A man from Queens has been indicted on multiple charges, including sex trafficking and rape. According to the Queens District Attorney's office, 35-year-old Leighton Jennings of Jamaica, Queens, is accused of abusing a 25-year-old woman over several months, including incidents of strangulation that caused unconsciousness.
The indictment against Jennings includes seven counts, covering sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, strangulation, and rape. The Queens District Attorney's office reports that the victim was reportedly promised housing, child care for her baby, and basic necessities, but was allegedly forced to turn over daily earnings from prostitution, ranging from $500 to $1,000, to Jennings. The indictment also alleges that Jennings did not provide the promised apartment and instead moved the victim into an overcrowded living space. District Attorney Melinda Katz stated that the defendant "subjected her to sex trafficking, months of violence and sexual assault."
Jennings met the victim in July 2024, at a time when she was engaged in prostitution and living in a temporary shelter in Brooklyn. He presented himself as a benefactor, but the relationship allegedly became exploitative, with Jennings reportedly taking all financial proceeds from the victim’s work in prostitution between July 2024 and May in Brooklyn, and from March to May in Queens. The alleged abuse culminated on May 31, when Jennings is accused of strangling the woman following a verbal altercation.
Justice Peter F. Vallone Jr. of the Queens Supreme Court presided over Jennings’ arraignment, with a return court date scheduled for today. If convicted, Jennings could face up to 25 years in prison. The investigation leading to his arrest involved the NYPD/FBI Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force and the NYPD Human Trafficking Squad.
As the case continues, the charges illustrate ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat human trafficking. District Attorney Melinda Katz has advised anyone in need of assistance, or who knows someone who may be a victim of trafficking, to contact the Human Trafficking Bureau in her office. The prosecution is being conducted by Assistant District Attorney Kiran Cheema.
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