Zayvon Acoy, 27, of St. Croix has been charged with sex trafficking of children for allegedly physically forcing his 17-year old girlfriend to have sex with a man for pay.
The charges arise from a 2017 arrest on rape and domestic violence charges. According to an affidavit filed with U.S. District Court on St. Croix, on Aug. 22, 2017, a 17 year-old minor female filed a complaint with the V.I. Police Department against Acoy for allegedly strangling her, raping her and stealing her phone and laptop. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher McGrath said during the course of the interview, the young woman said Acoy “sold her into prostitution to an older man on two different occasion.”
VIPD officials stopped the interview and referred the matter to Homeland Security Investigations based on potential child sex trafficking charges.
“Jane Doe stated that Acoy pressured her to have sexual intercourse with an older man on two different occasions. On both occasions. Acoy transported Jane Doe to the home of the older man.” The victim told officers she saw $250 paid directly to Acoy on two occasions.
The victim identified James Phillip of St. Croix as the man who paid Acoy to have sex with the minor, from a lineup of six men reportedly of similar age and features. James Phillip of St. Croix was charged for paying a third person to have sex with a woman who he allegedly knew to be a minor. No details about Phillip other than his name are given in court documents.
At the time of Phillip’s arrest, Acoy’s indictment was under seal. It has been unsealed.
The victim reportedly said Phillip was inaccurately told she was 16 years old rather than 17. Phillip and the individual whose name is redacted are charged with sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion, under 18 U.S.C. section 1591.
Both Acoy and Phillip are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Acoy has also been charged in V.I. Superior Court with aggravated rape in the second degree, assault, assault and battery, all under domestic violence statutes, and petit larceny, for stealing phones and laptops from the victim.
According to documents filed in that case, Acoy, who had been living with the victim at the victim’s mother’s residence, allegedly stole the victim’s cell phone and refused to give it back. He then allegedly choked her so she could not breathe; slapped her and left her mother’s residence. Then he allegedly returned, took a laptop and CD burner belonging to the victim and left again.