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Local Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Au Pairs

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May 18, 2009 11:49 pm US/Eastern

Local Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Au Pairs

Investigators: Joseph Yannai Used Servants As Sex Slaves, Did Not Pay Them For First Year Of Service

Reporting
Sean Hennessey
POUND RIDGE, N.Y. (CBS) ― They come to America under the guise of working for an American family, maybe caring for children.

But police said a Westchester County man had other ideas when his au pairs arrived. Now he's charged with sex abuse.

Police said the house on the water was like an island prison for the young women who, through au pair Web sites, came to work for Joseph Yannai and found his home to be a living hell.

"There were demands being made, sexual demands by Mr. Yannai," New York State Police Investigator Cornelius Merrit said.

Police suspect the 65-year-old was using his assistants as sex slaves and he wouldn't pay them until after a year.

"[The women were] financially stranded, somewhat emotionally stranded, far from home with no money and nowhere to go," Merrit said.

The latest arrival, from Hungary, was rescued by an acquaintance living in the area who then called Pound Ridge Police.

Besides the woman from Hungary, police said there was also a woman from Brazil living there and a third from France was arriving soon. Investigators said the search warrant revealed there may have been a dozen other potential victims through the years.

The suspect had no comment while his neighbors said they had no idea about the guy next door.

"I'm totally shocked. I had no idea that that was occurring in the area let alone two houses down," neighbor Lauren Rodriguez said.

"You never know what's happening behind closed doors. It's crazy," neighbor Kurt Abisch said.

Especially to those hoping for happiness inside but finding anything but.

Yannai, whose lawyer denies the allegations, lives with his wife and has no children. He's been charged with two counts of labor trafficking and one count of sex abuse. But more charges are possible if police determine there are other victims.

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