Pennsylvania Man Charged with Running a Prostitution Business

NEWARK, NJ—An Allentown, Pennsylvania man previously charged with sex trafficking of a minor was indicted today on additional charges of conspiracy to use an interstate facility in aid of prostitution business, transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, and obstruction, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
The 10-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury against Francisco Torrellas, a/k/a “Francisco Fordham, Jr.,” “Dream,” “Daddy,” and “Pretty,” includes one count of conspiracy in connection with the defendant’s operation of a prostitution business; five counts of violating the Travel Act, i.e., using an interstate facility to carry on his prostitution business; one count of transporting a minor to engage in prostitution; one count of coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution; and one count of obstruction of justice. The original count of sex trafficking of a minor on which the defendant was indicted on June 27, 2012, remains in place.
According to the superseding indictment and other documents filed in court:
From November 2010 to February 2013, Torrellas allegedly conspired with others to operate a prostitution business in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. Torrellas managed the business, traveled, and caused prostitute employees, including a minor, to travel interstate for the purpose of engaging in sex acts in exchange for money.
Torrellas used the Internet to post advertisements for sexual services on the website Backpage.com. Torrellas also developed rules for the prostitutes, booked hotel rooms, and, while incarcerated, used the phone to manage, promote, and carry on his prostitution business, specifically causing his conspirators and others to direct the proceeds of the business to his commissary account at the Essex County Correctional Facility. Torrellas also attempted to influence, delay, or prevent the testimony of another person or persons in connection with the case against him.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The Travel Act counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The counts relating to trafficking and transportation of a minor carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The count relating to coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and the count charging obstruction of justice carries the maximum term that could have been imposed for the offenses charged. The defendant also faces a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the gain or loss from the offense for each count of conviction.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford; and the Secaucus, Jersey City, and the Allentown, Pennsylvania Police Departments with the investigation leading to today’s superseding indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Corcione and Jenny Kramer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Leader of International Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Life in Prison

SAVANNAH, GA—Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez, also known as “El Flaco,” 35, formerly of Mexico, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield to life in prison for his role in a sex trafficking conspiracy that exploited dozens of women. The investigation into this conspiracy, dubbed Operation Dark Night, has resulted in the conviction of 23 defendants and the rescue of 12 victims.
United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, “It is reprehensible that an international sex trafficking organization set up shop within our very own communities. This organization destroyed the lives of many victims through fear, violence, and intimidation, all for the love of money. Those responsible will now pay the price in a federal prison.”
“While it is extremely satisfying to see these defendants held accountable for their atrocious crimes, the clear victory in this case was the rescue of their victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Brock D. Nicholson, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and the Carolinas. “From the testimony they provided in court, these women have begun to rebuild their lives, and I applaud their bravery and courage in confronting their abusers and rejecting the roles they were forced into.”
According to evidence presented during numerous guilty plea and sentencing hearings, local and federal law enforcement agencies identified and dismantled an international sex trafficking enterprise that spread from Mexico to Savannah, Georgia. Members of the organization enticed women from Mexico, Nicaragua, and elsewhere to travel to the United States with false promises of the American Dream. Once inside the United States, the women were threatened and forced to commit acts of prostitution at numerous locations in Savannah and throughout the southeast. Women were forced to engage in sexual activity with as many as 50 people a day. To make sure the women complied, members of the organization threatened the women, used violence against them, and held children hostage in Mexico. Members of the organization would also trade their victims to other members who operated in other states, such as Florida and North and South Carolina.
Each of the 23 defendants arrested in Operation Dark Night have pled guilty and been sentenced. Two additional defendants, Eugenio Prieto-Hernandez and Daniel Ribon-Gonzalez, remain fugitives. A listing of the defendants and their sentences or fugitive status is below.
Operation Dark Night represents the largest sex trafficking investigation ever prosecuted in the Southern District of Georgia. The operation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from FBI, ATF, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), CBP Air and Marine Operations, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Coast Guard Investigative Services, Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Garden City Police Department, and Chatham County Counter Narcotics Team.
Twelve victims were rescued as a part of Operation Dark Night. HSI provides relief to victims of human trafficking by allowing for their continued presence in the United States during criminal proceedings. Victims may also qualify for a T visa, which is issued to victims of human trafficking who have complied with reasonable requests for assistance in investigations and prosecutions. Anyone who suspects instances of human trafficking is encouraged to call the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Anonymous calls are welcome.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tania Groover and Greg Gilluly prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547 or james.durham@usdoj.gov.
Operation Dark Night Defendants

• Eugenio Prieto-Hernandez: Fugitive
• Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez (a/k/a “El Flaco”): Life in prison
• Juan Carlos Pena: 240 months in prison
• Luisa Capilla-Lancho: 60 months in prison
• Jorge Lira-Xochicale: 66 months in prison
• Mayer Sanchez-Calderon: 180 months in prison
• Claudio Sanchez-Calderon: 180 months in prison
• Omar Peralta-Rodriquez: 37 months in prison
• Neurby Celenia Diaz: 72 months in prison
• Antonio Ubaldo Mendez-Lopez: 46 months in prison
• Cesar Aguilar-Rebollar: 21 months in prison
• Sylvia Barrera: 27 months in prison
• David Reyes: 18 months in prison
• Antonio Ramirez-Catalan: 48 months in prison
• Jose Ricardo Vazquez-Garcia: 36 months in prison
• Daniel Ribon-Gonzalez: Fugitive
• Marisol Ferreriras: 13 months in prison
• Paresh Patel: Seven months in prison
• Sergio Valazquez Martinez: 12 months in prison
• Fernando Pelayo Silverio: 18 months in prison
• Arturo Salquil-Gomez: 12 months in prison
• Jose Hernandez Trujillo: 25 months in prison
• Silvstre Aguilar Sayago: 27 months in prison
• Rodolfo Hernandez Guiterrez: 23 months in prison
• Alex Martinez Moncon: 22 months in prison

Minnesota Man and Woman Sentenced for Participating in a Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

Today, the Justice Department announced that Andre James Hertzog, 29, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and eight years of supervised release for participating in a sex trafficking conspiracy. Hertzog’s co-defendant, Nicole Bramer, 29, was sentenced to serve 21 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In addition, the defendants were each ordered to pay $6,100 in restitution to the victims of the offense. Hertzog and Bramer are both from St. Paul, Minnesota.
“The defendants preyed upon vulnerable young women by a variety of deplorable means,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting those who sexually exploit vulnerable women for financial benefit.”
“Working with victims of sex trafficking to attain a measure of justice is a serious responsibility,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Warrener for the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. “These sentences are the culmination of investigators and prosecutors effectively communicating with victims.”
Bramer pleaded guilty to participating in the sex trafficking conspiracy on May 29, 2013, and Hertzog pleaded guilty on July 2, 2013. During his plea hearing, Hertzog admitted that, from April 2011 to August 2012, he and Bramer engaged in a scheme to target and recruit young, vulnerable women, one of whom was a minor, and to compel them into performing commercial sex acts for their own financial gain. Hertzog and Bramer used coercive tactics, including physical violence and psychological coercion, to isolate the young women, control them, and cause them to perform acts of prostitution. As part of the trafficking scheme, the defendants transported the victims across state lines for the purpose of having them engage in prostitution, and the defendants routinely advertised the sexual services of the young women on the Internet website Backpage.com.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted jointly by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Kappelhoff for the District of Minnesota, Trial Attorney Christine M. Siscaretti, and former Trial Attorney Amanda Gregory for the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

Long Beach Man Guilty for Second Time in Federal Court of Transporting Women Across State Lines to Work as Prostitutes

SANTA ANA, CA—A Long Beach man with a long history of forcing women into the sex trade pleaded guilty this morning in a sex trafficking case and is expected to be sent to prison for another decade.
William Earl Flavors, also known as “Andre,” 40, who formerly resided in Seattle, pleaded guilty this morning to a charge of transportation into prostitution.
Flavors pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 9. While Judge Staton will make the final decision, prosecutors and Flavors agree that the appropriate sentence in this case is the statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The 10-year sentence is much longer than the sentence that would be expected for this crime under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and this 10-year sentence would run consecutive to a four-year sentence he is currently serving in relation to the same conduct.
In court this morning, Flavors admitted that he transported two victims in 2012 from Long Beach to Las Vegas, where they were forced or coerced to work as prostitutes. Flavors also admitted he used coercion and force—including physical abuse and threats of additional physical abuse—to make one of the victims work for him as a prostitute for an eight-month period in 2012.
In a previous case, Flavors was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office and received a 14-year prison sentence in May 2000. In that case, Flavors admitted transporting two teenage girls from Washington and forcing them to work as prostitutes in Orange County.
Flavors completed his sentence in late 2011 and was on supervised release until October 2012, when he was arrested by Long Beach Police after a woman reported being attacked by Flavors. Flavors pleaded guilty in state court last year to pimping in relation to his activities in 2012, and he was sentenced to four years in state prison.
Earlier this year, United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney found Flavors to be in violation of his supervised release in the prior federal court case. Judge Carney revoked his supervised release and sentenced Flavors to a four-year prison term, which he is currently serving.
The sentencing that Flavors will receive from Judge Staton in relation to today’s guilty plea will run consecutive to the sentence that he is currently serving.
The current case against Flavors was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Long Beach Police Department.
Contacts:

• Assistant United States Attorney Sandy Leal: (714) 338-3531
• Assistant United States Attorney Brett Sagel: (714) 338-3598

Wisconsin Man Charged with Commercial Sex Trafficking

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Milwaukee, Wisconsin man has been charged in federal court for transportation for prostitution, coercion, and commercial sex trafficking.
Thomas Alexander Roberts, age 33, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on November 26, 2013, and pled not guilty to the charges.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
In November 2013, Roberts allegedly transported an adult female from Wisconsin to South Dakota with the intent to have her engage in prostitution and sexual activity.
The charge is merely an accusation, and Roberts is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
Roberts was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

Buffalo Pair Indicted for Sex Trafficking

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned a nine-count indictment charging Kenneth White, 37, of Buffalo, New York, with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and sex trafficking of a minor, and interstate transportation for commercial sex. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. In addition, Caitlin Connelly, 29, also of Buffalo, was charged with conspiring with White to engage in sex trafficking.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Rogowski, who is handling the case, stated that the according to the indictment, between 2004 and December, 2012, White and Connelly conspired to cause five victims to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion and a combination of such means would be used to cause the five victims to engage in those commercial sex acts. White also was charged with sex trafficking of a minor victim. In addition, White was charged transporting some of the victims out of New York State to engage in commercial sex acts.
Kenneth White was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder. He is being held pending a detention hearing on November 26 at 3:15 p.m. Caitlyn Connelly will be arraigned on November 26 at 2:00 p.m.
The indictment is the result of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Brian P. Boetig, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Office, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Weirauch.
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.

Leader of International Sex Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty

SAVANNAH, GA—Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez, a/k/a “El Flaco,” 35, formerly of Mexico, pled guilty last week before Senior United States District Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield to his role in a sex trafficking organization that operated in Savannah, Georgia; parts of Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina; and in Mexico. Mendez-Hernandez faces a possible life sentence for his role in the sex trafficking organization.
Each of the 23 defendants charged earlier this year in an operation dubbed Dark Night has pled guilty. Two additional defendants, Eugenio Prieto-Hernandez and Daniel Ribon-Gonzalez, remain fugitives. Operation Dark Night represents the largest sex trafficking investigation ever prosecuted in the Southern District of Georgia.
According to evidence presented during numerous guilty pleas, local and federal law enforcement agencies identified and dismantled an international sex trafficking enterprise that spread from Mexico to Savannah, Georgia. Members of the organization enticed women from Mexico, Nicaragua, and elsewhere to travel to the United States with false promises of the American dream. Once inside the United States, these women were threatened and forced to commit acts of prostitution at numerous locations in Savannah and throughout the southeast. Women were forced to engage in sexual activity with as many as 30-50 people a day. To make sure the women complied, members of the organization threatened the women, used violence against the women, and held children hostage in Mexico. Members of the organization would also trade their victims to other members who operated in other states.
United States Attorney Edward Tarver stated, “It is with great pride that I announce the convictions of all of the defendants who were indicted and arrested in connection with Operation Dark Night. This case serves as an example of how local and federal law enforcement can work together to rescue women, save lives, and prosecute criminals. In this case, justice was swift, and we expect the punishment to be severe.”
“The conviction of the monsters arrested in this heinous sex trafficking scheme marks the end of a life of misery inflicted on these innocent victims of human trafficking. The perpetrators, ranging from street-level customers to international sex traffickers, will be held accountable for their repeated victimization and exploitation of these vulnerable women,” said Brock D. Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta. “We are deeply gratified by the significant support we received from our law enforcement partners, non-governmental service organizations, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District Georgia for bringing Operation Dark Night to a successful conclusion.”
The 23 defendants who pled guilty in Operation Dark Night are:

• Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez, a/k/a “El Flaco,” 35, Savannah, Georgia
• Juan Carlos Pena, 55, Bonaire, Georgia
• Luisa Capilla-Lancho, a/k/a “Marisol” 32, Savannah, Georgia
• Jorge Lira-Xochicale, a/k/a “Roger,” a/k/a “Juan De Dios,” a/k/a “Juan Diablo,” 35, Atlanta, Georgia
• Mayer Sanchez-Calderon, a/k/a “Maye,” 22, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Claudio Sanchez-Calderon, a/k/a “Borrego,” 43, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Omar Peralta-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Erick Peralta,” a/k/a “El Negro,” 42, Baxley, Georgia
• Neurby Celenia Diaz, a/k/a “Dona Rosa,” 48, Baxley, Georgia
• Antonio Ubaldo Mendez-Lopez, 46, Naples, Florida
• Cesar Aguilar-Rebollar, a/k/a “Cesar Nicholas Jaime,” 44, Tampa, Florida
• Sylvia Barrera, 30, Warner Robbins, Georgia
• David Reyes, 29, Savannah, Georgia
• Antonio Ramirez-Catalan, a/k/a “Joel,” 30, Monroe, North Carolina
• Jose Ricardo Vazquez-Garcia, 39, W. Columbia, South Carolina
• Marisol Ferreriras, 38, Marietta, Georgia
• Paresh Patel, 55, Savannah, Georgia
• Sergio Valazquez Martinez, 35, Savannah, Georgia
• Fernando Pelayo Silverio, 27, Savannah, Georgia
• Arturo Salquil- Gomez, 41, Savannah, Georgia
• Jose Hernandez-Trujillo, 29, Savannah, Georgia
• Silvstre Aguilar Sayago, a/k/a “Chucky,” 27, Savannah, Georgia
• Rodolfo Hernandez Guiterrez, 44, Savannah, Georgia
• Alex Martinez Monzon, 36, Savannah, Georgia

Many of these defendants are awaiting sentencing.
Twelve victims were rescued as part of Operation Dark Night. HSI provides relief to victims of human trafficking by allowing for their continued presence in the United States during criminal proceedings. Victims may also qualify for a T-visa, which is issued to victims of human trafficking who have complied with reasonable requests for assistance in investigations and prosecutions. Anyone who suspects instances of human trafficking is encouraged to call the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Anonymous calls are welcome.
Operation Dark Night was led by HSI, with assistance from the FBI, ATF, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), CBP Air and Marine Operations, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Coast Guard Investigative Services, Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Garden City Police Department, and Chatham County Counter Narcotics Team. Assistant United States Attorneys Tania D. Groover and E. Greg Gilluly, Jr. are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.

New York Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking Females

PHILADELPHIA—Justin Williams, a/k/a “New York Ice," a/k/a “Pimp Juice," 39, of New York, New York, was convicted today of sex trafficking young women. Between November 2011 and January 2012, Williams recruited young females to work as prostitutes in his business who were advertised on the Internet for purchase, using locations such as Backpage, for purposes of prostitution. Williams engaged in acts of physical violence to force the victims to remain in his business. The advertisements featured pictures of the victims, scantily clad; the price; and a phone number to call to arrange a meeting with a female. Williams forced the victims to engage in sex acts with clients.
Williams exploited at least three females ranging in age from 18 to 27. He moved them between Philadelphia, New York, Atlantic City, and Washington, D.C., for purposes of prostitution. He was convicted on two counts of sex trafficking by force and one count of witness tampering for writing a letter to Victim #2 to retract her statement prior to trial.
Williams faces a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence on the sex trafficking counts with a maximum sentence of life. U.S. District Court Judge J. Curtis Joyner scheduled a sentencing hearing for January 23, 2014.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Arlington (Virginia) County Police Department, with assistance from the Philadelphia First Judicial Court Warrant Unit and the New York City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Morgan.

New York Pimp Sentenced in Maryland to 36 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Gun Crimes

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Jeremy Naughton, a/k/a “Jerms Black,” age 32, of Brooklyn, New York, to 36 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit sex trafficking, four counts of sex trafficking, six counts of transporting an individual to engage in prostitution, and using a gun during the conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.
“Jeremy Naughton held young women against their will and used violence, sexual abuse, and threats to compel them to work for him as prostitutes,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to evidence presented at the 14-day trial, from January 2009 to the fall of 2010, Naughton and his long-time friend Charles Anderson, a/k/a “Chuck Corners,” targeted female prostitutes between the ages of 19 and 28 who were working sometimes without a pimp to force and coerce the women to work for them. They contacted women who posted ads on websites for prostitution services and arranged to meet them in hotel rooms, masquerading as either a prospective client or a generous pimp. Naughton and Anderson then assaulted and threatened the victims with a handgun and/or physical violence to force them to work for them. They stole the women’s cell phones, identification, room keys, and personal computers to prevent them from communicating with others and controlled the victims through physical assault, humiliation, confinement, and threats. Naughton transported the women between Maryland, New York, and other states to engage in prostitution.
For example, in the summer of 2009, Naughton enticed a woman to come to an apartment in Brooklyn, where he imprisoned her and invited others to sexually abuse her. In September 2009, Naughton forced open the door of a woman’s hotel room, stole her cell phone and identification, and detained her while demanding that she work for him as a prostitute. In October 2009 in his apartment, Naughton displayed a handgun, struck a woman, choked her, and forced her to perform sex. Between October 25 and November 11, 2009, Naughton drove two women from his apartment to Oxon Hill, where he demanded that they rent hotel rooms for commercial sex. In December 2009, Naughton violently assaulted a woman in a hotel in Montgomery County, Maryland. On February 8, 2010, Naughton forced a woman from her hotel room in Silver Spring, Maryland, forced her to stay with him at the Brooklyn apartment, and sexually abused her before attempting to prostitute her from a hotel in Long Island, New York. In June 2010, Naughton intimidated another woman by snapping the neck of her dog with his hands. In September 2010, Naughton entered another victim’s hotel room, demanded that she work for him, stole her cell phone and money, and transported her to his apartment, where he forced her to perform oral sex.
Naughton shared his apartment in Brooklyn with Anderson. According to Anderson’s plea agreement, the victims stayed in the Naughton’s room, where Anderson sometimes overheard Naughton physically assaulting them and forcing them to perform sex acts. In the spring of 2010, Anderson agreed to monitor the victims while Naughton traveled for approximately six hours in search of an additional prostitute in Maryland. Anderson helped Naughton locate victims who had escaped. He also knew that Naughton had a .9mm pistol and a larger sub-machine gun in the apartment, along with corresponding ammunition.
Charles Anderson, a/k/a “Chuck Corners,” a/k/a “Yowzer,” age 26, of Brooklyn, New York, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
The case was investigated by the Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force, with assistance from the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members of both task forces include federal, state, and local law enforcement. The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force also includes victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md/Human-Trafficking/index.html.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI’s Baltimore, New York, and Las Vegas Offices and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Kings County (Brooklyn, New York) District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Crooks and Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the case.