Tyrone Stylistic Crooks, of Queens, charged with sex trafficking young girls at hotels across Long Island

A Queens man was charged with sex trafficking five victims, including three girls between the ages of 14 and 17, at hotels across Long Island and elsewhere in a 12-count indictment unsealed in federal court in Central Islip on Thursday.

Tyrone Stylistic Crooks, 33, was arrested on Wednesday at a hotel in Huntington, according to Eastern District of New York prosecutors, who said he operated as a pimp and trafficked the victims across various locations in Brooklyn, Queens, Westbury, Woodbury, Hicksville, Melville, Bethpage and Huntington.

Crooks, charged with multiple counts of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors and other crimes, pleaded not guilty on Thursday at an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst. Crooks remains detained by federal authorities.

Authorities said Crooks, of St. Albans, used threats and violence to manipulate his victims into sex work for his benefit. Joseph Nocella, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, said Crooks forced the women and girls to "sell their bodies for his own profit." He assaulted multiple victims, including one who was pregnant, authorities said.

Crooks’ attorney, Felipe Garcia of the Long Island Federal Defenders office, declined to comment on the charges.

Crooks also used the minors to produce sexually provocative images and videos, according to court papers. Prosecutors said he demanded sex from his victims, telling at least one that she was not allowed to say ‘no’ to him.