Category: USDJ Human Trafficking

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for sex trafficking of a minor on the “track,” announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jerreck Michael Hilliard aka Jmoney pleaded guilty Oct. 12, 2022.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now sentenced Hilliard to 292 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Hilliard had offered to teach another person the “pimp game” who then allegedly turned around and victimized numerous vulnerable young girls and women using violence and manipulation. In handing down the prison term, the court stated that the Hilliard was “every parent’s worst nightmare.” The court also noted that Hilliard destroyed the young victims’ lives for “nothing more than money” and that their lives would never again be the same. Hilliard was also ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Hilliard will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

“No little girl dreams of growing up and selling her body for money,” said Hamdani. “Heinous things have happened to these victims that ultimately led them into the sights of the criminals who target and prey on them. What Hilliard did was reprehensible. It is no defense that a victim may have previously been involved in prostitution. Today, this victim blaming stops.”

From April 2019 to February 2020, Hilliard and others were involved in a sex trafficking conspiracy occurring on the Bissonnet “blade.” The “blade” or “track” is an area near I-59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street in Houston where pimps and traffickers commonly place their victims to engage in commercial sex.

Hilliard and co-conspirators recruited young teenage girls and forced them to engage in sex acts with clients for money in cars and hotels around the blade. Co-conspirators also passed around or reassigned victims amongst one another, coached each other on the “pimp game” and forced the young girls to walk the area while the traffickers kept the proceeds.

The victims were not allowed to switch between pimps unless they paid an exorbitant exit fee or were “beat out.” Some traffickers required daily quotas each night from their victims. If the girls did not meet those demands, the pimps and others severely punished victims through beatings and humiliation.

Hilliard will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Houston Police Department initiated the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as a part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA). Established in 2004, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Bennett, Kate Suh and Anthony Franklyn are prosecuting this case.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Torey Franklin, 29, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison.  In December 2023, Franklin pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor in 2022.                              

          “Torey Franklin’s crime – trafficking a minor for sex – was heinous,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Human trafficking of any kind – for sex or for labor, of children and of adults – is a scourge. We are fully committed to protecting survivors and holding traffickers accountable for their crimes.”

          Authorities arrested Franklin at a hotel in 2022, after he offered the “services” of an underaged girl to an undercover detective from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Hours before the arrest, investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had discovered an advertisement for the girl on an adult dating website.

          FBI agents grew concerned that the girl was under the age of 18. They worked with Kent County officials to arrange a “date” with the victim as part of an interagency, undercover operation focused on combating human trafficking within the Western District of Michigan. That operation culminated in the arrest of Franklin. The girl was safely returned to the custody of her guardian.

          Afterwards, investigators uncovered evidence that Franklin had been trafficking his victim for weeks. Franklin would post ads for his victim, negotiate prices and sexual acts with prospective customers, and then transport the minor to multiple locations for the “sex dates” he had arranged. Afterwards, he would receive payment, often through a popular money-sharing application. 

          “The FBI’s commitment to combatting child exploitation and human trafficking is unwavering, as shown in our nationwide initiatives such as Operation Cross Country,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The outcome of this investigation and sentencing would not be possible without partnerships with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, and the dedicated men and women of this office. For FBI Michigan, the work does not end here, and we will continue to focus our efforts on protecting our children.”

          Preventing and deterring human trafficking remains a high priority for the U.S. Department of Justice. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling (888) 373-7888 or by texting “INFO” to 233733. Information is also available on the hotline website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org.

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Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

BOSTON – A Lexington, Mass. man was sentenced today for attempting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl. Defendant told undercover agent that the child should expect a man who looks like Santa Claus.

David Cannon, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2023, Cannon pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. 

“Individuals like Cannon drive the demand for sex trafficking of children. Those who seek to pay for sex with kids must be seriously punished so that the message resonates that there are grave consequences for engaging in such deplorable conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This office is committed to prosecuting human trafficking from all angles — the individuals who traffic innocent girls and the men who drive demand for such services.”

“Cannon had previously been convicted for crimes against a child and was just off probation when he was arrested by HSI for attempting to pay to sexually abuse a minor. When he arrived at the hotel to commit this crime, he was met by an undercover HSI special agent instead of a child sex trafficker,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today’s sentence keeps this serial predator off the streets and away from children. We are grateful to our partners who worked to make this operation possible as we all work together to end human trafficking.”

In November 2022, Cannon responded to an online advertisement offering commercial sex with two young girls. Through an ensuing text conversation with an undercover agent posing as the seller of the two girls, Cannon offered to pay $200 to have sex with either the 12-year-old or 14-year-old girl and indicated that he would purchase whoever was ready first. Ultimately, Cannon agreed to pay $200 to have sex with the fictitious 14-year-old girl. 

Shortly thereafter, Cannon went to a greater Boston hotel where he met with the undercover agent posing as the purported seller. There, Cannon confirmed he had the money to pay for the commercial sex act and accepted a hotel key. Cannon also said to tell the child to expect a man who looks like Santa Claus. Lubricant and condoms were subsequently found in Cannon’s vehicle.  

Additionally, a search of Cannon’s cell phone revealed dozens of photographs and videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as text messages discussing his affinity for CSAM. At sentencing, Cannon was also ordered to pay $17,500 in restitution to the victims whose child sexual abuse material he possessed.  

At the time of the offense, Cannon was a registered sex offender, having been convicted in 2019 of indecent assault of an 11-year-old child on three separate occasions.

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case. 

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday to trafficking a minor for sex and persuading and coercing multiple women to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution.

Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor; one count of transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that they engage in prostitution; and two counts of persuading and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2024. Brown was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022.

“Jimall Brown is one of far too many people this office has prosecuted for human trafficking. The pattern is remarkably predictable and it is happening far too often right here in our backyard. Brown promised his victims a better life, but in reality, he exploited them for his financial gain, selling them for sex repeatedly,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “No child or person must ever be treated this in this dehumanizing manner. This Office will not cease in our efforts to prosecute individuals who engage in human trafficking.”

“Jimall Dawn Brown lured this child into his clutches, with the promise of a better life, specifically to abuse and exploit her,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “It will be a gratifying day when his sentence is handed down and the cell door shuts behind him so he can’t victimize anyone else. FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will never stop working to find and help trafficked victims, to prevent them from further abuse, and keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.”

“The scars borne by sex trafficking victims are certainly emotional, often physical, and always long-lasting. Targeting traffickers and bringing them to justice is a vitally important mission for law enforcement and a major benefit to society itself,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

In 2022, Brown trafficked a 17-year-old, identified as Victim 1, to engage in commercial sex acts. He first met the victim, who was living outside Massachusetts, on social media and convinced her to fly to Boston, with promises of a “better lifestyle.” Brown posted advertisements of Victim 1 online and arranged “dates” for Victim 1 to have sex in exchange for money. Brown set the pricing for the commercial sex acts she engaged in, for which he collected all of the money. In April 2022, Brown transported Victim 1 to Nevada, again arranging for her to engage in commercial sex and keeping all the money.

In March 2019, Brown persuaded and coerced a another woman, identified as Victim 2, to travel from Connecticut to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He met her in Connecticut and told her that she had potential and that he could provide a better, luxurious life for her if she would come to Boston, where he lived. Victim 2 came to Massachusetts and Brown posted online advertisements containing photos of Victim 2 on commercial sex websites. Victim 2 engaged in commercial sex and was required to give all of the money she made to Brown.

In May 2016, Brown persuaded and coerced a different woman, identified as Victim 3, to travel from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He contacted Victim 3 on social media, told her that she was beautiful, that he had a modeling agency, and that he wanted to work with her. Brown said he would pay for her plane ticket to fly to Boston and provide everything for her once she arrived. Victim 3 traveled by plane from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. After she arrived, Brown took photos of her, purportedly for modeling, but instead he posted them on websites advertising commercial sex. Brown then coerced and forced Victim 3 to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and required her to give him all the money.

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 of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transporting a person for purposes of prostitution provides for a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of persuading and coercing a person to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution provides for a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Each count also provides for mandatory restitution and forfeiture. 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; FBI SAC Cohen; DA Hayden; and  Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Arlington and Randolph Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit is prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Domingo Francisco-Juan, 44, was sentenced today to life in prison for kidnapping, forced labor and conspiracy to commit kidnapping and forced labor. The court also ordered Francisco-Juan to pay $50,000 in restitution to a victim. His codefendant Lorenza Domingo-Castaneda, 35, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and also ordered her to pay over $80,000 in restitution to three victims.

A third defendant, Catarina Domingo-Juan, 41, was previously sentenced on Dec. 18, 2023, to 240 months in prison for forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and was ordered to pay over $80,000 in restitution to three victims. All three defendants are siblings and Guatemalan nationals.

“Forced labor crimes exploit children and some of the most vulnerable members of society and strike at the heart of human dignity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Francisco-Juan’s sentence is historic, marking the first life sentence in over a decade in a forced labor case under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. These victims, two of them children, were subjected to physical and sexual abuse to compel them to work as domestic servants, hotel maids and factory laborers. We are grateful to the survivors of these crimes for their tremendous courage in coming forward and reporting the violence and abuse they suffered. The sentences imposed in this case should send a message to human traffickers everywhere that there will be severe consequences for their actions and the Justice Department stands ready to hold them accountable for their violent and coercive schemes.”

“The partnerships across all levels of government were imperative in bringing these individuals to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois. “We appreciate the dedication and time that all the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies involved have committed to this case. We also commend the various victim services organizations, both private and public, who provided support and services to the victims in this case. Labor traffickers are insidious in the way they control their victims, and we will continue the fight to protect endangered members of our society from these horrific crimes.”

“Today’s sentences shine a bright light on the very real presence of forced labor crimes in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago. “HSI special agents will continue to fight against the exploitation of the vulnerable and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the HSI special agents and our law enforcement community partners for bringing these predators to justice.”

According to court documents, the defendants, who are siblings, conspired to bring one minor victim from Guatemala to the United States to work in Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan’s homes between December 2015 and January 2021. Francisco-Juan accompanied the minor victim into the United States after falsely assuring the victim’s mother that the victim would receive a better education and opportunities within the United States if permitted to travel with him. Domingo-Juan took custody of the minor victim after falsely claiming to government officials that she was the minor victim’s relative. 

Instead of providing the minor victim with access to an education and better opportunities within the United States, the defendants cut off the minor victim from her family and compelled her into working around the clock for their benefit. Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan took the money that the minor victim earned working outside of their homes, and Francisco-Juan benefitted by receiving the victim’s domestic services around the homes.

Court documents also show that Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan conspired to compel the labor and services of a separate minor victim and an adult victim in their homes and in area businesses between December 2018 and March 2021. Similar to the first minor victim, Domingo-Castaneda used false promises of a better life and education within the United States to lure the minor victim away from her mother and entice her into traveling to the United States. Instead of following through with her promises, Domingo-Castaneda, along with Domingo-Juan, compelled the minor victim and the adult victim to provide domestic services around their homes and required both victims to give them all of the earnings they made while working at area businesses. 

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the Champaign Police Department, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres for the Central District of Illinois prosecuted the case.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Somorie Moses, also known as “Somorie Barfield,” “Sugar Bear,” “Bear” and “Daddy,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon to 10 terms of life imprisonment to run concurrently for each of the 10 counts of conviction for sex trafficking eight women and for committing the January 2017 murder of one of the women, Leondra Foster.  At the sentencing hearing, the Court heard victim impact statements from several of the defendant’s victims.  This prosecution is the first use of the federal statute criminalizing murder in the course of sex trafficking. Moses pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2023.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.

“The life sentence imposed today on Somorie Moses is significant because it reflects the brutality and utter depravity of his crimes against vulnerable women and girls, which were committed over nearly two decades,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace.  “The defendant forced his victims into prostitution through violence and beatings, and then murdered and dismembered Leondra Foster.  A lengthy prison sentence cannot undo the extreme and lasting harm Moses has inflicted on his victims, but incarceration will prevent this killer who clearly has no respect for human life from victimizing others.  It is my hope that today’s sentence brings some closure to the victims and their families.” 

Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation and prosecution.

“Today’s sentence reaffirms the commitment of the NYPD and our law enforcement partners to protect and support all the victims and survivors of sex trafficking, one of our society’s most exploitative and dehumanizing crimes,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban.  “The defendant’s numerous offenses, including the heinous murder of Leondra Foster, were truly despicable. I thank the NYPD and FBI investigators for their dedication, and I commend everyone at the U.S. Attorney’s office for their tireless efforts to secure this meaningful prison term.”

Since at least 2003, Moses lured women and girls with false promises of love, but then used threats, violence, and psychological manipulation to force his victims into prostitution for his benefit.  Moses kept all the money his victims earned as prostitutes and required many of his victims to have his first name, “Somorie,” tattooed on their bodies. 

Moses used brutal beatings, rape, torture, and threats to coerce his victims to work in prostitution in Brooklyn and Queens.  Moses threatened to throw one victim, identified at the sentencing proceeding as Jane Doe #1, off a roof and raped her, and bit off a piece of her buttocks and spit it at her.  As to another victim, identified as Jane Doe #2, Moses slashed her arms and back with a razor and beat her with a belt before pouring lemon juice on her wounds, leaving her with extensive scarring over much of her body, including her arms, head, legs and back.  When a victim identified as Jane Doe #6 did not give Moses money as he demanded, Moses beat her with an extension cord, leaving her with numerous open, bleeding cuts, and told her that he “was a pimp, this is what [he] did.”  When a victim identified as Jane Doe #7 told Moses she did not want to work as a prostitute, he put a shotgun in her mouth and threatened to kill her and her child.

The Murder of Leondra Foster

In the early morning of January 13, 2017, Moses murdered Leondra Foster, one of his sex trafficking victims, by beating her until she died.  The defendant beat Foster all over her body, leaving bruises and abrasions on the front and back of her torso.  Moses inflicted at least five blunt force injuries to Foster’s head, either by hitting her directly or by banging her head into another surface.  The fatal blow was the blow to the back left of her head. She had been alive for all of the other injuries, but that last blow to her head fractured her skull, rendering her unconscious. Foster suffered a a seizure and died within minutes. The following morning, using a knife and a saw, Moses dismembered Foster’s body inside their shared apartment in Brooklyn.  Moses brought another woman back to his apartment for a sexual encounter while Foster’s dismembered body was concealed in it.  The woman later told law enforcement that there was a strong odor of bleach in the apartment.  Four days later, on the morning of January 17, 2017, Moses transported Foster’s torso and limbs to the Bronx for disposal at a garbage transfer station.  After disposing of most of Foster’s body parts, Moses texted another victim that he was on his way home from the Bronx and, “Just did 110 over the Brooklyn bridge.” Foster’s head, hands and feet — including a foot with the name “Somorie” tattooed on it — were subsequently recovered by law enforcement inside the freezer of Moses’s apartment.  Foster was 32-years-old at the time of her murder.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Siegel and Tanya Hajjar are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Anna November.

The Defendant:

SOMORIE MOSES (also known as “Somorie Barfield,” “Sugar Bear,” “Bear” and “Daddy”)
Age:  48
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-232 (CBA)

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

BOSTON – A Lynn man has been charged with allegedly trafficking three women to engage in commercial sex acts and transporting one of them to another state for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.

Anthony Coleman, 34, was indicted on three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and one count of transporting a person for purposes of prostitution. He was arrested on March 29, 2024, and will appear in federal court in Boston at 11:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley.

“The indictment alleges that Mr. Coleman chose to prey on women who were struggling with employment and housing when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.   He allegedly forced these women to sell their bodies, took their money and violently assaulted them to make sure they obeyed his commands,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Human trafficking is abhorrent whenever it occurs and it is typically the product of exploiting a victim’s vulnerability, in this case the onset of a pandemic. Mr. Coleman now faces real consequences for his alleged conduct and his victims will finally be free of his torment.”

“Anthony Coleman is accused of staggering violence and cruelty against women he trafficked and forced into commercial sex. In a pattern we see over and over with human traffickers, Coleman allegedly targeted women in need and offered them security only to use violence and threats to control their money and their bodies. These cases are complex and can only be worked in close collaboration with our partners in law enforcement and victims support services who share our commitment to holding these human traffickers to account and working towards a life of dignity for survivors,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.

According to the indictment, Coleman targeted victims who had lost their jobs or homes during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns in March through August of 2020. It is alleged that Coleman had his victims move with him into a house in Lawrence, posted or controlled online commercial sex advertisements for them, provided them scripts to negotiate payment and terms with commercial sex buyers and transported his victims to hotels and other places to engage in commercial sex – requiring them to give him all the money they made. It is further alleged that Coleman also regularly coerced and forced his victims to have sex with him.

Specifically, in March 2020, Coleman allegedly recruited one victim who had lost her job due to the pandemic. It is alleged that the victim would sometimes serve up to 10-16 clients per day, with Coleman taking all the profits. Coleman allegedly took the victim to Florida on multiple occasions and had her engage in commercial sex in Florida. It is further alleged that Coleman physically abused the victim – one time holding the victim underwater and threatening to drown her and another time requiring the victim to walk outside naked on broken glass when she disobeyed him. On one occasion, Coleman allegedly threw the victim against a wall, causing her to become concussed. On another occasion, Coleman allegedly threw a phone at the victim’s face, causing a visible injury to her eye. 

According to the indictment, around March and April 2020, Coleman recruited a second victim, convincing her to come live with him after she was kicked out of her home by a relative following their disagreements around COVID-19 safety practices. This victim was unable to get a job because many businesses were closed due to COVID-19. It is alleged that the victim began engaging in commercial sex for Coleman and, when she wanted to leave Coleman threatened her – telling her that if she left, he would hurt her mother and her sibling. 

It is further alleged that Coleman recruited a third victim who was homeless in the summer of 2020. The victim allegedly engaged in commercial sex and after a few days, was required to give Coleman all the money she earned. It is alleged that when the victim did something Coleman did not like or refused to engage in commercial sex, Coleman would physically and verbally assault her. On one occasion, Coleman allegedly hit the victim in the face with an open hand. Another time, Coleman allegedly struck the victim in the face, pulled her hair, strangled her and threw her to the ground.

Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this alleged crime should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources. 

The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three 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.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Revere and Cambridge Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The 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)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Zaid Mendoza a/k/a Diamond, 45, Cora Waddington, 24, Kelvin O. Thomas, 41, all of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force and coercion, sex trafficking by force and coercion, and using and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. In addition, defendants Mendoza and Waddington are charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and Mendoza is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Maeve E. Huggins, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, Mendoza, Waddington, and Thomas conspired to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Jamestown area, using a residence on West Main Street in the Town of Ellicott, NY, to conduct their drug trafficking activities. In addition, between October and December 2022, the defendants are accused of conspiring to force individuals to engage in commercial sex acts.

The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson; the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III, New York Field Division; and the Town of Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This investigation is also assisted by the Western New York Human Trafficking Task Force, a multi-disciplinary task force that brings law enforcement and social service agencies together to identify and investigate human trafficking utilizing a victim centered and trauma informed response, was also part of this effort. 

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

A massage parlor owner whose employees offered illicit commercial sex has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Shaoping Wen, 64, and her associate, Xu Wang, 41, were charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to use interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises. They were arrested in New Mexico on March 21 and made their initial appearances in Las Cruces Wednesday. They are now awaiting removal to Lubbock to face justice in a Northern District of Texas federal court.

According to the complaint, Ms. Wen allegedly owned and operated at least seven massage parlors where Asian women engaged in commercial sex. Mr. Wang, who identified himself as Ms. Wen’s son, allegedly operated the parlors on her behalf when Ms. Wen was out of state.

On at least 10 occasions between June 2023 and February 2024, undercover officers purchased $60 massages at Ms. Wen’s parlors in Texas and New Mexico.  The officers were generally greeted by lingerie-clad women who allegedly agreed to have sex with them for an additional fee of between $140 and $200. Several of the women allegedly used translation apps to negotiate sexual services.

When the women were arrested for prostitution, they identified themselves as Chinese citizens and listed their occupation as simply, “laborer.” On multiple occasions, Ms. Wen or Mr. Wang allegedly showed up to pay the arrested women’s cash bond.

Officers also observed Ms. Wen’s vehicle transporting Asian females directly from the airport to her massage parlors. Neighbors said the women never left the building. Searches of the premises revealed beds placed on the floors, suggesting the women lived at the massage parlors.

On at least one occasion, a passerby heard a woman screaming and entered the parlor to check-in. He reported seeing three women between the ages of 30 and 50 dressed in provocative clothing.

Officers found the massage parlors advertised on sites often used to advertise commercial sex. The ads included photos of partially naked women and promoted  “100% sexy” girls who “like to spend time with nice upscale gentlemen.” They advertised the “girlfriend experience,” “porn star experience,” and “fantasy outfits on request.”

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, Ms. Wen and Mr. Wang face up to 5 years in federal prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Lubbock Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, HSI’s Albuquerque Field Office, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Wolfforth Police Department, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, the Carlsbad Police Department, the Roswell Police Department, the Clovis Police Department, the Roswell Fire Department, the Carlsbad Fire Department, the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam is prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 19, 2024

SAN DIEGO – Matthew Isaac Wolfe was sentenced in federal court today to 14 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy with Michael Pratt, owner of the website GirlsDoPorn, and others, to deceive and coerce young women into appearing in pornographic videos. A restitution hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2024 at 10 a.m.

The conspiracy included recruiting the victims from throughout the United States and Canada using internet advertisements for clothed modeling jobs. Even after the victims learned the gig involved an adult video-shoot, Wolfe admitted to persuading women to appear in the videos by telling them that the videos would never be posted online, that the videos would never be released in the United States, and that no one who knew the women would ever find out about the videos, representations he knew to be false. In truth, the videos were exclusively marketed and distributed on the internet. Not only did Wolfe lie to the women, he also instructed others to do so. Wolfe told co-defendant Theodore Gyi, the cameraman on hundreds of GirlsDoPorn video shoots, that if asked, he should lie to the women and tell them the videos would not be posted on the internet.

Most of the video shoots took place in San Diego – at local hotels and short-term rental units.  Although the women were promised that the video shoots would be brief, they often took hours. Once the video productions began, some women were not permitted to leave the shooting locations until the videos were completed; some were threatened with lawsuits or cancelled flights home if they did not complete the videos; and others were allegedly forced to perform certain sex acts, which they had earlier declined to do.

After the victims returned home, still believing that they would remain anonymous, clips of the videos were posted on heavily trafficked adult film sites, like Pornhub, meant to funnel viewers to the full-length versions of the videos on Pratt’s website, GirlsDoPorn. Pratt charged visitors to GirlsDoPorn a subscription fee and generated more than $17 million in revenue. 

Wolfe pleaded guilty to the conspiracy on July 26, 2022, admitting he moved to the United States from New Zealand in 2011 to work for Pratt and had a wide range of responsibilities. He filmed approximately 100 videos; uploaded finished videos onto the internet; oversaw the company’s financial books; and operated various business entities that were used to promote the business. Wolfe worked at GirlsDoPorn from 2011 until his arrest in October 2019.

During hearings today and on January 22, 2024, approximately 30 survivors asked a federal judge to impose a significant sentence, describing how the actions of Wolfe and his co-defendants destroyed their lives. Survivors, many of them college students at the time, described answering what they thought were legitimate modeling ads and flying to San Diego for paid modeling gigs, only to be forced to perform sexual acts on camera.

The women spoke of struggling with substance and alcohol abuse, anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and post-traumatic stress syndrome in the aftermath of their videos going viral. Some spoke of lost relationships with friends and family; others dropped out of school; and others went into hiding.

One of the women said: “I was robbed of my privacy, my dignity, and my peace of mind… But worst of all, I was robbed of my identity. I was once viewed as a beautiful, fun-loving and strong woman who was known for her athleticism and ability to make just about anyone laugh. I was a caring friend and a daughter my parents were proud of. Mr. Wolfe shattered who I was…Today I’m taking my identity back. I am not a victim. I’m a survivor.”

One woman recalled the day she learned that her pornographic video received more than 300 million views on Pornhub, one of the most-visited websites in the world.

“That ad seemed harmless, but it wrecked my entire life. In an instant, the life I had was gone: My hopes gone, my relationships gone, everything was gone…The fall-out from the videos spread to every part of my life like cancer, and that cancer remains to this day, making it virtually impossible for me to start a new life. I lost my modeling career, my college years, my whole twenties, my name, my career path, my friends, and my family. Everything I had built was gone, and so too was my future. Doors that were once opened were slammed in my face…Matthew Wolfe stole my life, and it wasn’t just my life. He stole hundreds of lives. What kind of price do you put on a life? Mr. Wolfe deserves a jail sentence that accounts for each and every life he has stolen.”

Another woman told the court: “It’s been nearly 3,650 days of living in a tortuous purgatory, but today marks a major milestone in my recovery. Today there’s a shift in the winds. Today is the day all the survivors get their voices back. Today is the day we get to be heard.”

Wolfe also admitted he was aware that personal identifying information and social media accounts for some women were being posted on pornwikileaks.com, a site controlled by Pratt and dedicated to “exposing” the true identities of individuals appearing in pornographic videos, causing the victims to be subjected to severe harassment. Even after Wolfe became aware of this, he and others continued to assure prospective models that no one would ever find out about their video shoot or learn their identity.

“We applaud all survivors who courageously speak out in pursuit of justice,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Their voices rang out in the courtroom today, and we stand beside them in holding Mr. Wolfe accountable for the incredible pain and suffering he caused.”

“Matthew Wolfe’s willingness to use deception, coercion and intimidation to exploit young women paints a sordid picture of the lengths some people will go just to make money,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “Wolfe’s sentencing today, and any past or future sentencings related to this case, are small slivers of justice for the victims, but ultimately don’t fully heal the deep pain spawned by Mr. Wolfe and the other defendants.”

Co-defendant Michael Pratt made his first appearance today after being extradited from Spain following more than three years as an international fugitive. In 2022, Pratt was named to the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list.

Ruben Andre Garcia, the recruiter and male model, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 14, 2021. Theodore Gyi was sentenced to four years in prison on November 9, 2022. Valorie Moser, the office manager, is set for sentencing on August 9, 2024.

DEFENDANTS                                             Case Number 19cr4488                       

Michael James Pratt                                        Age:       36                 Unknown

Matthew Isaac Wolfe                                      Age        37                     San Diego, CA

Ruben Andre Garcia                                       Age:       31                      San Diego, CA

Theodore Gyi                                                  Age,       46                        Solana Beach, CA  

Valorie Moser                                                 Age:       37                       San Diego, CA

CHARGES

Count 1

Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, 18 U.S.C. § 1594

Maximum Penalty:  Life in prison, $250,000 fine.

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

FBI – Southern District of California

U.S. Marshals Service

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.