Nine Indicted in Child Sex Trafficking Case Linked to Teen Discovered on Yacht in New York

NEW YORK—A total of nine individuals have been indicted in a child sex trafficking case linked to a teenage girl who was discovered last month on a boat at a New York marina after being missing for nearly a month.

The seven men and two women entered pleas of not guilty during their arraignments on Thursday at the Suffolk County court in Riverhead, as reported by Timothy Finnerty, a spokesperson for the court.

They are facing various charges, including child sex trafficking, kidnapping, rape, and endangering the welfare of a child, as indicated by online court records.

Prosecutors informed the judge that the defendants exploited a vulnerable 14-year-old, subjecting her to repeated rapes and promoting her for sex, according to a report by Newsday.

The minor, whose identity is not disclosed by The Associated Press due to her age, was missing for roughly 25 days.

Surveillance footage captured her leaving her home in Long Island, a suburban area east of New York City, and entering a vehicle on December 9. She was eventually located by her father on a yacht moored at a marina in Islip on January 3.

The father has shared with local media that he received an anonymous tip about his daughter’s whereabouts after he publicized her disappearance on social media and offered a reward of up to $15,000.

Representatives from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, responsible for prosecuting the case, did not respond to inquiries via email and messages this week.

One of the individuals indicted on Thursday is Daniel Burke, a Long Island resident accused by prosecutors of being one of the men who had sexual relations with the minor. He is charged with kidnapping, rape, and additional offenses.

“Fortunately, our justice system operates on facts and evidence,” commented Oscar Crisafio, Burke’s attorney, in an email statement. “And the evidence in this case suggests, in the words of the complainant, that she was never held against her will.”

Ralph Knowles, another Long Island resident, faces charges of rape and other counts, as noted in online court records.

“Ralph is eager to receive discovery in a timely manner and looks forward to his day in court, where the truth will emerge,” his attorney Chase Brown stated in an email.

Other defendants in the case have also refuted the charges, as reported by Newsday.

Three of the defendants were remanded to the county jail on Thursday, while the bail for the other six was increased by the judge, according to reports from the newspaper.

Additionally, three more defendants have been charged in connection with the case, although they were not included in the initial indictment, as reported by Newsday.

This includes a staff member at a state mental health facility who is accused of groping the girl while she was receiving treatment during her inpatient stay following the incident.

He faces charges of criminal sexual contact with an individual incapable of consent and endangering a child’s welfare.

By Philip Marcelo