A serial rapist who preyed on kids has been sentenced to 34 years in jail for violently sexually assaulting a minimum of two victims, the Queens District Lawyer’s Workplace introduced this week.
Viando Ricketts, a barber from St. Albans, was sentenced to 22 years in jail for raping a 12-year-old woman, plus one other 12 years for raping a 16-year-old woman, with each incidents occurring in 2022, in keeping with court docket paperwork.
“This sexual predator targeted unsuspecting children, brought them to a hotel near his place of employment, and raped them,” Queens D.A. Melinda Katz stated in an announcement. “We thank the brave victims for coming forward.”
Ricketts, now 31, met his first sufferer, a 16-year-old woman, when she began working a summer season job at a retailer subsequent door to his barbershop in June 2022. After shopping for her meals in an try to realize her friendship, he took her to the Belmont Motel on Hempstead Ave. in Queens Village, the place he raped her whereas she struggled to get away, in keeping with court docket paperwork.
Afterward he repeatedly apologized to the sufferer and satisfied her to enter right into a relationship with him, throughout which era he continued to sexually and bodily abuse her, together with an incident in October 2022 through which he repeatedly punched her within the face throughout an argument.
A yr later, after they’d damaged up, Ricketts satisfied the sufferer to get into his automobile to speak about their relationship and raped her contained in the automobile, in keeping with court docket paperwork.
Whereas in a relationship with the primary sufferer, Ricketts met a 12-year-old woman who had not too long ago run away from a gaggle dwelling, gave her meals and alcohol and took her to the Belmont Motel, the place he threw her onto the mattress and raped her as she struggled to get away, in keeping with court docket paperwork.
A number of days later, whereas on the hospital for a unique challenge, the 12-year-old woman disclosed the rape, which hospital staff reported to the police. The 16-year-old sufferer additionally took out a restraining order towards Ricketts, which he violated by persevering with to textual content and name her till being arrested in Might 2024.
After serving his sentence, Ricketts could have a further 10 years probation and should register as a intercourse offender.
Initially Printed: June 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT
