Say He Zapped, Assaulted Woman
A23-year-old Greek national arrested last Wednesday, Mar. 13 at John F. Kennedy International Airport while waiting to board a flight to London, England, has been charged with using an electronic stun gun earlier this week to force his way into a former girlfriend’s Jamaica apartment, then subdue and sexually assault her, law enforcement sources said.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the defendant as Prodromos Vasilopoulos, 23, of Athens, Greece. Vasilopoulos was charged in one criminal complaint with predatory sexual assault, firstdegree burglary, second-degree assault, strangulation and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and in a second complaint with second-degree aggravated harassment and second-degree harassment. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
It is alleged that the stun gun was recovered from the Vasilopoulos’ carry-on bag-which was in his possession inside the airport past the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint.
“The facts alleged in this case chronicle a frightening ordeal of mental, physical and sexual violence,” Brown said in a statement. “Hopefully, the young woman who was brutally victimized will rest easier in knowing that her alleged rapist has been brought to justice and will be vigorously prosecuted. However, even after the physical abuse has stopped, the psychological trauma caused by sexual assault can be severe and long lasting.”
According to the charges, Vasilopoulos made approximately 200 combined phone calls and text messages to the 19-year-old female victim during the period of Feb. 16- 21, in which he threatened her by stating, in sum and substance, that she would pay for breaking up with him. It is also alleged that he pushed her to the ground on Feb. 21.
Shortly after the victim received a UPS package last Tuesday, Mar. 12, law enforcement sources said, she heard a knock on her door and somebody say, “wrong delivery.” When she opened the door, she allegedly observed Vasilopoulos in the hallway and that he allegedly jolted her with a stun gun on her neck and stomach.
It is further alleged that when the victim began screaming, Vasilopoulos shoved his fingers into her mouth to muffle the sounds and she fell to the floor, where he used the stun gun on her body and stated, “Now you will pay for everything … Why did you do this to me? … I want answers.”
Prosecutors said Vasilopoulos then allegedly brought the victim to her bed and took a pillow and covered her face with it, which prevented her from breathing. When she fell off the bed, it is alleged that Vasilopoulos grabbed her head and smashed it against the floor, causing her bruising, swelling and scratches across her forehead.
Vasilopoulos then reportedly forced his hand around her neck and forced his other hand around her nose, which prevented her from breathing.
According to the charges, Vasilopoulos forced her back on top of the bed and ordered her to kiss him and to remove her clothing before sexually assaulting her several times as she cried and he stated, in sum and substance, “You don’t want to be with me … I cannot live without you.”
At midnight last Wednesday, according to the charges, the victim told Vasilopoulos that she did not feel well and needed to go to the hospital. Vasilopoulos allegedly told her that he wanted to have sex with her one more time before she died. He then allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The victim went to a local Queens hospital where a sexual assault evidence kit was prepared and she was treated for the multiple injuries she suffered.
The investigation was conducted by Detectives Josephine Lalli and Shashana Ruiz of the NYPD Queens Special Victims Squad under the supervision of Sgt. Douglas R. Biscardi. Additional assistance was provided the 107th Precinct Detective Squad and by the Port Authority Police Department under the supervision of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko and Police Chief John Ryan.
Assistant District Attorney Jared R. Rosenblatt of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District At- torneys Marjory D. Fisher, bureau chief, and Kenneth M. Appelbaum and Lucinda C. Suarez, deputy bureau chiefs, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Charles A. Testagrossa and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.
It was noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
