(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that MESSIAH JEFFERSON, JERRY TENZIE, DERON MORALES and ANTONIYA MCGOWAN were indicted for Sex Trafficking, and other related charges, for allegedly acting in concert to forcibly sell a woman for sex and beat and stab a man inside his apartment.
“We are committed to working tirelessly to protect all members of our society, including our most vulnerable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Through our collaborations with law enforcement, we are working to create an environment where, hopefully, everyone has the opportunity to live free from exploitation and harm.”
According to the investigation, on September 13, 2024, TENZIE allegedly offered clothing, food, and shelter at a Bay Shore apartment to a female victim who did not have a place to stay. When the victim arrived at the location, JEFFERSON, MORALES, and MCGOWAN were also staying there, in addition to the tenant of the apartment. After providing the victim with a shower, food, and clothing, Jefferson allegedly told the victim that she had to engage in sex with men who came to the apartment to sell drugs to the defendants.
When the victim refused, JEFFERSON allegedly directed MORALES, MCGOWAN, and TENZIE to beat the victim, and later, to burn the victim until she complied and prevented her from leaving the apartment. In exchange for the victim having sex with the men, the defendants were allegedly paid in the form of drugs by the men who had sex with the victim. The victim escaped through a window while the defendants were sleeping and hid until the police arrived to help her.
On September 15, 2024, MORALES allegedly confronted the tenant of the apartment and accused him of stealing from him. JEFFERSON, MORALES, TENZIE, and MCGOWAN then all allegedly began to beat the male victim, with JEFFERSON and MCGOWAN allegedly stabbing him, MORALES allegedly menacing him with a gun, and TENZIE allegedly beating him with a chair. The tenant fled from the apartment and into the street with MORALES, TENZIE, and MCGOWAN allegedly chasing him. The victim was able to flag down a passing police officer and was transported to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. When MORALES was arrested, he was allegedly found to be in possession of an illegal handgun.
On October 10, 2024, JEFERSON, 30, of Central Islip, was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis for:
- One count of Sex Trafficking, a Class B felony;
- One count of Sex Trafficking (by force), a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Gang Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- One county of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
- One count of Gang Assault in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, and
- Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony.
Justice Wilutis ordered JEFFERSON held on $500,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond or $5,000,000 partially secured bond. Jefferson is being represented by John Halverson, Esq. His next court date is November 20, 2024.
On October 10, 2024, MORALES, 21, of Central Islip, was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Wilutis for:
- One count of Sex Trafficking, a Class B felony;
- One count of Sex Trafficking (by force), a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Gang Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
- Gang Assault in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
- Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, and
- Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony.
Justice Wilutis ordered MORALES held on $300,000 cash, $600,000 bond or $3,000,000 partially secured bond. MORALES is being represented by Ira Weissman, Esq. His next court date is November 21, 2024.
On October 18, 2024, MCGOWAN was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Wilutis for:
- Two counts of Sex Trafficking, both Class B felonies, one of which is a violent felony;
- Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Gang Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
- Gang Assault in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony
- Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony.
Justice Wilutis ordered MCGOWAN, 26, of Shirley, held on $150,000 cash, $400,000 bond or $1,500,000 partially secured bond. MCGOWAN is being represented by Scott Zerner, Esq. Her next court date is November 22, 2024.
TENZIE has not yet been arraigned. His next court date is October 23, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Veronica McMahon of the Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias, and Human Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Unit, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Anthony Devincenzo and Jack Ward of the Suffolk County Police Department Third Squad, with assistance from detectives from the Human Trafficking Investigations Unit.
