A man from Texas named Donald Roberson has been accused of sex trafficking and other crimes for allegedly forcing two teenage girls into prostitution in East New York and tattooing his nickname, ‘Blue Cheese,’ on their faces. The Brooklyn District Attorney, Eric Gonzalez, made the announcement on Thursday.
Roberson, who is 29 years old and from Dallas, appeared in Brooklyn Supreme Court on September 11th and was ordered to be held without bail by Justice Danny Chun. He is facing a 17-count indictment that includes charges such as sex trafficking of a child, promoting prostitution, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and sexual abuse. His next court date is scheduled for October 23rd.
It is alleged that Roberson met a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old on Instagram and convinced them to come to New York. Upon their arrival in East New York on August 16th, they stayed at the Hotel Sunborn where Roberson had rented a room for them. The girls were reportedly forced into prostitution by Roberson, who took all the money they earned. Additionally, he took them to a tattoo parlor where he had his nickname tattooed on their faces.
The District Attorney’s office claims that Roberson physically assaulted both victims. He allegedly punched the 17-year-old in the face, pulled her hair, and kicked her in McCarren Park on August 20th, which resulted in her having a seizure. He is also accused of stabbing her with scissors. The 18-year-old reported that two days later, after being discharged from Kings County Hospital, Roberson choked and punched her.
Roberson was arrested on August 23rd after the 17-year-old girl managed to text someone in Texas with the hotel’s address and room number. Prior to that, she had locked herself in Roberson’s car during an argument. He allegedly broke the car window, causing cuts with glass shards, and burned her leg with a torch lighter.
District Attorney Gonzalez stated, “This defendant allegedly subjected two young women to horrific abuse, treating them as his personal property by branding them with his nickname and forcing them into a life of exploitation and violence.” He vowed to ensure that Roberson is held accountable for the harm he caused.
In addition to the charges mentioned earlier, Roberson is facing second-, third-, and fourth-degree promoting prostitution charges, third-degree criminal sexual act, sexual misconduct, and third-degree sexual abuse.
This case is part of a series of cases involving forced prostitution in East New York. Over the past two years, there have been indictments related to similar offenses, including cases where individuals were charged with forcing minors into prostitution. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office remains committed to addressing and prosecuting such crimes to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.