Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr., said: “It is long past time for New York State to eliminate the statute of limitations for sex trafficking and child sex trafficking. When we give survivors more time to report, they come forward. Five years is simply not enough – which the State recognized when it eliminated the statute of limitations for serious sex crimes two decades ago. I call on the legislature to help us support survivors and prosecute traffickers: pass this critical bill this session. Thank you to the bill’s sponsors, Senator Cleare and Assemblymember Dinowitz, as well as the survivors and advocates who stood with us today, for their persistence, dedication, and leadership.”

“Kareem and Sharice Mitchell preyed on young New Yorkers, including two entrusted to their care,” said District Attorney Bragg. “The vulnerabilities exploited by the Mitchells – youth, homelessness, isolation – are common among trafficking survivors. Those same vulnerabilities often prevent survivors from coming forward to law enforcement. I call on the legislature to confront the realities of sex trafficking in New York State: help us dismantle operations like these by eliminating the criminal statute of limitations.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York State Senator Cordell Cleare called on the New York State Legislature to stand with survivors by eliminating the five-year criminal statute of limitations for sex trafficking and extending the window for survivors to file lawsuits.

“Curtis Hamlet heinously exploited girls and young women in furtherance of his sex trafficking scheme. My thoughts are with these young survivors as they continue to heal,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I thank the dedicated prosecutors and investigators of my Office’s Human Trafficking Unit and our law enforcement partners in New York and Miami, for putting an end to this horrific multi-city operation and fighting for accountability.”

“The alleged actions in this case are horrific and illustrate a deliberate attempt to prey on a young woman who was already vulnerable to exploitation,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Our youth who are at risk of trafficking deserve support and care, and we will continue to vigorously investigate and disrupt these types of abhorrent trafficking schemes. I encourage anyone who has experienced, or is aware of this type of criminal activity, to call our help line at 212.335.3400 – our experienced and trauma-informed prosecutors and investigators are here to help.”