A Queens man has been handed a 15-year prison term for the 2023 rape and attempted murder of a woman, following a meet-up arranged on Facebook Marketplace. Jerson Vasquez, 25, from Jamaica, was sentenced after pleading guilty to several charges, including attempted murder in the second degree and rape in the first degree. The office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz confirmed the sentence, and Vasquez will also be obliged to register as a sex offender upon his release.
Katz stated, "A dangerous sexual predator, who carried out a brutal attack against a woman, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. We thank the brave victim for coming forward and hope the sentencing provides a measure of comfort as she continues to heal," as noted by the Queens District Attorney's office. The attack, which occurred on a rooftop in Jamaica, Queens, was particularly vicious – Vasquez choked and repeatedly struck the woman before leaving her severely injured and alone, according to court documents.
According to the official press release from the Queens District Attorney's office, the incident took place on August 13, 2023. Vasquez had contacted the victim to meet him at an address on 93rd Avenue, under the pretense of a transaction for prostitution. What unfolded was a predatory ambush where the victim was physically assaulted and had her cellphone stolen by the assailant.
After the assault was reported, video surveillance helped authorities to identify Vasquez, who was seen leaving the crime scene with visible traces of blood on his neck, and hand. The victim suffered extensive injuries, requiring hospitalization and staples to close a laceration on the back of her head, along with treatment for swelling to her face and neck. Assistant District Attorneys from the District Attorney's Human Trafficking Bureau, including Tara DiGregorio, Deputy Chief, and Kiran Cheema, led the prosecution under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jessica Melton and Executive Assistant District Attorney of Investigations Gerard Brave.
