Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ali Hamed was indicted by a grand jury on charges of patronizing a person for prostitution, criminal solicitation and child endangerment. He is alleged to have approached a 14-year-old girl in Corona and asked her to perform a sex act in exchange for money.

District Attorney Melinda Katz said: “As alleged, this defendant walked up to a 14-year-old girl who was on her way to school and told her he would give her cash if she performed a sex act. Fortunately, the victim fled and immediately told her father who reported the incident to police. Photos and a description of the suspect were released by the NYPD and the defendant surrendered. An investigation revealed he may have tried to solicit other victims. Anyone who was approached by the defendant is asked to call our Human Trafficking Bureau at 718-286-6548.”

Hamed, 25, of 97^th Road in Corona, was arraigned yesterday on a grand jury indictment charging him with patronizing a person for prostitution in the second and third degrees, criminal solicitation in the fourth degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone Jr. ordered him to return to court September 10. If convicted, he faces up to 1 1/3 to four years in prison.

According to the charges, on June 25, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the 14-year-old victim was walking on 97^th Street in Corona on her way to a bus stop to go to school. Hamed approached her and spoke to her in English and Spanish. He allegedly said he would pay her $50 to perform a sex act on him and made a lewd motion with his hand.

When the victim said no, Hamed allegedly offered her $100. The girl fled and reported the incident to her father and later in person to the 115^th Precinct.

Hamed surrendered to the 115 Precinct on June 27.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Jasmin Gutic of the NYPD’s 115th Precinct Detective Squad under the supervision of Sergeant Thomas Lamneck and Lieutenant Brendan Grace.

Assistant District Attorney Kiran Cheema, Supervisor in the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jessica Melton, Bureau Chief, and Marilyn Filingeri, Assistant Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard A. Brave.