Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of AGUSTIN DIAZ, 53, for sexually assaulting at least four women – all Spanish-speaking recent immigrants – by falsely offering them employment opportunities to lure them to secluded places. DIAZ is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with first-degree Rape, Sex Abuse, and Stalking, among other charges.^[1]

“As alleged, Agustin Diaz purposefully targeted Spanish-speaking women who were new to the United States and in desperate need of employment,” said District Attorney Bragg. “He allegedly lured them to isolated locations with promises of work, only to sexually assault them in a pattern he repeated with at least four survivors. This investigation is ongoing, and we urge anyone with information about these allegations to call us at 212-335-9793.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, DIAZ repeatedly approached Spanish-speaking women on the subway and asked them if they were new to the United States and needed employment. When they responded affirmatively, he provided them with a business card and further instructions.

On May 10, 2018, DIAZ lured the first woman to an empty office space on Wall Street by offering her a job purportedly cleaning a dental office. Once inside, DIAZ threw her to the ground and raped her twice.

On August 8, 2023, DIAZ convinced a second woman to come work for him in a building on Pearl Street, down the block from the Wall Street location. When she arrived, DIAZ led her down into an isolated basement, where he had a small storage room in the back. He instructed her to fill plastic bags with candy and other single-serve products, such as snacks and sodas. As she did so, DIAZ came up behind her, grabbed her waist, kissed her face, and sexually abused her before she was able to escape.

On September 23, 2023, DIAZ lured a third woman to the Pearl Street location, similarly instructing her to fill plastic bags with candy and snacks. As she worked, he grabbed her by her hair and forcibly kissed her. He then grabbed her by her arm, forced his hands down her pants, and groped her. He also told her that if she didn’t do what he told her to do, he wasn’t going to give her a job.

In December 2023, DIAZ met a fourth woman on the subway and offered her a job at the Pearl Street location, which he claimed was his deli. As she removed items from a shelf in the basement, DIAZ approached her from behind and grabbed her buttocks. After she left, DIAZ repeatedly called and texted her, but she responded that she did not want to work for him again. In late January, her financial status changed, and she needed employment. Once again, she ran into DIAZ on the subway. He asked her to return reassured her that things would be different.

She returned weeks later, and DIAZ again touched her buttocks without her consent. DIAZ instructed her to return the following day and would pay her for both shifts. She did, and he sexually abused her again. She left and said he would not return.

DIAZ proceeded to call and text her repeatedly. When she blocked him, he called her from restricted numbers. He began attending her church, forcing her to change services, and followed her on the subway.

She continued to ignore him until late April, when she was in dire financial need. DIAZ approached her on the subway once again and apologized for his actions. He offered her a job delivering the candy and snack bags instead of working with him in the basement. When she returned to the Pearl Street location to discuss the delivery opportunity, DIAZ pulled her pants down and held a knife to her body while demanding she have sex with him. The woman fought back and, in the struggle, sustained multiple injuries to her left and right hands. Both were taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment.

DIAZ threatened to have at least two victims deported if they reported what happened.

The D.A.’s Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence (“IPSV”) Bureau’s investigation is ongoing.

Assistant D.A.s Candace White and Julia Hooks are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Bethany Spiro, Kaitlyn Flatley, and Vanessa Puzio (Deputy Chiefs of the IPSV Bureau), Nicole Blumberg (Chief of the IPSV Bureau) and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division). Survivor Services Bureau Advocates Chanelly Solomon and Vikelia Hernandez, along with Counselors Betty Wasserman and Cecilia Pino, and Human Trafficking Clinical Director Melissa Martinez-Valdes, are providing valuable support. Investigative Analyst Rory Fleming is also providing valuable assistance in this case. Members of the Office’s Investigation Bureau led his investigation, in particular Assistant Supervising Rackets Investigator Evelin Gutierrez, Assistant Supervising Rackets Investigator Ariela DaSilva, and Senior Rackets Investigator Sean Ryan for their roles in this investigation.  

 

Defendant Information

AGUSTIN DIAZ

Bronx, NY

Charges:

• Rape in the First Degree, a class B felony, 2 counts
• Attempted Rape in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony, 4 counts
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 1 count
• Stalking in the First Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts
• Forcible Touching, a class A misdemeanor, 2 counts

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.