operated by the Polaris Project at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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