Crimes Nearby: Queens Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking, Rape Charges

Queens Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking, Rape Charges

A Forest Hills man has been arrested on charges of sex trafficking and the rape of two underage girls, the Queens district attorney said.

Peter Gerardi, 28, was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron on a 64-count indictment charging him with kidnapping, 11 counts of rape, compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, unlawful imprisonment, assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Queens DA Richard Brown said.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

“Sex trafficking is a violent and degrading crime that will not be tolerated,” the DA said.

Gerardi allegedly approached the first victim, a 13-year-old girl, on the street in March 2011.

Shortly afterward, he allegedly asked her to perform sexual acts with men in exchange for money and instructed her on how much to charge and to lie about her age, Brown said.

It is alleged that the girl reluctantly agreed to go along with his orders, but once she wanted to stop, Gerardi became violently angry.

After one attempt to flee the defendant, Gerardi allegedly found the girl and threatened to smack her around if she left him again, the DA said. Read on.

Burglars Flee After Caught in the Act by Elderly Sea Cliff Woman

A 79-year-old woman got a shock early Tuesday morning after being awoken by the sound of footsteps in her Sea Cliff home. 

Around 12:18 a.m., the woman entered her kitchen to find two men in hooded sweatshirts. She screamed and the men fled through the back door.  

Police recovered a pocketbook and some power tools belonging to the woman outside her home. Further investigation determined entry was made through basement doors and proceeds included a wallet containing an undetermined amount of U.S. currency and a computer attachment. No injuries were reported and there is no further description of the subjects.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Hicksville BOCES Student Charged with Punching Man in Head

A student at BOCES in Hicksville was charged Friday with punching a 41-year-old man in the head, Nassau Police said. 

Brandon Miranda, 17, of Elmont, while inside the school at 111 Cantiague Rock Road, punched the victim in the right side of the head causing "swelling and substantial pain." 

Police said they arrested Miranda without incident at 9:40 a.m. Friday.

Police said that the assault was not the result of the "Knockout Game" phenomenon spreading across the country, but could offer no further details. 

Miranda is charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and was to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.