A Jackson Heights woman is accused of forcing a transgender woman to prostitute herself along Roosevelt Avenue and later threatening her with a knife when she wanted out. Queens Post file photo
Nov. 22, 2024 By Bill Parry
A Jackson Heights woman was indicted by a Queens grand jury for sex trafficking a transgender victim on Roosevelt Avenue starting in October 2023.
Valezka Echeverrias, 30, of 80th Street, was arrested by the NYPD on Thursday, Nov. 21, pursuant to the indictment. She was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court later in the day on a 24-count indictment charging her with four counts of sex trafficking and other related crimes for allegedly forcing a transgender woman to engage in prostitution along the Roosevelt corridor and pay the defendant a weekly sum of money.
After the victim stated that she wanted to stop engaging in prostitution, the defendant allegedly demanded money at knifepoint. Echeverrias is also indicted on charges of grand larceny, robbery, and other crimes for attempting to extort a second victim and forcibly stealing the phones of both victims while threatening them with a knife.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone remanded Echeverrias into custody without parole.
According to the indictment and investigation, in October 2023, Echeverrias forced the victim to pay a weekly sum of cash while engaging in prostitution, and a short while later, the victim was forced to pay a daily sum regardless of whether the victim engaged in prostitution.
During the victim’s ordeal, Echeverrias allegedly repeatedly threatened to reveal the victim’s private and personal medical information to clients and release private videos of the victim engaging in prostitution.
In December 2023, the victim told Echeverrias that she wanted out of the forced arrangement. Upon hearing that, Echeverrias allegedly threatened to harm the victim and demanded money. The victim was then told to leave and never come back to the area again.
Last January, the victim was with the second victim, another transgender woman, on Roosevelt Avenue when they were approached by Echeverrias and several other individuals who remain at large.
Echeverrias took out a silver knife from her waistband and threatened to kill both women if they returned to the area. The defendant also allegedly ordered an accomplice to forcibly remove both victim’s phones and throw them into the sewer.
“The defendant is accused of using threats of violence to exploit one victim and terrorize another in an effort to exert her power and line her pockets,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. “Sex trafficking is a brutal and degrading enterprise. It is why I created a Human Trafficking Bureau and why we remain fully dedicated to eradicating sex trafficking in our communities.”
Justice Vallone ordered Echeverrias to return to court on Dec. 16. If convicted on the top count, Echevarrias faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
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