Two prostitutes cheered loudly and burst into tears of relief Wednesday when their pimps were acquitted of sex trafficking charges.
The father-son pimp team of Vincent George Sr. and Vincent George Jr. was accused of brutalizing prostitutes who worked the streets of Manhattan for them, but the women were devoted to their “daddies” and testified on their behalf at the nonjury trial.
When Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Ruth Pickholz ruled the Georges were not guilty of sex trafficking, Danielle Geissler, 31, and Desiree Ellis, 24, released cries of such uncontrollable joy that they had to be told to stop.
The pimps could have faced up to 25 years behind bars under a relatively new state law.
Pickholz did nail the pimps on charges of money laundering and felony promoting prostitution. The duo could still face up to 15 years behind bars on the top count.
“It’s a victorious day because they are not sex traffickers,” said Talea Wufka, who identified herself as a family friend.
Geissler, who has a child with George Jr. and has been working for him for years, balanced her elation at the acquittal against the sobering conviction.
“We don’t know how to feel about it … We want him home,” she said.
George Sr.’s daughter, also Geroge Jr.’s sister, also worked for the pair and was present, but she left without speaking to reporters.
