MINEOLA, N.Y. – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce A. Smith announced that a Bloods gang member was sentenced today to 7 years in prison for sex trafficking, physically injuring and threatening his victim over the course of two years so that she would continue engaging in prostitution throughout hotels and motels in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Dominic Cunningham, 27, of Roosevelt, pled guilty on May 24, 2021 before Judge Robert Bogle to three counts of sex trafficking (a B felony), promoting prostitution in the second degree (a C felony), and intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree (an E felony). Cunningham was sentenced today to 7 years in prison and a maximum of five years of post-release supervision. As part of the sentence, Cunningham must also register as a sex offender.
“This defendant exploited his victim in every way – forcing her to continue to engage in prostitution by hitting and kicking her, giving her prescription tranquilizers, and making threats against her and her family because he believed they went to the police,” said Acting DA Smith. “Thankfully, this predator will now be off the streets and behind bars.”
Acting DA Smith said that from May 2017 to May 2019, Cunningham drove his victim to hotels and motels in both Nassau and Suffolk counties and paid for hotel rooms for the victim to have “dates” with clients in exchange for money. Cunningham caused the victim multiple physical injuries, by hitting, kicking, and whipping her with a belt, provided her with prescription tranquilizers, including Xanax and Percocet, and made verbal threats in order to keep her engaging in prostitution activity.
On March 18, 2020, Cunningham sent threatening text messages to the victim, threatening to kill the victim and her mother because he believed they had filed a police report against him.