By Naeisha Rose
Tyquan Henderson, 21, is expected back in court Aug. 22 after being arraigned last week on a 13-count indictment of prostituting a 16-year-old girl he met in May, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Henderson, a Jamaica resident, was charged with compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, rape, a criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Brown’s office.
He was arraigned Aug. 8 and held on $500,000 bail at a bail sufficiency hearing.
The victim first met Henderson when she was 15 years old through a friend in May. She met him a second time in June shortly after turning 16, according to the DA’s office.
After the teenager and Henderson engaged in intercourse and oral sex, the defendant allegedly started to ask the young victim to call him “Daddy” and began to verbally threaten her to prostitute herself in exchange for money, Brown said.
Henderson allegedly wanted the 16-year-old victim to prostitute herself for $500 a night, according to the DA’s office. He allegedly also threatened her with physical harm if she did not make him enough money, prosecutors said.
“The defendant in this case is accused of profiting from prostitution by forcing a young teenage girl into having sex dates with men for cash. Once again, I want to emphasize that prostitution is not a victimless crime and that sex trafficking is an incessant act of brutality and degradation that scars its victims for life,” said Brown.
The alleged prostitution came to light on June 24 when the victim went to a friend’s house and her friend’s mother called the police, according to Brown’s office.
Investigating the case was the NYPD’s Vice Enforcement Division’s Human Trafficking Team.
If convicted of the charges, Henderson could face up to 25 years in prison.
“The defendant now faces a lengthy term of incarceration for his alleged actions,” said Brown.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
