Danny St. Louis, 43, of Bay Shore faces additional sex-trafficking charges

A Bay Shore man who pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and rape charges back in April now faces additional charges, according to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.

Danny St. Louis, 43, was indicted on three counts of sex trafficking for the alleged commercial sexual exploitation of an additional female victim, plus counts of possession of both drugs and child pornography, among other charges, according to a news release.

The new charges brought this past Thursday arrived five months after Newsday reported St. Louis was indicted on 28 felony and misdemeanor charges related to alleged sex trafficking of two female victims.

“These new charges stem from a brave victim who came forward following our initial announcement,” Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement Monday. He added that sex trafficking is a “disgraceful modern-day slave trade” and urged its victims or witnesses to “please come forward.”

Tierney’s office said the latest victim of St. Louis’ alleged sex trafficking alerted the Suffolk County Police Department that the Bay Shore man sexually exploited her from January through February. Authorities said she was required to perform sexual acts with buyers in return for money. She then had to give the funds to St. Louis, who allegedly provided her with small quantities of drugs, including crack cocaine and fentanyl, “designed to keep her addicted and continuing to work,” according to the district attorney’s release.

On July 15, 2023, St. Louis was pulled over for a seat belt violation and was allegedly in possession of cocaine, authorities said. Police recovered four cellphones from St. Louis and subsequently opened a human trafficking investigation. During a search of the phones, investigators found three videos of a victim, then aged 13, engaged in sexual performances, the district attorney’s office said.

On Thursday, St. Louis pleaded not guilty before state Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei on three counts of sex trafficking; three counts of possessing a sexual performance of a child; one count of fourth-degree promoting prostitution; one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; and one seat belt violation, according to court documents.

Newsday previously reported that prosecutors said St. Louis advertised and sold women for sex several times to various buyers, using heroin and crack to maintain control over at least one victim, between March 2023 and March 2024. Authorities also previously alleged St. Louis repeatedly raped a 13-year-old girl whom he allegedly also got addicted to crack.

On April 11, St. Louis was indicted in criminal court in Riverhead on 10 counts of second-degree criminal sexual act; three counts of second-degree rape; two counts each of sex trafficking and attempted sex trafficking; and one count each of first- and third-degree rape, among other charges. Mazzei ordered St. Louis be held without bail.

A co-defendant, Samantha Wimmer, 37, of Central Islip, who authorities alleged photographed and advertised the victim they controlled with drugs, was also indicted April 11 on two counts of attempted sex trafficking and one count each of sex trafficking, third-degree promoting prostitution and prostitution. She was held on $500,000 cash bail or $1 million bond.

St. Louis is due back in court Oct. 17 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, according to the district attorney’s office.