Westchester Writer Sentenced in Sex Abuse of Au Pairs Lured from Overseas

Prosecutors say Joseph Yannai used au pair websites to persuade young women to live and work at his home in Pound Ridge

A Westchester writer has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually abusing young women he lured from overseas to be his assistant.

Prosecutors say Joseph Yannai used au pair websites to persuade young women to live and work at his home in Pound Ridge, an upscale suburb north of New York City. Some of the victims testified that he subjected them to non-stop lewd behavior and threats.

The Journal News reports Yannai was sentenced Monday. He was convicted in federal court in 2011 on forced labor, sex crime and other charges.

The defense said the 69-year-old Yannai was a "dirty old man," but denied he broke the law.

Yannai wrote a reference guide called "The International Who's Who of Chefs 2004-2005."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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