Texas man nicknamed ‘Blue Cheese’ charged with forcing teens into prostitution and branding them in East New York: DA • Brooklyn Paper

A Texas man has been charged with human trafficking and other crimes after allegedly forcing two teenage girls in East New York into prostitution and branding their faces with his nickname, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced Thursday.

Donald Roberson, 29, of Dallas, appeared in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Sept. 11 before Judge Danny Chun, who ordered him held without bail. Roberson faces a 17-count indictment, including charges of child sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and sexual abuse. He is due back in court on Oct. 23.

Prosecutors allege Roberson met a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old on Instagram and convinced them to travel to New York. The three arrived in East New York on Aug. 16 and stayed at the Hotel Sunborn, where Roberson had rented a room.

Once there, Roberson allegedly forced the girls into prostitution, taking all the money they earned. He also allegedly took them to a tattoo parlor, where his nickname, “Blue Cheese,” was tattooed on their faces.

According to the prosecution, Roberson physically assaulted both victims. On August 20, in McCarren Park, he allegedly punched the 17-year-old in the face, pulled her hair and kicked her, causing her to seize up. He is also accused of stabbing her with scissors.

The 18-year-old told authorities that Roberson choked and beat her two days later after she was discharged from Kings County Hospital with a throat infection.

Roberson was arrested on August 23 after the 17-year-old girl managed to text someone in Texas with the hotel’s address and room number. Before sending the text, she allegedly locked herself in Roberson’s car during an argument. Roberson allegedly smashed the car window, cut her with shards of glass and used a lighter to burn her leg.

“This defendant allegedly subjected two young women to horrific abuse, treated them as his personal property by branding them with his nickname, and forced them into a life of exploitation and violence,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “The cruelty these victims endured is appalling, and we will work diligently to ensure he is held accountable for the inhumanity he committed.”

Roberson is charged with a series of charges, including promoting prostitution in the second, third and fourth degrees, criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, sexual misconduct and sexual abuse in the third degree.

The charges follow four such cases involving forced prostitution in East New York over the past two years. In December 2022, two individuals were charged with forcing a 16-year-old into prostitution, while in February 20223, a California man was cited after he allegedly forced a 16-year-old to travel to New York to engage in forced prostitution in the neighborhood. Then in 2024, a couple was charged with allegedly sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl over a month-long period in 2022, and another man was charged with the alleged rape and attempted sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl.