A father who heroically rescued his teenage daughter from sex traffickers in a real-life Taken-style scenario has now launched a $10 million civil lawsuit against two psychiatric facilities. Frank Gervasi alleges that staff members assaulted his daughter while she was in their care following her traumatic ordeal.
Dramatic Rescue and Subsequent Allegations
Frank Gervasi, 50, tracked down his then-14-year-old daughter Emmarae from the clutches of traffickers aboard a yacht near Long Island in December 2024. She had been missing for nearly a month before her father's determined efforts led to her recovery. The rescue operation concluded 26 agonizing days after her disappearance.
Legal Action Against Care Facilities
Gervasi filed the civil suit on April 3, specifically targeting Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center and Brentwood Residential Center. The lawsuit claims that two employees assaulted Emmarae during her recovery period. According to legal documents obtained by Daily Mail, the father is demanding more than $10 million in damages for the physical and emotional trauma suffered by both himself and his now 16-year-old daughter.
Specific Allegations Against Staff Members
The complaint identifies 43-year-old Deshaun McClean, a mental health therapist at Sagamore, who is accused of inappropriately touching the teenager on multiple occasions. McClean was subsequently arrested and charged with child sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Despite facility officials reportedly alerting Gervasi about "inappropriate contact," the lawsuit alleges the abuse continued.
"Less than a week later...defendant Deshaun McClean, whom the facility was warned about, and the father was assured would not be a threat to his daughter, sexually assaulted the minor while she was in the care and custody of Sagamore," wrote Gervasi's attorney in the legal filing.
Additional Accusations at Second Facility
State worker Darryl Joyner, 58, faces separate accusations from Suffolk Police. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Newsday, Joyner allegedly offered Emmarae drugs in exchange for seeing her nude while she was at Brentwood Residential Center. The lawsuit further alleges a third state worker assaulted the girl at Brentwood, though that individual has not been criminally charged.
Both McClean and Joyner remain free on cash bail and are scheduled to return to court in late April to face their respective criminal charges.
Background of the Trafficking Case
Emmarae disappeared from her East Patchogue home on December 9, 2024, after stepping outside to retrieve items from a Jeep. A large-scale search operation ensued, with Gervasi working closely with local police. In a surprising development, Gervasi received an anonymous tip that led him to discover his daughter aboard a 56-foot yacht just off Main Street in Islip.
"I did find her myself before police got there. It was the end of 26 days of hell seeing her alive in my arms. It was a gift from God. I can't describe the feeling I had when I grabbed her," Frank told News 12 at the time of the rescue.
Wider Trafficking Network Uncovered
The yacht belonged to Francis Buckheit, who was arrested on rape and kidnapping charges in connection with Emmarae's case. According to Newsday reports, over a two-year period, 23 people have been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged sex ring that trafficked the teenager. Across two states, 19 men and four others have been accused of involvement in the trafficking network.
Gervasi's complaint indicates that at least seven people have been indicted in connection to the case, highlighting the extensive nature of the criminal operation that victimized his daughter before her dramatic rescue and the subsequent allegations against the psychiatric facilities.
