Chelsea Rape: East Harlem Man Charged In Fulton Houses Attack

CHELSEA, NY — An East Harlem man has been charged with rape after police say a woman was sexually assaulted inside the bathroom of an apartment at a Chelsea public housing complex. The attack happened on the morning of Feb. 3 at the New York City Housing Authority’s Fulton Houses on West 17th Street, police said.

Two men approached the 24-year-old woman in the bathroom inside an apartment, raped her and fled. The woman was rushed to a hospital in stable condition.

Police on Sunday said George Ballo, 26, of the 1800 block of 3rd Avenue, was charged with rape and criminal sex act 1.

Online court records indicate authorities arrested Ballo on Valentine's Day. He was released on Friday.

An investigation is ongoing.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the NYPD