Category: USDJ Human Trafficking

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Joshua Lampley-Reid, also known as “Tio” and “Fendi,” and a member of the Makk Balla set of the Bloods street gang, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 23 years in prison for sex trafficking of minors.  Lampley-Reid operated as a “pimp,” using violence and the threat of violence to compel the commission of commercial sex acts for his financial benefit, including by minors as young as 15 years old.  Lampley-Reid pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2022.

Carolyn Pokorny, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI) and Errol D. Toulon, Jr., Suffolk County Sheriff, announced the sentence.

“The defendant is a ruthless predator who exploited vulnerable minors without families or homes, and sexually trafficked them for his own financial gain,” stated Acting United States Attorney Pokorny.  “He is deserving of today’s significant jail sentence for the horrific physical and psychological abuse he inflicted on the victims, which, unfortunately, will continue to affect them for years to come.  It is my sincere hope that the justice meted out today will provide some measure of comfort to these young women and help them on their journey to healing.”

“This sentence brings some justice to the minors victimized by this dangerous predator who is now put away from causing any further harm to our community’s most vulnerable members,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Walker.  “Our children deserve to be protected from this violence and shielded from the lifelong trauma that accompanies it. HSI works collectively with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to bring an end to child exploitation and sex trafficking. Prosecuting those who seek to exploit children for their own self-gratification or greed is one of our top priorities.”

“The sentencing of this dangerous gang member is a clear message that those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our community will be held accountable,” stated Suffolk County Sheriff Toulon.  “The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is committed to continuing to fight human trafficking and working tirelessly with our federal and local partners to ensure that justice is served and that survivors are supported in their journey toward recovery.”

As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum and other court documents, in December 2019, Lampley-Reid began recruiting females, including Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit.  The defendant used social media and other internet applications to establish relationships with potential victims and groomed them by conveying a romantic interest in them, manipulating them into performing commercial sex acts and then effectively enslaving them through acts of force and coercion.  The defendant directed when, where and with whom the commercial sex acts would be performed.  The defendant met resistance to his commands, or failure to pay him, with violence or the threat of violence.  To maintain control over his victims, the defendant alternately showed affection and acted violently, not only beating and choking his victims, but also withholding food and other basic necessities.  This psychological and emotional abuse was depicted in videos recovered from the defendant’s cellular telephone.  He tracked his victims’ phones, threatened their families and stalked them after they left him.  The defendant used his association with the Makk Balla set of the Bloods street gang to terrorize them.  He also engaged in sexual intercourse with his minor victims, which he often video recorded, and managed his prostitution business over the Internet, posting sexually exploitative photos of minor victims that he took or persuaded them to take of themselves in order to further his trafficking business.  Although this conduct was concentrated in Nassau County, the defendant also transported certain victims to other states, including Florida, North Carolina and Maryland.   

If you are a victim or have information about sex trafficking, call HSI at 1-866-347-2423.  To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).  HSI is ready to work with you in your native language, regardless of your immigration status.           

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Megan E. Farrell is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

JOSHUA LAMPLEY-REID (also known as “Tio” and “Fendi”)
Age:  30
West Hempstead, Long Island

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-319 (S-1) (GRB)

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Maryland man, who used the drug dependency of multiple adult women to compel them to engage in commercial sex work, was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison.

William O’Neil Murray III, 36, pled guilty in August 2024 to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. In addition to jail time, Murray was also ordered to pay $94,190 in restitution to his victims.

“The fight against human trafficking is a cornerstone of the Department of Justice,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “Every day the men and women who investigate and prosecute these cases fight to protect those who are victims of these heinous crimes. I am grateful to the FBI, Virginia State Police, and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for bringing this matter to justice.”

“This sentencing is a powerful reminder that the FBI Richmond team will tirelessly work to free victims of sex trafficking and bring to justice those who seek to exploit their vulnerabilities for personal gain,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “I commend our team and partners on the I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force who investigated these heinous crimes here in Virginia and along the east coast.  Every month, and especially during Human Trafficking Awareness month, we encourage the public to recognize the signs of human trafficking and report concerns to tips.fbi.gov.”

According to court documents, beginning in December 2021 and continuing through July 2022, Murray engaged in a multistate sex trafficking operation involving at least three adult female victims.  Murray recruited and coerced his victims into commercial sex work using their drug dependency as his primary method of control.

Murray controlled his victims’ narcotics supply and usage, not allowing them to obtain drugs from anyone but himself. Murray would withhold drugs from his victims if they did not follow his directions or engage in commercial sex.  Many of the victims described becoming “dopesick” when Murray withheld drugs from them. Thus, Murray stood between them and the threat of painful withdrawal. Murray knew that withholding drugs from the victims would have a coercive effect and incentivize them to obey him and continue engaging in commercial sex.

Murray managed every aspect of the commercial sex transactions for his victims. The defendant used various commercial sex websites, such as Skipthegames.com and Backpage.com, to set up dates with commercial sex customers, set the prices, booked the hotel rooms, and transported his victims to the dates. And in most cases, Murray received all the proceeds from the commercial sex acts.

Murray maintained strict control over his victims’ activities including requiring them to stay in communication with him while they completed their commercial sex “dates.” Victims were not allowed to go anywhere without Murray’s permission and were punished if they did so.

The criminal behavior occurred in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force (I-81 HTTF), the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.

The I-81 HTTF is a collaborative effort of law enforcement and community partners focused on identifying instances of human trafficking along the I-81 corridor in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland; prosecuting those responsible; and providing assistance to the victims impacted by these crimes.  The I-81 HTTF includes law enforcement from Frederick, Clarke, and Shenandoah counties as well as the cities and towns of Front Royal, Hagerstown, and Frederick, Maryland, and Lord Fairfax Community College.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith, Sally J. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James with the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit of the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case for the United States. 

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that APOLINAR FRANCISCO PAREDES ESPINOZA, also known as “Pancho,” 58, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to charges stemming from his involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford.  The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero, her co-conspirators in Connecticut, and associates in Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S.  In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico.  They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.

After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities.  Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area.  In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork, or to assist Paredes in his job responsibilities, without compensation and without having their debt reduced.

Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt.  If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments.

To date, investigators have identified 18 victims of this scheme.

In November 2014, Paredes was encountered in the U.S. and removed the same day via foot at Hildago, Texas.  He illegally reentered the U.S. and, in December 2018, was arrested by East Hartford Police and charged with various motor vehicle offenses.  He was again removed to Mexico in February 2019.

Paredes has been detained since his arrest on March 1, 2023.

Paredes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and to illegal reentry of a removed alien, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.  Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for February 28.

Sanchez and her daughter, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, previously pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

As part of their plea agreements, Paredes, Sanchez, and Ramos, have agreed to restitution orders of $494,608.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Members of the Sex Trafficking Ring Shared Videos and Photos Depicting Violence Against Sex Workers to Instill Fear and Drive out Competitors

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

CONCORD – Charging documents were unsealed earlier today alleging three defendants attempted to sex traffic a child at a Manchester hotel, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. These three defendants were arrested as a result of a proactive federal and local law enforcement action.

To date the following defendants have been charged by criminal complaint with attempted sex trafficking of a minor:

1. Stacey Ray Lancaster, age 46, Hudson, New Hampshire. Lancaster is in federal custody and will appear in federal court on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 1:00pm.
2. Arthur Picanco, age 42, Bradford, Massachusetts. Picanco is in federal custody and will appear in federal court on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 3:00pm.
3. Ozeias Luiz Guilherme, age 38, Haverhill, Massachusetts. Guilherme is in federal custody and will appear in federal court on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 2:30pm.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Vicinanzo, Kasey Weiland, Anna Krasinski and Georgiana MacDonald are prosecuting the cases.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. 

Community questions should be directed to the U.S. Attorney’s Public Voicemail Line at 603-230-2563.

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Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Defendant Trafficked a 14-Year-Old Girl at the “Penn Track” Sex Market in Brooklyn

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

BOSTON – A Tewksbury man pleaded guilty yesterday to sex trafficking and the interstate transportation of seven separate victims for the purposes of prostitution.

Jermall Anderson, 45, pleaded guilty to seven counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, one count of coercion and enticement, and one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2025. Anderson was indicted in August 2023, along with two co-conspirators.

“This case highlights both the horrors of human trafficking and the myriad ways the opioid crisis plagues our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Jermall Anderson exploited his victims’ drug addictions to force these women to sell their bodies many times a day, with Anderson pocketing all the money. He also used physical force and threats of harm to coerce these victims and keep them in line. Our office and are partners are dedicated to fighting on behalf of sex trafficking victims and bringing their traffickers to justice.”  

“Anderson and his co-conspirators exploited women in the most inhumane ways possible. He tactically prowled substance abuse rehabilitation facilities to find women with vulnerabilities he could exploit for his own profit. Human traffickers like Anderson and his collaborators are predators who ensnare victims by offering safety only to create a climate of dependence and fear that keeps victims under their control,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “The survivors of Anderson’s trafficking ring have been through so much and we hope that today’s plea is a positive landmark in their healing.”

From 2012 through 2016, Anderson, along with his alleged co-conspirators, used physical violence, threats and the giving and withholding of heroin and cocaine to force seven different victims to prostitute on their behalf. Anderson and his alleged co-conspirators targeted vulnerable victims, specifically those struggling from drug addiction, homelessness and lack of economic resources. Anderson recruited women struggling with drug addiction directly from detox and drug rehabilitation facilities and forced and coerced them into providing commercial sex for his financial benefit. The defendants are alleged to have trafficked these victims throughout New England, New York and New Jersey.  

The charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion each provide for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of coercion and enticement and interstate transportation for prostitution provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the HSI Office in New Haven, Conn., the Lynn and Tewksbury Police Departments (Mass.) and the Hampden (Conn.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Leah B. Foley of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
 

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Michail McKen Controlled and Disciplined His Victims, Using Gunpoint Threats, Chokings, Beatings and Rationing Supplies of Opioids

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

RALEIGH, N.C. – D’Angelo Taborn, of Durham, was sentenced today to 27 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Following an FBI sting operation in Jacksonville, NC, Taborn and his co-defendant, Imani Franco, were arrested for using threats to coerce women into sex trafficking. Taborn, 31, pled guilty to the charge on July 24, 2024. Franco, 30, pled guilty on April 25, 2024, and was sentenced on September 23, 2024, to 12 years.

“Our Human Trafficking Task Force brings agencies together to expose traffickers, rescue victims, and dismantle the illicit networks that traffic in human beings for sex or labor,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “These defendants treated their victims like animals, deprived them of food, and threatened them with violence if they did not comply.  Thankfully the FBI, NCIS, and local law enforcement acted swiftly, to hold the traffickers accountable and help put the survivors on their path of healing.”

“It is difficult to hear these victims literally felt “caged” by these offenders. To be forced into sex trafficking, to have to ask for food, those are deplorable conditions for any human being to endure,” said Robert M. DeWitt the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. “The FBI and our local law enforcement partners will never stop working to combat human trafficking.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on August 12, 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Task Force conducted a proactive sting operation in Jacksonville, based on online advertisements for commercial sex. An undercover officer responded to an advertisement and was directed to a hotel in Jacksonville. The undercover officer encountered a young female depicted in the advertisement, later identified as Victim 1.

A short time later, law enforcement observed the defendants step out of a hotel room just down the hall. When they saw law enforcement, Taborn and Franco attempted to leave, but they were detained while officers obtained search warrants for their hotel room and vehicle.  Taborn and Franco carried three phones between them, and when officers called the number listed in the commercial sex advertisement for Victim 1, one of the phones rang.

When Taborn and Franco were arrested, Victim 1 became visibly relieved. She explained that Taborn and Franco had recruited her a month earlier and that they expected her to engage in commercial sex to make money for them. Taborn required Victim 1 to perform oral sex on him twice to ensure she was a “good product.”  Taborn and Franco controlled all aspects of the commercial sex operation and took all the money that Victim 1 earned.  They transported Victim 1 to different cities—Jacksonville, Charlotte, Durham, and Danville, Virginia—to find additional customers for commercial sex.  Investigators located numerous commercial sex advertisements and obtained hotel receipts and surveillance footage that confirmed Victim 1’s account.

Victim 1 described how she feared Taborn and felt “like an animal in a cage.”  She was not allowed to leave her room and had to request food and water from Taborn and Franco. When officers recovered her, it had been more than 24 hours since she had last eaten—a meal that consisted of four leftover chicken wings from Taborn’s and Franco’s dinner.  On one occasion, Victim 1 witnessed Taborn and Franco recruit another female victim, Victim 2, who they picked up in South Carolina and transported back to North Carolina.  Victim 2 had not known they wanted her to engage in commercial sex in North Carolina. When Victim 2 said she did not want to participate, Taborn threatened her with his black handgun in front of Victim 1.  Officers found a firearm with an extended magazine and laser matching the description in the glovebox of Taborn’s car.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) undertook this investigation as part of “Operation Cross Country,” a nationwide sex-trafficking enforcement campaign, with assistance from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Police Department, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.

This case was part of our Human Trafficking Task Force created to expose and prosecute anyone who exploits North Carolinians for sex or forced labor. Our victim-centric approach focuses on stabilizing victims, getting them resources, and helping them through the court process.  If you have a tip about trafficking, text 233733.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-cr-0092-D.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

BOSTON – A Dedham, Mass., man who served primarily as the “booker” for an interstate prostitution network that operated sophisticated high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston. 

Junmyung Lee, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Feb. 12, 2025. Junmyung Lee was arrested and charged in November 2023 with co-defendants Han Lee, 42, of Cambridge, Mass. and James Lee, 69, of Torrance, Calif. The defendants were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024. Han Lee pleaded guilty on Sept. 27, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 20, 2024.

From at least January 2022 through and including November 2023, Junmyung Lee knowingly conspired with Han Lee and, allegedly, James Lee to operate an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia designed to entice women to travel interstate to engage in prostitution. Junmyung Lee and his alleged co-conspirators also knowingly conspired with one another, and others, to launder the proceeds of the prostitution network by concealing that the money was derived the prostitution conspiracy.

Junmyung Lee was recruited to work for the prostitution network in approximately late 2021 through early 2022, as the business expanded. His main role in the conspiracy was that of the appointment “booker” and assisted with various tasks to maintain the prostitution network. In exchange, Han Lee paid Junmyung Lee $6,000-$8,000 per month.

As “booker,” Junmyung Lee was responsible for vetting sex buyers, booking appointments, as well as communicating directly with vetted customers via at least two cell phones – for Massachusetts and for Virginia, respectively. These brothel cell phones each contained over 2,800 verified customers of the prostitution business. An additional known cell phone containing additional contacts for the Virginia brothel was never recovered. Junmyung Lee also helped transport women to and from the airport, with some women working at the brothel locations on multiple occasions and in multiple states.

The defendants allegedly rented high-end apartments in Massachusetts and Virginia to serve as brothel locations, which they furnished and regularly maintained. In June 2022, Junmyung Lee leased one of the brothel locations in Cambridge, Mass. under his own name. In exchange for the lease, Junmyung Lee received a large cash payment of prostitution proceeds from Han Lee. A portion of the cash payment went towards the purchase of a Corvette.

Additionally, Junmyung Lee collected the cash proceeds from the various brothel locations at the direction of Han Lee. Junmyung Lee would then conceal the proceeds via structured deposits into personal bank accounts. Additionally, it is alleged that the defendants regularly used hundreds of thousands of dollars of the cash proceeds from the prostitution business to purchase money orders (in values under an amount that would trigger reporting and identification requirements) to conceal the source of the funds. These money orders were then used to pay for rent and utilities at the brothel locations.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

The charge of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine or twice the value of funds laundered, whatever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central District of California and the Eastern District of Virginia; the U.S. Postal Service; and Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquelle Kaye, of the Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.