Category: USDJ Human Trafficking

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

DETROIT – Darrick Bell, the leader of a large-scale drug conspiracy that operated out of the former Victory Inn hotel in Dearborn, Michigan, was sentenced today to 28 years in prison based on his conviction on drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. 

Joining Ison in the announcement was Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Detroit, Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office and Chief James White, Detroit Police Department.

Bell, age 55, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. 

The charges on which Bell was convicted stemmed from the operation of a large-scale drug operation Bell created utilizing the Victory Inn, a motel formerly located next to the main drag for prostitution on Michigan Avenue.

The trial, which began on April 12, 2022, and concluded on June 2, 2022, involved more than 20 witnesses, including several of Bell’s co-conspirators and victims, along with hundreds of exhibits. The jury convicted Bell on three drug-related counts. The jury acquitted Bell on one count involving sex trafficking and was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the remaining four counts involving sex trafficking.

The evidence presented at trial showed that as a part of the drug conspiracy, Bell sold drugs to vulnerable women to control them and used them to keep drug customers coming to the Victory Inn. Bell turned the Victory Inn into his own drug distribution business by gaining control of rooms at the hotel and moving his drug-dealing co-conspirators onto the premises.  According to witness testimony, Bell employed drug dealers and enforcers to use manipulation, drugs, and violence to control the Victory Inn. There was often no vacancy at the Victory Inn because the rooms were full of women and victims living in unspeakable conditions as severe drug addicts. Bell would supply drugs to these women. The women would use the drugs, engage in commercial sex acts, and then would use the money from their dates to purchase more drugs. The women were trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction, which Bell exploited for financial gain. Bell and his co-conspirators would use violence or the threat of violence to ensure that the women continuously paid their ever-growing drug debt. This would include physically striking them or withholding drugs so they would go through excruciating withdrawal symptoms. In one instance, Bell shaved the head of one of the women.

“Today’s sentencing closes a chapter on the house of horrors that was the Victory Inn. Just as the motel was demolished, so too was the drug network Bell had organized and led for nearly a year.  Bell’s rein and control over the women living at the Victory Inn was nothing short of abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.  “Bell’s attempt at evading justice for over two and a half years failed, and he will now spend the next 35 years in prison for his actions.”

“This sentencing is the culmination of years of hard work from the men and women of HSI Detroit,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “I commend the HSI special agents, law enforcement partners, prosecutors, and support personnel who were relentless in their pursuit of justice. We must remain vigilant moving forward and ensure that similar trafficking organizations are promptly reported and dismantled before they can take root in our communities. Lastly and most importantly, it is my hope that this sentence brings some measure of comfort and resolution to the victims in this case.”

“Today’s sentencing shows the power that law enforcement collaboration has to protect victims by stopping violent criminals who believe they can commit heinous acts without consequence,” said Chief James E. White. “The hardworking women and men of the Detroit Police Department remain committed to working with our partners to root out violence and make Detroit a safer place for all.”

This investigation resulted in 9 individuals being charged with various drug and sex trafficking offenses. The remaining defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by agents of Homeland Security Investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome Gorgon, Matthew Roth, Blake Hatlem, and Lisandra Fernandez-Silber.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Defendant transported multiple women across state lines to engage in prostitution

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging a dual citizen, living in Pennsylvania, who traveled to Salt Lake City for the purpose of paying for and obtaining tourist visas to promote the illegal smuggling of foreign nationals into the United States. 

According to court documents, Sivarupan Sivaramalingam, 43, of Malvern, PA, was arrested on June 20, 2024, following a criminal investigation into a human smuggling organization. Working in an undercover capacity, an agent with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations was introduced to Sivaramalingam. Sivaramalingam believed that the undercover agent could provide means of entry into the United States for foreign nationals. Communicating through a mobile application used for instant messaging and voice-over-IP service, Sivaramalingam told the undercover agent he would pay approximately $12,500 U.S dollars, per foreign national, for an entry visa or some other valid document to enter the United States. 

On April 8, 2024, Sivaramalingam traveled to Salt Lake City to meet the undercover agent and further discuss the illegal services mentioned for foreign nationals. Sivaramalingam provided the undercover agent hard copies of five Sri Lankan nationals’ passports and asked the agent to process the foreign nationals to obtain entry into the United States. During the meeting, Sivaramalingam and the undercover agent agreed to an initial down payment for the services in the amount of approximately $5,000 to start the process. On April 18, 2024, Sivaramalingam sent a picture of a bank receipt for $5,000 to the undercover agent via the phone app. The next day, the undercover agent received and confirmed that the $5,000 bank transfer was successfully deposited into his account. During May and June, communication continued between Sivaramalingam and the undercover agent and the undercover agent notified Sivaramalingam that he had acquired B1/B2 tourist visas for all five Sri Lankan nationals. B1/B2 tourist visas are not actually valid entry documents, nor authorized, for travel or entry into the U.S. 

On June 20, 2024, Sivaramalingam and the undercover agent met again in Salt Lake City for Sivaramalingam to receive the tourist visas and pay another $6,000 for the undercover agent’s services. It was agreed the rest would be paid upon successful entry of the foreign nationals into the U.S. During the exchange, the undercover agent told Sivaramalingam that the process of getting the visas was not legal or legitimate.  

As alleged in the complaint, the human smuggling organization is believed to be based in the United States, but is smuggling foreign nationals into the U.S. from all over the world, namely India and Sri Lanka. 

Sivaramalingam is charged with Alien smuggling, and human trafficking with respect to involuntary servitude and forced labor. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 12, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. 

United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Oparations (ERO), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Assistant United States Attorney Carlos Esqueda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Five people involved in sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl have been sentenced to a combined 63 ½ years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

They include:

• Jaelind Fountaine, 27, who was sentenced today to 327 months in prison for sex trafficking and attempted sex trafficking of a minor and required to register as a sex offender
• Sarah Gonzales, 26,  who was previously sentenced to 87 months for interstate transportation to engage in prostitution and required to register as a sex offender
• Cameron Phifer, 25, who was sentenced to 240 months for distribution and receipt of child pornography and required to register as a sex offender
• Deryan Thomas, 33, who was sentenced to 87 months for interstate transportation to engage in prostitution and required to register as a sex offender
• Bianka Vega, 23, who was sentenced to 21 months for misprision (concealment) of a felony

“As a prosecutor and as a mother, my heart breaks for this teenager, who was passed from trafficker to trafficker like a piece of livestock, beaten and even branded by violent men looking to profit from her misery. No person, adult or child, should have to suffer like that,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to recover these victims, and we tenaciously prosecute anyone involved in trafficking them.”

According to plea papers, the 17-year-old victim went missing from her apartment complex in Lubbock on Nov. 28, 2022.

The investigation revealed that her neighbor and neighbor’s boyfriend, Bianka Vega and Deryan Thomas, took the child to Odessa to meet with known sex trafficker Cameron Phifer. The four of them then drove to Carlsbad, New Mexico, where they took sexually explicit photographs of the child and posted ads for her sexual services online.

At one point, Ms. Vega reminded Mr. Phifer that the victim was a minor, and informed him that both her mother and law enforcement were looking for her. Phifer told Ms. Vega it was “too late to stop,” and continued trafficking the child until abandoning her at a hotel in Carlsbad in early January.

On Jan. 15, Sarah Gonzales approached the victim in the hotel lobby, and later introduced her to Jaelind Fountaine, a known trafficker who went by the alias “Valentino.”

In an interview with law enforcement, the child said Mr. Fountaine arranged for meetings with clients, taught her how to engage in the sex trade, and took all the money she made – approximately $10,000.  She said that she believed she would receive some of that money, but in the end, she never did.

The child told investigators that Mr. Fountaine physically assaulted her on multiple occasions, threatened to hurt her if she left him, and forced her to “brand” herself with a “V” tattoo to indicate his ownership of her.  Law enforcement found photos of the tattoo on Mr. Fountaine’s phone. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, and the Lubbock, Abilene, and Carlsbad Police Departments conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Callie Woolam, Jeff Haag, and Matt McLeod prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

ALBUQUERQUE – A Tularosa man was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm while engaged in a scheme to transport undocumented immigrants.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on January 18, 2023, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent observed suspicious driving behavior from a vehicle traveling northbound on Highway 185 near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The vehicle was moving slower than the posted speed limit and drifting across lanes. After making evasive maneuvers, the vehicle eventually stopped near an abandoned residence outside Las Cruces.

The agent made contact with the driver, identified as Castulo Amaya, 39, and explained that he had stopped to conduct a welfare check. During the interaction, Amaya exhibited increasingly erratic behavior, yelling at the vehicle occupants to record the encounter and claiming harassment.

When questioned, Amaya claimed that the vehicle’s occupants were his children and relatives. However, upon inspection, the agent determined that six individuals in the rear seat were aliens illegally present in the United States. All provided rehearsed responses claiming they were from Las Cruces. The front seat passenger was identified as Vanessa Rodriguez-Solorio, a U.S. citizen. Rodriguez-Solorio admitted to being hired by Amaya to transport people for money and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

During a search incident to arrest, a loaded semi-automatic pistol was found concealed under Amaya‘s sweatshirt. As a previously convicted felon, Amaya knew that he was prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition.

Upon his release from prison, Amaya will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Anthony “Scott” Good, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, made the announcement today.

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Ry Ellison is prosecuting the case.

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Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was charged by criminal complaint with transportation for the purpose of prostitution after allegedly transporting a female across state lines for the purposes of engaging her in prostitution.

Hakeeme Kaleb Williams, 24, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to the criminal complaint, on June 17, 2024, Jane Doe 1 called 911 reporting she was being trafficked. Officers located her outside a car at a gas station in Laguna, NM, along with a man identified as Williams and another woman identified as Jane Doe 2.

Jane Doe 1 stated she had been working as a sex worker and Williams, who she met online, was her “pimp.” She said she provided all of her earnings to Williams, that he transported her across state lines for prostitution, and frequently assaulted her.  Most recently, Williams was transporting her through New Mexico to Arizona, with stops made in New Mexico for the purposes of engaging in prostitution.

Online ads depicting the two women were found which appeared to promote sex work in Albuquerque.

If convicted of the current charges, Williams faces up to 10 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and Laguna Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Trembley.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

An indictment was unsealed last week in Boston charging Christy Parker, 26; Alexander Smalls, 25; Cory Primo, 42; Avvani Jeffers, 22; Tre’sean Reid, 21; and Tyreik Reid, 20, with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and other sex trafficking charges.

According to the indictment, between January and August 2023, Parker, Smalls, Tre’sean Reid and Tyreik Reid used force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to compel an adult woman to engage in commercial sex. The indictment further alleges that, between July and August 2023, Parker, Smalls, Primo and Jeffers used force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to compel a minor to engage in commercial sex. The indictment further alleges that, in August 2023, Parker, Primo and Jeffers knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained and maintained another minor for commercial sex. Finally, the indictment alleges that all defendants conspired to commit sex trafficking between January and August 2023.

Jeffers was arrested on June 27 and made an initial appearance later that day. Jeffers is currently detained pending a detention hearing on July 8. Parker and Primo will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on July 8. Smalls is awaiting trial in South Carolina and will be arraigned in Boston at a later date. Tyreik Reid will appear in US District Court in South Carolina for a detention hearing on July 10. Tre’sean Reid is currently a fugitive.

If convicted of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted of sex trafficking of a minor, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts and Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Field Office made the announcement.

The Somerset Police Department and HSI New England Field Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe for the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.

HSI asks anyone with information about the defendants to contact the HSI New England Field Office at (617) 565-7400. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

WASHINGTON – A Texas woman was sentenced on June 25, 2024 for conspiring to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.

According to court documents, in 2021 and 2022, Patricia Hart, 25, and her boyfriend and co-defendant, Gregory Massey, 30, forced two adult victims to engage in commercial sex. Massey and Hart advertised the victims for commercial sex on websites, kept the money the victims made from commercial sex transactions, required the victims to meet a minimum dollar threshold from commercial sex every day, and restricted the victims’ access to food. Massey also tracked the geolocation data on the victims’ phones so that they could not leave his control and used violence to accomplish the scheme.  After Massey was arrested in state court, Hart continued the conspiracy by carrying out Massey’s demands via jail calls. Specifically, Massey told Hart to fire off a few rounds of a firearm to scare a victim into compliance.

Hart was sentenced on June 25, 2024 in federal court.  Judge Wendy Vitter sentenced Hart to nine years imprisonment, followed by fifteen years of supervised release. She also agreed to pay $21,600 in restitution. As a result of her plea, Hart must also participate in the sex offender registration and notification program. 

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Louisiana State Police investigated the case. 

Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

BOSTON – An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Boston charging six individuals for their alleged involvement in a sex trafficking conspiracy. It alleged that one minor victim was forced to engage in commercial sex acts with more than 100 men aged 17-74. Another minor victim was allegedly forced to meet with 5-6 sex buyers per day. It is further alleged that the adult victim was trafficked throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and South Carolina. The defendants allegedly kept all the profits for their own financial gain and used threats and violence to maintain control over the victims.

Christy Parker, 26, of Fall River; Alexander Smalls, 25, of Beaufort County, S.C.; Cory Primo, 42, of Fall River; Avvani Jeffers, 22, of Fall River; Tre’sean Reid, 21, of Beaufort County, S.C.; and Tyreik Reid, 20, of Allendale, S.C., were indicted on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Jeffers was arrested on today and will appear in federal court in Boston later today. Smalls, Parker and Primo are currently held in custody on state charges and will appear in federal court at a later date.

According to court filings, between January and August 2023, Parker and Smalls worked together – with assistance from Primo, Jeffers and Smalls’ brothers, Tre’sean Reid and Tyreik Reid – in a scheme to coerce one adult victim and two minor victims to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and surrounding states for their exclusive financial gain. 

It is alleged that, in early 2023, Parker reached out to the adult victim, indicating she was homeless and needed a place to live. After moving in with the victim, Parker and her boyfriend, Smalls, allegedly coerced the victim to quit her job and begin engaging in commercial sex. Parker and Smalls allegedly forced the victim to sign a “profit sharing contact,” which required the victim to “remain loyal and humble and stay focused.” Thereafter, Parker and Smalls allegedly forced the victim to engage in commercial sex – scheduling and coordinating commercial sex acts and setting prices – and took all of the profits. It is alleged that Parker used physical violence, threats of violence and other threats to maintain control. It is further alleged that, in the spring of 2023, Parker travelled with the victim to South Carolina where she continued sex trafficking the victim and collecting all of the profits. Upon returning from South Carolina, Parker enlisted help from Primo and Jeffers to traffic the victim throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

In July 2023, Parker was introduced to a 16-year-old minor victim and, shortly thereafter, allegedly forced the minor victim to begin engaging in commercial sex. Specifically, it is alleged that Parker forced the minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts with more than 100 men aged 17-74. It is further alleged that Parker used various methods to maintain control over the minor victim – including physical violence, threats of violence, alcohol, marijuana, starvation and sleep deprivation. Specifically, Parker would allegedly beat the minor victim if she fell asleep because a customer could request her at any time. On one occasion, Parker allegedly withheld food from the minor victim for 4-5 days after failing to collect the entire fee from a buyer. It is alleged that Parker regularly beat and choked the minor victim and did not let her receive medical treatment when she was suffering from a miscarriage.

In August 2023, Parker allegedly began trafficking a 17-year-old minor victim who had run away from a group home. It is alleged that Parker forced the minor victim to meet with 5-6 sex buyers a day, from which Parker would collect all of the profits. It is further alleged that Parker threatened to physically assault the minor victim if she did not work.

“The allegations in this case are truly chilling. According to this indictment, one minor victim in this case was forced to engage in sex for money with over 100 different men. That young girl is someone’s daughter, she is someone’s granddaughter. It is hard to conceive of more vile conduct than what is set forth in these charges. Sex trafficking is not a distant problem – it is happening right here, in our neighborhoods, and often goes unnoticed or unreported,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Our office is relentlessly pursuing individuals who inflict such exploitation and suffering simply to line their own pockets. We are using every resource at our disposal to hold perpetrators accountable and seek justice for every victim.”

“For too long, these victims endured heinous brutality and unimaginable torture allegedly at the hands of individuals whose actions can only be described as pure evil. The crimes outlined today depict the sheer inhumanity and depravity with which the defendants are accused of operating their money-making scheme,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “While these arrests are a significant step toward securing justice, we recognize that this marks only the beginning of three survivors’ paths toward recovery. HSI New England, together with law enforcement partners, is committed to ensuring all trafficking victims are given access to the programs, services and resources necessary to their future healing and success.”

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. 

The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $ 250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $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.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Somerset, Fall River and Seekonk Police Departments; Bristol County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts State Police; and the Beaufort County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe, Chief of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.