A Long Island man has admitted to forcing a teen into prostitution so she could “repay” him for food, shelter and clean clothes, prosecutors said Monday.
Javesh Persaud, 34, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking and related charges for luring an 18-year-old woman to Long Island and forcing her to engage in sexual acts, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a news release.
Persaud met the teenager on Omegle — a now-defunct online platform that paired users in random one-on-one chat sessions — in July 2023.
When they began chatting, the teen was “undomiciled and sleeping in New York City subways in Manhattan,” prosecutors said.
After allegedly telling the victim he helped people experiencing homelessness, Persaud offered her food and clean clothes, as well as a place to shower and sleep.
He then picked her up in New York City and drove her to a parking lot in Shirley, some 65 miles west of Midtown Manhattan. He also told her she would be sleeping in the car with him, according to prosecutors.
The following day, he began to force the teen to have sex with strangers as payment for the “shelter” and food he was providing for her.
When she refused to comply, Persaud allegedly slapped her in the face and used a knife to threaten her.
“Terrified, the victim continued to engage in sex acts for Persaud’s profit,” prosecutors said, adding he also became physically violent with the victim when forcing her to have sex with him.
The teen’s nightmare lasted for over two months, according to prosecutors.
On Sept. 1, 2023, the victim was able to contact Polaris, the nonprofit that runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to ask for help. Suffolk County police were notified and Persaud was arrested shortly thereafter.
On Friday, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sex trafficking by force, promoting prostitution and criminal sexual act by forcible compulsion.
Persaud is expected to be sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. He’s expected back in court on Dec. 9.
