A Brooklyn man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. The sentencing of East New York resident Daryl Hicks, 40, was announced by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. With Hicks facing eight years behind bars, justice has been delivered for a case that highlighted the horrific exploitation of a child for financial gain.
Caught in a web of manipulation and abuse, the young victim was induced by both Hicks and his wife, Michelle Wicks, 33, to perform acts of prostitution over a period in late 2022. In a statement obtained by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, it was reported that the defendants exploited the victim's photos on escort websites and set up "dates" for her at various Brooklyn locations. Having been approached by Hicks with promises of money, the girl found herself entrapped in a cycle of exploitation.
According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office release, Hicks must now register as a sex offender after his release from prison. Additionally, he is subject to five years of post-release supervision. He had pleaded guilty to the top count of sex trafficking of a child on August 6, 2025. His wife, who had earlier pleaded guilty to charges related to the case, is participating in the Women’s Prison Association Program, under a deal that allows her to withdraw her felony plea upon completion.
Harrowing details emerged during the investigation, revealing that Hicks had even sexually assaulted the victim on Christmas Day 2022. The investigation, led by the New York City Police Department’s Human Trafficking Squad, found explicit photos and videos on Hicks' cell phone. Adding to the weight of evidence, it was the swift action of detectives from the Human Trafficking Squad who, on December 30, 2022, located the victim in a hotel registered to Hicks after she had been reported missing.
The successful conviction is a result of the diligent efforts of various members of the law enforcement and legal community, including Detective Paul Mastronardi, Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh, Lieutenant Amy Capogna, Chief Carlos Ortiz, Office Manager Aurora Martinez, and Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Taylor Mumley. Senior Assistant District Attorney Mary E. Monahan, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, with the oversight of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss and Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, prosecuted the case.
As this case closes, District Attorney Gonzalez reiterated the commitment to justice for survivors: "This young victim showed tremendous courage in coming forward after enduring horrific exploitation. The defendant’s actions were cruel, manipulative, and deeply damaging, stealing a child’s sense of safety for his own gain," he told the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
