By Madina Toure
Three Far Rockaway men were indicted on charges of kidnapping, sex trafficking and other counts for allegedly using intimidation and threats to force a 14-year-old girl to work for them as a prostitute, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Monday.
Timothy Jenkins, 24, and Tyshaun Haynes, 22, both of McBride Street, and Devin Rodriguez, 18, of Granda Place, were each charged in an 18-count indictment with kidnapping, sex trafficking, promoting prostitution and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the men each face up to 25 years to life in prison.
“The defendants are variously accused of enslaving a young teenager, raping her, and using the threat of physical violence in an attempt to force her to work as a prostitute and to turn over all the money she earned to them,” DA Brown said in a statement. “Regrettably, for the victim, she discovered that few activities are as brutal and dehumanizing as prostitution.”
On Sept. 6, Rodriguez allegedly brought the 14-year-old girl to Jenkins’ residence, according to the indictment. Jenkins and Haynes then had forcible sexual intercourse with her between Sept. 6 and Sept. 8 and Jenkins threatened to kill her with a stun gun to force her to work as a prostitute with other girls. On Sept. 8, she fled the residence and returned home.
Between Sept. 15 and Oct. 31, Rodriguez and Haynes each allegedly tried to keep her from talking to law enforcement or a grand jury about what took place at Jenkins’ residence by threatening to harm her or another person, the indictment said.
Jenkins was also charged with rape, criminal possession of a weapon, the indictment said. Rodriguez was charged with intimidating a witness and aggravated harassment, while Haynes was charged with rape and intimidating a witness, the DA said.
The trio’s next court date is Feb. 26, according to the DA. Bail was set at $750,000 for Jenkins and $500,000 for Rodriguez. Haynes was held without bail.
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtoure@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4566.
