An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging brothers Gladimir Thomas and Ronald Thomas, members of the Brooklyn-based “Insane Crip Gangsters,” a subset of the Crips street gang, with sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and promoting prostitution.  The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.

“As alleged, over a period of years the defendants forced a woman to prostitute herself, while they enriched themselves at her expense,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “This Office will continue to work with the FBI and our local law enforcement partners to put an end to the criminal acts of those who seek to profit from sexual slavery.”  

As alleged in the indictment and court filings, from 2014 through 2018, the defendants used violence and threats of violence to force their victim into prostitution.  As part of their coercion, they plied her with drugs and deprived her of food and sleep, and demonstrated their control over their victim by tattooing their names on her body.  The defendants then brazenly promoted their criminal acts on the internet and social media. 

If convicted of sex trafficking, both defendants face a mandatory minimum term of 15 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of life in prison.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Phil Selden is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

GLADIMIR THOMAS (also known as “Sleep,” “Sleep Boss” and “Daddy”)

Age: 31

Brooklyn, New York

RONALD THOMAS (also known as “Roco,” “Roco Da Boss” and “Daddy”)

Age: 27

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-0001 (RRM)