QUEENS VILLAGE — A Queens Village resident allegedly raped two women after luring them to his house via a Craigslist advertisement, then told them he was a cop and would arrest them for prostitution if they told on him, the Queens district attorney’s office said.
Suraj Persaud, 34, of 91st Avenue and 217th Street, was arraigned on charges of rape, criminal sexual act and impersonating a police officer, the DA’s office said. Persaud is being held in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail and he faces 25 years in prison if convicted, the DA’s office said.
In the first incident, Persaud allegedly brought a woman, 29, he met through an ad to his residence on May 16, the DA’s office said. Upon their arrival, he allegedly displayed two guns and said he was a police officer, the DA’s office said. After he allegedly raped her, he threatened to arrest her for prostitution if she reported him.
The second incident occurred May 23 in which Persaud allegedly hired a woman, 19, through Craigslist for a “massage,” then when they came to the house, Persaud allegedly told her he was a cop and showed her a city Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association card and two guns, as well as put on a bulletproof vest, the DA’s office said. Afterward, he allegedly raped her and told her he would arrest her for prostitution if she reported him, the DA’s office said.
The DA requests any others who may have been victims to call the district attorney’s Special Victims Bureau at 718-286-6111.
