A Uniondale man was sentenced Tuesday to up to 52 years in prison after being convicted of sex trafficking and related crimes involving three women in Queens, according to Queens prosecutors.
Cleveland Sterling, also known as “Rich” and “Dollarz,” 38, was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 13 of sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, robbery and other charges in Queens Supreme Court.
Justice Peter Vallone Jr. sentenced Sterling to consecutive terms totaling 44½ to 52 years in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon release and serve five years of post-release supervision.
The Queens District Attorney’s office said, the crimes took place in the borough between 2019 and 2022.
Prosecutors said Sterling met the three victims between 2019 and 2021, when they were 22, 19 and 27. In each case, authorities said, he began a relationship that later became exploitative, forcing the women to engage in sex for money, arranging encounters and taking the proceeds.
Authorities said Sterling created online advertisements for the victims and controlled their interactions with customers. Prosecutors said he used violence, threats and intimidation to maintain control, and assaulted the women when they resisted or refused to comply.
In one case, police observed bruising on a victim after she reported that Sterling had forcibly taken money from her, according to the district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said two of the victims were also coerced into getting tattoos associated with Sterling as a means of control.
“This defendant preyed on three separate women using violence, intimidation and coercion to force the victims into sexual exploitation for his own profit. A jury found him guilty,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement on Tuesday.
Sterling’s trial began in late January, with opening statements on Jan. 28 and closing arguments on Feb. 9. The jury deliberated for two days before returning a guilty verdict.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Craig Ryan, the New York City Police Department’s Queens Vice Enforcement unit, with assistance from the district attorney’s Human Trafficking Bureau.
Katz said her office will continue to prosecute trafficking cases and work with service providers to support victims.
“Sex trafficking is calculated, cruel and devastating for those who are targeted,” Katz said in the statement. “We will continue to prosecute these crimes while working with our partner service providers to provide survivors with proper support and resources.”
No information about Sterling’s defense attorney or a response from the defense was immediately available.
