Bronx Pimp Arrested for "International Sex Trafficking" at Huntington Hotel

By Leader Staff

The Rodeway Inn in Huntington has again been identified in criminal arrests as being at the center of sex trafficking and human trafficking in Suffolk County.

Last month, Suffolk police arrested Eric Acevedo, age 36, of the Bronx, for being part of an international human sex trafficking ring that brought women to the Rodeway Inn in Huntington for rape and sex abuse.

Acevedo was charged with promoting prostitution for trafficking women and girls to the Rodeway Inn on West Jericho Turnpike and selling them to customers, according to the Suffolk County police.

The Suffolk Police stated that they opened an investigation after they "noticed women that they believed might be victims of human trafficking.”

The human trafficking ring brought girls and women to Huntington over the past three years - including victims from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Florida, and New York.

Suffolk Police coordinated with the FBI to arrest Acevedo on Cedar Avenue in the Bronx, charging him with third-degree promoting prostitution and fifth-degree conspiracy.

This arrest follows the criminal conviction last year of Michael Howell, age 65, of Brooklyn, for sex trafficking and drugs - also at the Rodeway Inn in Huntington.

Howell was arrested on February 1, 2024, at the Rodeway Inn.

A trafficked woman he was keeping at the hotel approached an undercover police detective outside of the Rodeway Inn motel, according to police.

Howell was convicted and sentenced last September to 13 to 29 years in state prison by Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis, who condemned Howell's "horrible acts" against "vulnerable women" which included beatings, drugging, violence and forced sex.

The Suffolk Legislature just enacted a local law to try to combat sex trafficking, passing Resolution 1111-2025, which was adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature and signed into law by County Executive Ed Romaine in February.  The law mandates stricter record keeping and limits hourly “hot sheets” hotel rentals by Suffolk hotels and motels.

Police urge anyone who observes or suspects that sex or human trafficking is occurring to call police emergency immediately at 911.