A St. Albans sexual predator was sentenced to 34 years in prison for raping two young girls, ages 12 and 16, in separate occasions at the same motel in 2022, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.
Viando Ricketts, 31, of 200th Street, was convicted by a jury in Queens Supreme Court on March 13 of multiple rape counts, kidnapping, assault, criminal contempt, tampering with a witness and endangering the welfare of a child.
According to trial testimony, in June 2022, Ricketts met his first victim, who was 16 at the time, as they worked in different stores located next to each other in St. Albans. After providing food to the girl, Ricketts took her to the Belmont Motel on Hempstead Avenue in Queens Village.
While at the motel, Ricketts began to remove her clothing and then raped her as she struggled to get away. Sometime after the rape, Ricketts confessed to the victim and repeatedly apologized for his actions. He continued to meet the teenager for several months, during which time he engaged her in additional acts of sexual intercourse multiple times a week inside the victim’s home and inside his barbershop. On Oct. 8, 2022, the two got into an argument, which escalated into violence when Ricketts punched her in the face multiple times.
A year later, after Ricketts and the girl ended their relationship, he drove to the victim’s home and invited her into his vehicle to talk. The two began to argue and Ricketts raped the then 17-year-old victim inside his car. Several weeks after the attack, the victim contacted police. Although an order of protection was issued, Ricketts violated it by calling and texting the victim, instructing her to drop the charges.
Additionally, in November 2022, Ricketts met a 12-year-old girl who had recently run away from a group home. Inside his barbershop, he offered the youngster alcohol. He offered to buy her food and then took her to the same hotel in Queens Village where he threw her onto a bed, removed her clothing and raped her while she struggled against him. Several days later, the victim went to a hospital for an unrelated issue and during the assessment by the doctors she disclosed the rape. The police were immediately notified.
“This sexual predator targeted unsuspecting children, brought them to a hotel near his place of employment, and raped them,” Katz said. “After the defendant was arrested, he violated an order of protection against one of the girls, and continued to contact her in a bid to have her drop the charges.”
Queens Supreme Court Justice Gia Morris sentenced Ricketts on Friday to 34 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of post-release supervision. Ricketts will also be required to register as a sex offender at the time of his release. Specifically, Rickett was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his actions against the 12-year-old victim and an additional 12 years in prison to follow for his actions against the 16-year-old victim.
“We thank the brave victims for coming forward,” Katz said. “The defendant will now serve 34 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.”
