A 63-year-old man from Queens, Virgilio Taveras, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old boy in broad daylight after luring him with the promise of a potential construction job. This disturbing incident, which took place on July 1 in Jamaica, is not Taveras’ first run-in with the law.
According to authorities, Taveras has two prior arrests in Queens, both involving attacks on strangers. The first incident occurred on June 7, 2013, when he got into an argument with a woman on Roosevelt Avenue and then followed her while brandishing a metal bat, causing her to fear for her safety. Taveras was charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, harassment, and disorderly conduct in this case.
The second arrest took place on July 7, 2018, when Taveras allegedly punched a 19-year-old man who he did not know and then proceeded to choke him until he lost consciousness. He was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and misdemeanor assault in this incident.
The outcome of these prior arrests is unclear, as the Queens District Attorney’s Office has stated that no information is publicly available on those cases. In the recent rape case, Taveras allegedly approached the 14-year-old victim in his car, offered him a job in construction, and then assaulted him after driving off with him. He then gave the boy $50 before letting him go.
Taveras was arrested two days later by the Special Victims Squad and has been charged with second-degree rape, luring a child, forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree sexual abuse. He is currently being held on $20,000 cash bail or $60,000 bond.
The NYPD has released Taveras’ mugshot and images of the car he used in the hope that any other victims will come forward. They urge anyone with information to contact the NYPD’s Sex Crimes Hotline or Crime Stoppers Hotline. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious behavior to authorities.
