Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LUIDJI BENJAMIN was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for sex trafficking of minor females.  BENJAMIN was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, before whom BENJAMIN previously was convicted by a federal jury of one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, following a five-day jury trial.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Luidji Benjamin sexually exploited vulnerable girls for his own financial gain.  This sexual predator damaged the lives of at least two young women, advertising their bodies for commercial sex.  Today Benjamin was justly sentenced to 17 years in prison for his callous and depraved exploitation.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and evidence presented during the trial in Manhattan federal court:

From at least in or about Fall 2015 to in or about December 2015, LUIDJI BENJAMIN, a/k/a “Zoe,” the defendant, engaged in sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of two minor victims.  The defendant recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained women for the purpose of commercial sex, including one minor victim (“Victim-1”) who resided at a residential treatment facility located in Westchester County, which provided housing for at-risk troubled children and adolescents on behalf of departments of social services for certain counties in New York State.

The defendant recruited Victim-1 to engage in commercial sex through a social media website, and he used Backpage.com and Craiglist.com, online classifieds websites, to post advertisements for commercial sex.  Certain of these advertisements included graphic images, including of Victim-1 performing oral sex on the defendant.  BENJAMIN directed Victim-1 to engage in commercial sex acts in cars and residences throughout Queens, New York. 

The defendant and a co-conspirator also recruited a second minor victim (“Victim-2”) to engage in commercial sex acts.  The defendant and his co-conspirator spent the proceeds of this scheme on marijuana, liquor, and other goods for themselves. 

This prosecution is part of an ongoing investigation that, including LUIDJ BENJAMIN, has charged 19 defendants, set forth in eight indictments, for the sex trafficking of at least 13 minor girls and young adults in New York State’s social services system. 

*                *                *

In addition to his prison sentence, BENJAMIN, 23, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Any individuals who believe that they have information that may be relevant to this investigation should contact the FBI at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov.

Mr. Berman thanked the FBI and the NYPD for their outstanding work in this matter and, in particular, the New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Mollie Bracewell, Jacob Gutwillig, and Richard Cooper are in charge of the prosecution. 

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LUIDJI BENJAMIN, a/k/a “Zoe,” was found guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking of a minor following a five-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said:  “As proven in court today, Luidji Benjamin callously preyed on vulnerable girls to prostitute for his own financial gain.  This sexual predator ruined the lives of at least two young women, advertising their bodies for commercial sex.  Today a jury convicted Benjamin of his horrific crimes and he now faces at least 10 years in prison for his depravity.”       

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and evidence presented during the trial in Manhattan federal court:

From late 2015 to December 2015, BENJAMIN engaged in sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of two minor victims.  BENJAMIN recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained women for the purpose of commercial sex, including one minor victim (“Victim-1”) who resided at a residential treatment facility located in Westchester County, which provided housing for at-risk troubled children and adolescents on behalf of department of social services for certain counties in New York State.

BENJAMIN recruited Victim-1 to engage in commercial sex through a social media website, and he used Backpage.com and Craiglist.com, online classifieds websites, to post advertisements for commercial sex.  Certain of these advertisements included graphic images, including of Victim-1 performing oral sex on the defendant.  BENJAMIN directed Victim-1 to engage in commercial sex acts in cars and residences throughout Queens, New York. 

The defendant and a co-conspirator also recruited a second minor victim (“Victim-2”) to engage in commercial sex acts.  BENJAMIN and his co-conspirator spent the proceeds of this scheme on marijuana, liquor, and other goods for themselves. 

*                *                *

BENJAMIN, 23, of Queens, New York, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the Court.

This prosecution is part of an ongoing investigation that, including BENJAMIN, has charged 19 defendants, set forth in eight indictments, for the sex trafficking of at least 13 minor girls and young adults in New York State’s social services system. 

Any individuals who believe that they have information that may be relevant to this investigation should contact the FBI at (212) 384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

Mr. Berman thanked the FBI and the NYPD for their outstanding work in this matter and, in particular, the New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Mollie Bracewell, Jacob Gutwillig, and Richard Cooper are in charge of the prosecution. 

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of five indictments and three superseding indictments charging a total of 19 with participating in the sex trafficking of minor girls and young women.  As alleged, the defendants trafficked or recruited to engage in prostitution at least 15 minor girls in the child welfare system, including at least nine minors who resided at a particular non-incarceratory residential treatment facility located in Westchester County (“Facility-1”).  Facility-1 provided housing for at-risk and troubled children and adolescents on behalf of departments of social welfare for certain counties in New York State.  

Eight of the 19 charged defendants were arrested yesterday, two are in state custody on unrelated charges, and eight other defendants were previously charged.  One remains at large.  These defendants were identified as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the sex trafficking of minor victims, some of whom were as young as 13 years old, in the social welfare system.  As detailed below, the charges are set forth in a total of eight separate indictments. 

In each of these eight indicted cases, victims of the charged conduct included one or more minors who resided at Facility-1 and were in the New York State’s social welfare system.  The conduct charged in the eight cases occurred, as detailed below, between the years of 2010 and 2018. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “Children in the child welfare system are among the most vulnerable in our society.  As alleged in today’s charges, the defendants and their conspirators callously recruited girls as young as 13 from a residential treatment facility for at-risk youth, then sexually trafficked and prostituted them for financial profit.  Together with our partners in the FBI, we will work tirelessly to ensure that anyone who sexually traffics a minor is subject to the full force of the law.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Sex traffickers routinely prey on young people and those in our communities who are the most defenseless. As alleged, the defendants targeted vulnerable women and girls, including residents of a facility for at-risk children and adolescents, knowing that the victims would be more susceptible to their claims.  The FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force and our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone who exploits others for their own profit.”

The 11 newly charged defendants are CARLTON VANIER, RUBEN MORCIGLIO, SAEED NORRIS, LLOYD KIDD, LUIDI BENJAMIN, LAWRENCE WALSH, CIMMIE WRIGHT, ADRIENNE ROBERTS, CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK, DARIEL BRAHAM, and STEVEN LESANE.  These defendants and the defendants already in federal custody were presented yesterday in the Southern District of New York.

In addition to the charges against the new defendants, Superseding Indictments were unsealed against HUBERT DUPIGNY, HENSLEY DUPIGNY, NAZEER VICKERS, SEAN MERCHANT, REUBEN SANDS, MARTIQUE MCGRIFF, JERMAINE MYRIE, and JABARI KENNEDY, who were first charged in the summer of 2018 for their participation in the trafficking of minor victims and young women. 

*                *                *

If you believe you are a victim of a similar crime, or if you have information concerning the exploitation of children, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (212) 384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

A chart outlining the charges and maximum prison sentences for each of the defendants is below.  The maximum potential sentences and the mandatory minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the NYPD, and, in particular, the New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.  Mr. Berman also thanked the New York City Department of Corrections and the Human Resources Administration for their assistance.  The prosecutions of these cases are being handled by the Office’s General Crimes and Public Corruption Units.  Assistant United States Attorneys Mollie Bracewell, Elinor Tarlow, Jacob Gutwillig, and Alex Rossmiller are in charge of the prosecutions.



U.S. v. Merchant, et al., 18 Cr. 527 (KMW)

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS/AGES





MAX SENTENCE





1





Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking between January 2016 and June 2018

(18 U.S.C. § 1594(c))

 





Sean Merchant (31)

Martique Mcgriff (30)

Jermaine Myrie (34)

Reuben Sands (59)

Steven Lesane (31)

 

 





Life in prison





2





Sex trafficking of a minor under the age of 14 (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), (b)(2), and 2)





Sean Merchant (31)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))

 





3





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2) and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1) and 2)

 





Sean Merchant (31)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))

 





4





Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Sean Merchant (31)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison





5





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Jermaine Myrie (34)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





6





Sex trafficking by force, threats of  force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Martique Mcgriff (30)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison





7





Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Steven Lesane (31)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison





U.S. v. Hubert Dupigny, et al., 18 Cr. 528 (JMF)

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS/AGES





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking between August 2016 to May 2017 (18 U.S.C. § 1594(c))

 





Hubert Dupigny (34)

Hensley Dupigny (29)

Dariel Braham (45)

Christopher Bullock (36)

Adrienne Roberts (59)





Life in prison





 





 





 





 





2





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Hubert Dupigny (34)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





3





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Hubert Dupigny (34)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





 

4





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Hubert Dupigny (34)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





5





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 





Hensley Dupigny (34)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison





U.S. v. Luidji Benjamin et al., 18 Cr. 874

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in the Fall of 2015 (18 U.S.C. § 1594(c))





Luidji Benjamin (22)

Lawrence Walsh (25





Life in prison





 





 





 





 





2





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

 





Luidji Benjamin (22)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison





U.S. v. Jabari Kennedy et al, 18 Cr. 529 (JFK)

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking between January 2017 to May 2018 (18 U.S.C. § 1594(c))





Jabari Kennedy (26)

Cimmie Wright (24)





Life in prison





 





 





 





 





2





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Jabari Kennedy (26)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





3





Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Jabari Kennedy (26)





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison





4





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 





Cimmie Wright (24)





Life; mandatory minimum sentence of ten years





U.S. v. Nazeer Vickers, 18 Cr. 530 (LGS)

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking between June 2017 and August 2017 (18 U.S.C. § 1594(c))





Nazeer Vickers (36)

 





Life in prison





 





 





 





 





2





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Nazeer Vickers (36)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





3





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Nazeer Vickers (36)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





U.S. v. Saeed Malik Thomas Norris, 18 Cr. 871

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking between July 2016 and August 2016 (18 U.S.C. § 1594(c))

 





Saeed Malik Thomas Norris (24)

 





Life in prison





 





 





 





 





2





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 





Saeed Malik Thomas Norris (24)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years  in prison

 





U.S. v. Ruben Morciglio and Carlton Vanier, 18 Cr. 873

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking between 2011 and October 2018 (18 U.S.C. §1 594(c))

 





Ruben Morciglio (31)

Carlton Vanier (26)

 





Life in prison





2





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Ruben Morciglio (31)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





3.





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Carlton Vanier (26)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





4.





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Ruben Morciglio (31)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





5.





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)

 





Carlton Vanier (26)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





U.S. v. Lloyd Kidd, 18 Cr. 872

 





COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Sex trafficking of a minor (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 

Sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(1), and 2)





Lloyd Kidd (28)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2)); and mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison (under 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(1))





 





 





 





 





2





Sex trafficking of a minor  (18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a), (b)(2), and 2)

 





Lloyd Kidd (28)

 





Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prisons