Harpreet Singh, a resident of Queens, New York, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl who he befriended on a social networking site and induced her to send him her nude photographs.
Besides 18-year-old Singh, four others -- Noman Gondal, 18, Anjam Shahzad, 24, Vikram Harpreet, 18, and a juvenile offender -- had earlier pleaded guilty to first-degree rape. The sentencing of the remaining four is pending.
Arsalan Gondal, 22, who was also indicted, is presently being sought after failing to appear for a scheduled court appearance.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Robert C Kohm found Harpreet Singh guilty of six counts of first-degree rape, five counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, three counts of third-degree rape (statutory), five counts of third-degree rape and one count of second-degree coercion following two hours of jury deliberation.
Renee Lobo is human rights commisioner in NY