A Glendale man initially arrested on prostitution-related charges in December was back in court on May 22 for arraignment on a huge indictment charging him with pimping out two teenage girls — including his purported 13-year-old niece.
Eddy Florence, 33, of 70th Avenue faces 43 counts including first- and second-degree kidnapping, promoting prostitution, compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child. Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone Jr. ordered Florence held without bail and to return to court on Aug. 21.
Florence faces up to 50 years behind bars if convicted of all charges, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
“[Florence] is accused of profiting from prostitution by forcing two teenage girls into having sex dates with men for cash,” Brown said on May 23. “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.”
Members of the NYPD Queens North Narcotics Squad, through an ongoing investigation, raided Florence’s home on Dec. 13, 2017. They reportedly found a half-naked Florence in bed with the 13-year-old girl, who later told police that he was her uncle.
According to prosecutors, Florence met the victim and another 15-year-old girl in November 2017 at a residential group home. He allegedly let the 13-year-old girl move in with him, and in the weeks that followed, became involved in a sexual relationship with her.
That same month, the indictment noted, Florence posted ads on Backpage.com for both girls and arranged for them to have sexual encounters with men for money. He allegedly forced the victims to hand over all of the cash they received from the clients.
Prosecutors said Florence allegedly yelled and threatened the 13-year-old girl when she didn’t make enough money to satisfy him.
During the Dec. 13 raid, police found inside of Florence’s residence quantities of heroin, marijuana and cocaine, as well as a credit card embossing machine, a forged credit cards and fake identification.
