A serial rapist who preyed on children has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for violently sexually assaulting at least two victims, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced this week.
Viando Ricketts, a barber from St. Albans, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl, plus another 12 years for raping a 16-year-old girl, with both incidents occurring in 2022, according to court documents.
“This sexual predator targeted unsuspecting children, brought them to a hotel near his place of employment, and raped them,” Queens D.A. Melinda Katz said in a statement. “We thank the brave victims for coming forward.”
Ricketts, now 31, met his first victim, a 16-year-old girl, when she started working a summer job at a store next door to his barbershop in June 2022. After buying her food in an attempt to gain her friendship, he took her to the Belmont Motel on Hempstead Ave. in Queens Village, where he raped her while she struggled to get away, according to court documents.
Afterward he repeatedly apologized to the victim and convinced her to enter into a relationship with him, during which time he continued to sexually and physically abuse her, including an incident in October 2022 in which he repeatedly punched her in the face during an argument.
A year later, after they had broken up, Ricketts convinced the victim to get into his car to talk about their relationship and raped her inside the vehicle, according to court documents.
While in a relationship with the first victim, Ricketts met a 12-year-old girl who had recently run away from a group home, gave her food and alcohol and took her to the Belmont Motel, where he threw her onto the bed and raped her as she struggled to get away, according to court documents.
Several days later, while at the hospital for a different issue, the 12-year-old girl disclosed the rape, which hospital workers reported to the police. The 16-year-old victim also took out a restraining order against Ricketts, which he violated by continuing to text and call her until being arrested in May 2024.
After serving his sentence, Ricketts will have an additional 10 years probation and have to register as a sex offender.