Man charged with torturing tenants, stealing paychecks

A Calumet City man who owns a South Side building is charged with torturing his mentally challenged tenants and forcing them to hand over their paychecks to him.

Roy Estivez was charged Tuesday with aggravated involuntary servitude, involuntary servitude and aggravated criminal sexual assault.

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office alleges that after Estivez rented an apartment to the 22- and 23-year-old victims, he conned them into turning over their paychecks to him. Prosecutors also allege Estivez forced the victims to take on second and third jobs to increase his take.

Prosecutors say when one victim lost a job, the 26-year-old Estivez tortured both victims and sexually assaulted one.

Estivez was ordered held Tuesday in lieu of $500,000. It wasn’t immediately known if he has legal representation.