Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marilyn Roque was sentenced today to 7 ½ years in prison for the sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking by force, labor trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child. Roque forced a 14-year-old girl to have sex for money with a 49-year-old man. The defendant also forced the victim to work shifts at a restaurant – turning over the pay to her – and to provide childcare for the defendant’s children without pay.

District Attorney Melinda Katz said: “This defendant took advantage of a child and forced the 14-year-old to engage in prostitution and work shifts at a restaurant for her own financial gain. I thank the brave teenager who came forward and gave us information to build this case and get justice. The trafficking of children – and stripping them of their dignity through forced sex and labor exploitation – is particularly sinister. If you are aware of anyone who may be trafficked, please contact our Human Trafficking Bureau at 718-286-6548.”

Roque, 30, of Beach 114^th Street in Rockaway Park, pleaded guilty in May to sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking by force, labor trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child. Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone sentenced her today to 7 ½ years in prison for each sex trafficking charge, 2 1/3 to seven years for labor trafficking and 364 days in jail for endangering the welfare of a child, to run concurrently.

Roque’s codefendant, Jesus Juarez-Reyas, 51, of Beach 113^th Street in Rockaway Park, pleaded guilty to rape in the third degree and patronizing a person for prostitution. He is expected to be sentenced July 23.

Both defendants will be required to register as sex offenders.

According to the charges, the victim came to the United States from El Salvador in September 2022 and lived with Roque.

On December 31, 2022, Roque forced the victim, who was then 14, to have sex with Juarez-Reyas, who was 49, in exchange for $600.

The defendant also forced the victim to care for her children and to take over her shifts at a restaurant. The victim was ordered to give the earnings to Roque. The defendant threatened the victim with deportation if she did not comply and often kept the child out of school.

Assistant District Attorney Felicia Thomas of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Bureau is prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jessica Melton, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard A. Brave.