Uniondale man sentenced to up to 52 years for sex trafficking three women
Cleveland Sterling, 38, also known as “Rich” and “Dollarz,” was convicted by a jury on Feb. 13 of sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, robbery, assault, and other charges.
More Stories
A Uniondale man who violently exploited three women in a years-long sex‑trafficking scheme has been sentenced to up to 52 years in prison, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
Cleveland Sterling, 38, also known as “Rich” and “Dollarz,” was convicted by a jury on Feb. 13 of sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, robbery, assault, and other charges. Prosecutors said Sterling used intimidation, coercion, and repeated violence to force the women into prostitution while taking all of their earnings. District Attorney Katz called sex trafficking “calculated, cruel and devastating,” and said the lengthy sentence reflects the severity of Sterling’s crimes.
According to trial testimony, Sterling met his first victim in 2019 and forced the 22‑year‑old woman into prostitution for over three years, repeatedly beating her when she failed to comply with his demands. At one point, he broke some of her teeth, and on another occasion, struck her with a glass bottle that required staples to her head. The second victim, a 19‑year‑old woman he met in 2021, was also forced into prostitution and regularly assaulted when she resisted. Police documented bruising after an October 2021 incident in which Sterling stole money from her. The third victim, a 27‑year‑old woman he met in 2019, was similarly coerced into prostitution shortly after they began dating.
Two of the victims were tattooed with variations of Sterling’s name, which prosecutors said he used as a method of branding and control. One victim was told she would “have to cut off her own foot” because it bore his name, while the second was unknowingly tattooed with his street name and told she was now his property.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone Jr. ordered Sterling’s prison terms for each victim to run consecutively, resulting in a total sentence of 44 to 52 years. Sterling will also serve five years of post‑release supervision and must register as a sex offender.
