BAY SHORE, NY– Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today Monday that Freddie Rice, 35, of Bay Shore, has been sentenced to 18 to 36 years in state prison following his conviction at trial on multiple counts of Sex Trafficking.
Rice was found guilty of exploiting women struggling with substance addiction by using narcotics and financial coercion to force them to engage in sexual acts with third parties for his personal profit.
What this defendant did was despicable – exploiting vulnerable people battling addiction and turning their suffering into profit,” said District Attorney Tierney. “With today’s sentence, he will no longer be able to victimize others. My office encourages anyone who is a victim of sex trafficking to contact 911 or the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Tipline at (631) 852-2950.”
The evidence presented at trial established that between August 2019 and December 2023, Rice targeted multiple women who were addicted to heroin and/or crack cocaine. Prosecutors proved that Rice used the victims’ dependency on narcotics to exert control over them, coercing them into engaging in commercial sex acts with various men.
Rice dictated how the victims communicated with buyers, set prices for specific sexual acts, and required them to turn over all proceeds to him. If a victim withheld any money, Rice would “punish” her by withholding drugs, forcing her to endure severe and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. In addition, Rice told the victims they were required to continue engaging in sex acts to pay off an alleged “debt” to him — a debt that was never reduced regardless of how much money they generated.
On October 24, 2025, following a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins, Rice was convicted of:
- Two counts of Sex Trafficking – Class B felonies
- One count of Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree – Class D felony
On January 9, 2026, Justice Collins sentenced Rice to 18 to 36 years in prison on the sex trafficking convictions. On the same date, Rice was also sentenced to six years in prison on an unrelated conviction for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance/Narcotic Drug, both Class B felonies.
Rice has a significant prior felony record, including:
- Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (2013)
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (2012)
- Burglary in the Third Degree (2010)
- Burglary in the Third Degree and Attempted Assault in the Second Degree (2009)
Key Facts and Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Freddie Rice |
| Age | 35 |
| Residence | Bay Shore, New York |
| Crime Type | Sex trafficking |
| Timeframe of Crimes | August 2019 – December 2023 |
| Victims | Multiple adult women |
| Method of Coercion | Narcotics dependence; financial control; threats of drug withdrawal |
| Substances Involved | Heroin and crack cocaine |
| Criminal Conduct | Forced victims to engage in commercial sex acts; confiscated earnings; imposed false “debt” |
| Trial Verdict Date | October 24, 2025 |
| Court | Suffolk County Supreme Court |
| Presiding Judge | Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins |
| Top Convictions | Sex Trafficking (2 counts) |
| Felony Classification | Class B felonies |
| Additional Conviction | Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree (Class D felony) |
| Sentencing Date | January 9, 2026 |
| Sentence Imposed | 18 to 36 years in state prison |
| Additional Sentence | Six years for unrelated drug convictions |
| Prior Felony Convictions | Drug possession and sale; burglary; attempted assault |
| Prosecuting Agency | Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office |
| Defense Counsel | Anthony Rutkowski, Esq. |
| Victim Resources | SCDA Human Trafficking Tipline: (631) 852-2950 |
| Case Status | Sentenced |
