Police: L.I. Man Holds Teen, Woman Captive, Forces Them Into Prostitution
LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man has been accused of holding a teen girl and a woman against their will and forcing them to work as prostitutes, Suffolk County Police said.
Police: L.I. Man Holds Teen, Woman Captive, Forces Them Into Prostitution
On Tuesday, police searched 35-year-old Andy Gayot's home in Lindenhurst where they said they found the 15-year-old runaway and 21-year-old woman.
Police: L.I. Man Holds Teen, Woman Captive, Forces Them Into Prostitution
Det. Lt. Robert Edwards said Gayot used "physical abuse, threats of force, intimidation and large amounts of narcotics to keep them more or less compliant."
The 21-year-old woman was held for over a year, and the teen was held for about four months, police said. Both had been forced to engage in acts of prostitution, police said.
"I think they're happy to be out from underneath this thing. It's obviously not a lifestyle that anybody wants to live," Edwards said.
Gayot was charged with compelling prostitution, three counts of promoting prostitution, third-degree rape, third-degree criminal sex act, unlawful imprisonment, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and other felony and misdemeanor charges.
He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip.
The teen and woman, whom Gayot met through mutual friends, are now in safe locations, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.
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