NY writer who recruited women from overseas is accused of sex crimes, labor trafficking

NY writer accused of abusing foreign assistants

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A suburban New York City writer who offered jobs to women from Hungary, France and Brazil has been accused of sexually abusing them.

A Westchester County grand jury has indicted 66-year-old Joseph Yannai (YAH’-nay) on charges including labor trafficking and sex abuse.

Yannai wrote a reference guide to the world’s top chefs called “The International Who’s Who of Chefs 2004-2005.” He’s from Pound Ridge, 45 miles north of New York City.

District Attorney Janet DiFiore (dee-fee-OHR’-ay) said Tuesday that Yannai recruited the three women to be personal assistants at the home he shares with his wife. DiFiore says when the women arrived he demanded they perform sexual services.

She says the investigation began when one woman escaped and complained.

Defense attorney John Pappalardo says Yannai denies the allegations. He says the women were free to come and go.