Brooklyn girls abducted in pimping scheme saved by uncle's ‘date’: prosecutors
BY OREN YANIV
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Monday, March 2, 2015, 3:09 PM
Updated: Monday, March 2, 2015, 3:52 PM
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MICHAEL GRAAE/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSThe girls were held and allegedly photographed for Craiglist advertisements at a brownstone along Classon Ave. in Brooklyn.
Two 13-year-old Brooklyn girls were nearly pimped out, but rescued after one teen’s uncle arranged for a fake “date” with her, prosecutors said Monday.
The disturbing prostitution case from last summer came to light after two men and two women were officially charged for trying to sell the two teens for sex.
“These defendants are accused of disgraceful actions involving young girls who should be protected, not exploited,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson. “Luckily, the young girls who were abducted are now safe and their abusers will now face justice.”
The two girls met Marcus (Melo) Sumpter, 25, when they returned from a party on Aug. 30, 2014. They joined him at his Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment and had sex, prosecutors said.
The next day, he allegedly talked them into working as hookers and a woman named Jasmine Goldstein took scantily clad photos of them, which she tried — but apparently failed — to post on Craigslist.com, a source said.
It was around that time that a concerned uncle texted one of the girls, but the troubling response seemingly came from one of the suspects.
“Want a date?” the text said.
“Yes,” the shrewd relative replied. He came to the apartment, paid and took the girl home, prosecutors said.
Goldstein then allegedly moved the second girl to another apartment at the same Classon Ave. brownstone, controlled by Joann Bailey, 55, and Jerry Brown, 57. They hid her in the bathroom, a source said.
Marcus (Melo) Stumper, 25, is accused of meeting two 13-year-old girls, having sex with hem and then trying to pimp them out.
Her family members showed up there on Sept. 1 and eventually rescued her.
“The sexual exploitation of children affects not only the victims and their family, but society as a whole,” said NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, whose vice detectives took part in the lengthy investigation.
A 32-count indictment was handed down earlier this month following a lengthy investigation. Three of the suspects were arrested Friday.
It is not believed the girls were held by force.
Sumpter, who has nearly 2,900 Facebook friends, mostly young ladies, was ordered held without bail on charges that include kidnapping, rape and promoting prostitution.
He is facing up to 25 years in prison for the top count. His lawyer said he is not yet familiar with the specific accusations.
Bailey and Brown are being held on bonds of $50,000 and $25,000, respectively for lesser counts of unlawful imprisonment and others. Their lawyers didn’t return calls.
Goldstein is still being sought, authorities said.
