Forest Hills man faces 25 years for prostituting teens

A Queens man has been convicted of 40 felony charges for prostituting two girls, aged 13 and 16,in 2011.

Peter Gerardi, 30, of Forest Hills, faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in Queens Supreme Court on Dec. 8.

Queens DA Richard Brown said court documents show Gerardi was out on parole in 2011 when he befriended a 13-year-old girl and later asked her to engage in sex acts with men, and coached her to take money and lie about her age. Brown said when the girl did not comply, he was physically violent towards her. Gerardi also had sex with the girl.

Gerardi also forced a 16-year-old girl he met on the streets to work as a prostitute for him, the DA’s office said.

The teens escaped from Gerardi when he was arrested in September 2011. He later called the 13-year-old girl, and when she refused to prostitute herself, Gerardi had two women beat her up “because she wasn’t being a good prostitute.” The 13-year-old went to police after the attack.

Gerardi was convicted on one count of compelling prostitution, three counts of second-degree promoting prostitution, two counts of third-degree promoting prostitution, 21 counts of statutory rape, 11 counts of statutory criminal sex act and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Gerardi has been held without jail since being arrested in December 2013.