By Alexander Dworkowitz
A Flushing man who preyed on Asian-American women in elevator apartment buildings close to his neighborhood pleaded guilty Monday to a series of rapes and burglaries, the Queens district attorney said.
Edwin Feliciano, 30, of 141-05 Northern Blvd., admitted in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens that he committed eight separate crimes between December 2000 and June 2001, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
As part of the plea agreement, Judge Mark Spires was scheduled to sentence Feliciano to 18 years in prison on April 22. Without the agreement, Feliciano would have faced life in prison.
“The defendant’s guilty plea ensures the certainty of a conviction and relieves the fears and safety concerns of women in the Flushing community, which was the stalking ground of this dangerous predator,” said Brown.
Brown said Feliciano, who was released from prison just months before the string of attacks began, usually approached the women from behind and overpowered them in elevators or stairwells in the dead of night.
On Dec. 17, 2000, Feliciano raped a 30-year-old woman in the elevator of her 38th Avenue building after she returned home from a party at 4:30 a.m., the district attorney said.
On Feb. 5, 2001, he raped a 24-year-old woman in the elevator in another 38th Avenue building when she was coming home from work at 3:50 a.m., the district attorney said.
On June 14, 2001, he raped a 37-year-old woman in the elevator of her 35th Avenue building after she returned from work at about 3:30 a.m., the district attorney said.
Feliciano also admitted to five burglaries that took place between April and June 2001.
Feliciano specifically targeted Asian-American women who lived within walking distance of his home, police announced at a press conference in June.
“We don’t know why he singled out Asian victims,” said Chief of Detectives William Allee. “It seems like that was his target of choice.”
Feliciano, a well-built man, used his brute force to overpower his victims, Allee said.
Feliciano had a criminal history long before his June 2001 arrest.
In 1993, he began an 18-month sentence for assaulting and attempting to rape an Asian-American woman in the laundry room of her building Allee said.
In July 2000, Feliciano was released from prison after serving five years for transporting narcotics into the United States, Allee said.
Feliciano was on parole at the time of his arrest.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.
