In a statement made public by the Queens District Attorney's Office, Jerson Vasquez has entered a guilty plea for a shocking daylight assault that took place in 2023. Vasquez, 25, of Jamaica, Queens, admitted to the charges of attempted murder in the second degree, rape in the first degree, and patronizing a person for prostitution in the third degree, as reported by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
According to court documents disclosed, on August 13, 2023, Vasquez responded to an online advertisement on Facebook Marketplace and arranged to meet the victim on a rooftop in Jamaica. In a horrifying turn of events, after an initial exchange of money for sexual services, Vasquez aggressively attacked the woman. He choked her, slammed her head against concrete, and punched her before taking back his money and leaving her injured on the rooftop. The gruesome encounter led to extensive physical injuries necessitating hospitalization for the victim, including a head laceration that required staples.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Tara DiGregorio and Kiran Cheema, of the DA's Human Trafficking Bureau, sheds light on the violent realities that can underpin transactions in the shadowy corners of online marketplaces. Queens District Attorney Katz, as described in a statement, emphasized the brutality of the attack, stating, "She suffered extensive injuries and will be physically and emotionally scarred by this incident for the rest of her life."
Vasquez's guilt acceptance comes before his sentencing, scheduled for February 25, when he will face a court-imposed prison term of 15 years with an additional 10 years of post-release supervision.
