NYC correction officer posed as TV producer to lure woman to his home and rape her, DA says

A New York City correction officer was indicted Monday on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and other crimes after he allegedly lured a 20-year-old woman to his home in March to rape her, authorities said.

Anthony Martin Jr. pretended to be a television producer and director who was casting a new show when he contacted the woman on social media and invited her to his home, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

The woman went to his house in Springfield Gardens, a section of Queens, on March 24, under the belief she would meet other producers and prospective cast members, Katz said. But Martin was alone, prosecutors said.

When he began to touch her leg, the woman tried to leave but Martin blocked her exit, pulled down her pants and raped her, prosecutors said. When he let her leave, she reported the alleged attack to police and sought medical attention.

Martin, 32, was arraigned Monday in Queens Supreme Criminal Court. He is charged with first-degree rape and sexual abuse, third-degree rape and second-degree unlawful imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty and is out on bond. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

New York Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant ordered him to return to court Oct. 18.

Martin was off-duty at the time of the attack. He was suspended without pay on the day of his arrest, April 2, according to the city’s Department of Correction spokesperson Annais Morales. He earned $194,627 in 2023, according to payroll data.

Morales declined to comment about how long Martin had been employed with the department or where he was assigned.

Martin’s attorney, Steven Gaitman, said: “We look forward to continuing to contest and fight these charges until he is fully vindicated.”

Katz commended the woman for coming forward in a statement Monday, calling her “a brave survivor.”

“My office is committed to standing up for the survivors of sexual violence,” Katz said.