Two people who held a teenager against her will, sexually assaulted her and forced her to have sex for money in a Briarwood hotel over the Fourth of July weekend have been arrested, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced.
According to Brown, Shaquan Walters, 22, of 158th Street in Jamaica, and Kiana Pryce, 21, of West End Avenue in Manhattan have been charged with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution and several other charges for allegedly forcing the 17-year-old victim into prostitution.
“The teenager was allegedly raped by [Walters] and then forced to have sex with a stranger. She only managed to escape after finding her cellphone and calling her boyfriend, who came to her rescue,” Brown said in a statement. “The defendants face a lengthy prison term for sex trafficking — a vile and very violent, degrading crime that will not be tolerated.”
According to the criminal complaint, the 17-year-old victim met Walters on the street and he took her to the Jets Motor Inn, located at 139-06 Queens Blvd., where Pryce was allegedly waiting. It is further alleged that the teen’s cellphone was taken from her and she was locked in the room by Walters, who told her she couldn’t leave until she had made them $3,000 by having sex for money.
When she insisted that they let her go, Walters allegedly told her, “You’re going to have a big problem. I’m going to find you in these streets.”
The complaint continued, alleging the victim was ordered to take a shower and when she agreed Walters allegedly entered the bathroom and raped her. Soon afterwards, an unknown male entered the hotel room and Walters allegedly told the teen, “You know what to do,” and she had sexual intercourse with the stranger. Afterwards, Pryce is alleged to have accepted $164 from the man and split the cash with Walters.
According to the charges, the victim managed to locate her cellphone and called her boyfriend, telling him what had happened and where she was. Her boyfriend came to the motel and was allegedly punched and kicked by Walters, but the boyfriend and 17-year-old managed to escape and call 911.
Pryce was arraigned on Monday, July 4, before Queens Criminal Court Judge Althea Drysdale, who set bail at $50,000 and ordered a bail sufficiency hearing. Pryce’s next court date is July 17.
Walters was arraigned on Tuesday, July 5, before Queens Criminal Court Judge Karen Gopee, who set bail at $500,000 and also ordered a bail sufficiency hearing. His next court date is July 8.
The defendants have been charged in two separate criminal complaints with sex trafficking, second- and third-degree promoting prostitution and second-degree unlawful imprisonment. Walters is additionally charged with first-degree rape, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and second-degree harassment.
Both defendants face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
