Long Island, NY – Nine individuals appeared in court on Thursday, facing a 75-count grand jury indictment related to the kidnapping, sex trafficking, and repeated abuse of 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi.
The girl, who was missing for 25 days, was allegedly given drugs, raped multiple times, and sold for sex by the defendants.
Key Suspect and Charges
Alton Harrell, 35, believed to be the ringleader, pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, rape, and sex trafficking. Prosecutors claim he initiated the abuse by luring Gervasi from her home on December 9 and taking her to an abandoned house in Bellport, where he allegedly exchanged crack cocaine for sex.
Harrell, who prosecutors say had a sexual relationship with the teen going back to 2024, is charged with kidnapping and rape and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Dana Castaldo described Harrell as the catalyst for the events that followed, saying:
“This defendant set the entire chain of events in motion by victimizing someone he knew as a child.”
If convicted, Harrell faces a life sentence.
Other Defendants and Their Alleged Roles
Eight additional suspects also pleaded not guilty to their respective charges:
- Francis Buckheit, 64 (East Islip) – Alleged boat owner where Gervasi was eventually rescued.
- Daniel Burke, 63 (Bohemia) – Accused of holding the teen in his mobile home for over a day.
- Elizabeth Hunter, 34 (Islip) – Alleged participant in the trafficking operation.
- Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52 (Bellport) – Facing charges linked to the abuse.
- Robert Eccleston, 61 (Islip) – Allegedly kept the victim in a garbage container for three days before she was moved to a 56-foot boat.
- Bunice Knight, 47 (Copiague) – Alleged accomplice in the trafficking ring.
- Kevin McDonald, 20 (Medford) – Accused of sexually assaulting Gervasi in his car before taking her to a motel in Bohemia.
- Ralph Knowles, 63 (Brentwood) – Facing charges related to the victim’s abuse.
Rescue and Additional Arrests
Gervasi’s father, Frank, ultimately rescued her from a boat after weeks of captivity. The investigation has also led to three additional arrests not included in the indictment:
- Daniel Soto, 36 (Bay Shore) – Arrested for second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.
- DeShaun McClean, 42 – Charged with criminal sexual contact after allegedly groping Gervasi at a state mental health facility following her rescue.
- Rebecca Browell, 48 – Arrested for drug distribution, allegedly supplying Gervasi with drugs while being aware she was being sexually exploited by adult men.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the trafficking network, while prosecutors emphasize the severity of the crimes. The accused face lengthy prison sentences if convicted
