Photo Courtesy of Google
The victim was attacked inside this home.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Thursday announced that Destiny Lebron and Gil Iphael have been indicted on charges for an August attack in Richmond Hill.
Lebron, 19, of Brooklyn, and Iphael, 22, of Valley Stream, were re-arrested and arraigned Thursday on an 14-count indictment charging them with kidnapping in the second degree, robbery in the first degree and two-counts of robbery in the second degree, assault in the second degree and third degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree and second degree, two-counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and petit larceny. If convicted on all three indictments, both defendants face a total of up to 75 years in prison.
According to the charges, on Aug. 14, the victim, a 23-year-old-male, went to 91-42 108th Street in response to an online prostitution advertisement. As the victim entered the location, he was directed to wait inside a bedroom. Lebron entered the room and removed the victim’s shoes and socks. At that time, Iphael entered the room, threatened the victim and repeatedly punched the victim in the face, head and body. The defendants then applied a numbing agent to the victims’ toe, demanded money from the victim and attempted to make transfers from his CASH APP account. When the victim refused, Iphael used a tool and began to cut the victim’s toe and threatened to cut it off if the victim did not comply. The victim eventually complied.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
“Both defendants are in custody and will be held accountable,” DA Katz pledged.
Iphael then took the victim’s car keys and gave them to Lebron who removed the victims’ wallet from the car. From the wallet, the defendants took the victim’s identification and several licenses along with his debit and credit cards. They demanded that the victim give them his PIN# or face further harm. After receiving the victim’s PIN#, defendant Iphael left the room and went to a nearby deli and made a withdrawal from a cash machine. When he returned, he gave the card and PIN# to Lebron, who also made a cash withdrawal. The defendants then forced the victim to make a recording stating that he was at the location to engage in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl and then threatened to post the video on the internet if he reported the incident to the police. Before defendant Iphael released the victim, he returned some of his items and further threatened to harm his family if he reported the incident to the police.
The victim went to a nearby urgent care facility where he received eight stitches to his toe and he immediately called the police.
“These defendants, who are thankfully off the streets, are accused of a spree of assault, kidnapping and robbery charges for their own financial benefit,” Katz said. “Both defendants are in custody and will be held accountable.”
