By Michael V. Cusenza
A Rockaway Park woman has been sentenced to over 7 years in prison for pimping a 14-year-old girl and forcing her to work for free, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recently announced.
Marilyn Roque, 30, pleaded guilty in May to sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking by force, labor trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child. Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone sentenced her today to 7.5 years in prison for each sex trafficking charge, 2 1/3 to seven years for labor trafficking and 364 days in jail for endangering the welfare of a child, to run concurrently.
Roque forced a 14-year-old girl to have sex for money with a 49-year-old man. She also forced the victim to work shifts at a restaurant—turning over the pay to Roque—and to provide childcare for the defendant’s children without pay.
According to the charges, the victim came to the United States from El Salvador in September 2022 and lived with Roque.
File Photo
“The trafficking of children—and stripping them of their dignity through forced sex and labor exploitation—is particularly sinister,” DA Katz said.
On Dec. 31, 2022, Roque forced the victim, who was then 14, to have sex with Juarez-Reyas, who was 49, in exchange for $600.
Roque also forced the victim to care for her children and to take over her shifts at a restaurant. The victim was ordered to give the earnings to Roque, who threatened the victim with deportation if she did not comply and often kept the child out of school.
“I thank the brave teenager who came forward and gave us information to build this case and get justice,” Katz said. “The trafficking of children—and stripping them of their dignity through forced sex and labor exploitation—is particularly sinister. If you are aware of anyone who may be trafficked, please contact our Human Trafficking Bureau at (718) 286-6548.”
Roque’s codefendant, Jesus Juarez-Reyas, now 51, also of Rockaway Park, has pleaded guilty to rape in the third degree and patronizing a person for prostitution. He is expected to be sentenced July 23.
Both Roque and Juarez-Reyas will be required to register as sex offenders upon their release from prison.
