Forest Hills Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking, Rape Charges

A Forest Hills man has been arrested on charges of sex trafficking and the rape of two underage girls, the Queens district attorney said.

Peter Gerardi, 28, was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron on a 64-count indictment charging him with kidnapping, 11 counts of rape, compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, unlawful imprisonment, assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Queens DA Richard Brown said.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

“Sex trafficking is a violent and degrading crime that will not be tolerated,” the DA said.

Gerardi allegedly approached the first victim, a 13-year-old girl, on the street in March 2011.

Shortly afterward, he allegedly asked her to perform sexual acts with men in exchange for money and instructed her on how much to charge and to lie about her age, Brown said.

It is alleged that the girl reluctantly agreed to go along with his orders, but once she wanted to stop, Gerardi became violently angry.

After one attempt to flee the defendant, Gerardi allegedly found the girl and threatened to smack her around if she left him again, the DA said.

He also is alleged to have had sex with the victim and had her perform oral sex on him during multiple occasions.

The defendant allegedly made the girl have sex with numerous men between March and September 2011 and forced her to turn the money over to him.

During this same time, Gerardi allegedly also found a 16-year-old girl on the street, whom he also forced to work as a prostitute and have sex with him.

In September 2013, the 13-year-old allegedly escaped from Gerardi, who goes by the street name “Prince.” He is alleged to have called the girl and asked her to continue working as a prostitute.

But when she refused, the defendant allegedly sent two female friends to approach the victim and punch and slap her, the DA said.