Lindenhurst Man Charged with Sex Trafficking, Kidnapping Promoting Prostitution and Other Crimes

LongIsland.com

The man pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, sex trafficking and other charges in a 32 count indictment unsealed in Suffolk County court.

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Central Islip, NY - March 13, 2014 - A Lindenhurst man pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, sex trafficking and other charges in a 32 count indictment unsealed in Suffolk County court today, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said. Andrew “Andy” Gayot was order held in lieu of $500,000 cash bail, or one million bond. 
 
Gayot was arrested February 25 when Suffolk County Police and Probation officers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at 258 North Greene Ave. in Lindenhurst, a house containing several inhabitants. Investigators discovered a 15-year-old female, who had run away from home, and a 21-year-old female being held against their will by the defendant, who used intimidation, physical abuse and psychological cruelty to coerce the women into prostitution. The defendant advertised the prostitution services on Backpage.com. 
 
The victims have not been identified because both women are the victims of sex crimes and their identification is a violation of New York State Civil Rights Law. 
 
“The details of the terror inflicted on these women are chilling,” District Attorney Spota said. “On at least one occasion, the defendant terrorized both victims in the dark basement of the house with a chainsaw, asking the teenager “Now do you believe in the devil?”. The teen was forbidden to leave the house unescorted or to use her phone without him being present, the District Attorney said. “There is strong evidence Gayot often beat both victims with a hammer and an extension cord, used a Taser in one of his assaults, and choked the teenager when he thought she had shorted him money after meeting a john,” said DA Spota. Police said the teen girl had been at the North Green Avenue home since November of last year; the other female lived there more than a year. 
 
The district attorney said the drugs seized from the premises included Methylone, a club drug known on the street as “Molly”, Xanax and cocaine. Mace was also found in the defendant’s room as was a bulletproof vest and police patches. The top count in the indictment is kidnapping in the second degree, a class “B” violent felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The other charges in the indictment are 2 counts of Sex Trafficking, 1 count of Compelling Prostitution, 2 counts of Promoting Prostitution in the 2nd Degree, 1 count of Promoting Prostitution in the 3rd Degree, 2 counts of Promoting Prostitution in the 4th Degree, 1 count of Unlawful Imprisonment in the 2nd Degree, 1 count of Strangulation in the 2nd Degree, 2 counts of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation, 2 counts of Rape in the 3rd Degree, 4 counts of Sexual Misconduct, 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the 3rd Degree, 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 4th Degree, 3 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, 1 count of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, 1 count of Unlawful Possession of Noxious Material (a self-defense spray), 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree and 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th Degree.