GOSHEN – A Newburgh woman pled guilty before Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown to two counts of sex trafficking for forcing two teenage girls to engage in prostitution.
Franiqua Patterson, 25, also pled guilty on Friday to attempted assault for injuring a woman with a knife in January.
Patterson admitted that between November 12, 2017 and February 5, 2018, she compelled a 15-year-old girl to engage in prostitution by threats of violence. Patterson admitted she forced the girl to act as a prostitute by beating and threatening her. She admitted taking most of the money the girl received from acts of prostitution.
Patterson also admitted that between February 20, 2018 and April 5, 2018, she compelled a 19-year-old girl to engage in prostitution by threatening and beating her. She also admitted to taking most of the money from that girl had received from prostitution.
Patterson also admitted that on January 4, 2018 she attempted to assault another woman with a knife while inside a First Street, Newburgh apartment and that she intended to cause the victim serious injury. Prosecutors had argued that the victim suffered lacerations to her arms.
Patterson is expected to get 12 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision when sentenced in December.
