“Sex trafficking evolves with technology, and traffickers increasingly rely on social media and anonymous messaging applications,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Matthew Halstead trafficked this child with the help of those tools, and further used them to share images of the child’s assault and attempt to recruit more children. I thank the young survivor for his bravery in participating in the criminal process, including speaking at today’s sentencing, which will help protect other vulnerable young people.”

“This brutal, broad daylight attack horrified this community and the entire borough,” said District Attorney Bragg. “As alleged, Germaine Parham raped a young girl who was just trying to return home. My thoughts are with her as she recovers from this heinous, violent act. I urge anyone who has been sexually assaulted to contact our specially trained prosecutors and social workers by calling our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373.”

“My office’s Human Trafficking Unit investigates not only sex traffickers but also those who pay to sexually abuse children,” said District Attorney Bragg. “The Unit is fully equipped to support young survivors, with dedicated prosecutors and investigators working alongside specially trained social workers. Please call us at 212-335-3400.”

“After 25 years of evading accountability, Jancys Santiago was sentenced to a substantial prison term for raping a woman in her own home,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Dogged investigators and my Office’s prosecutors ensured that this cold case was closed, and Santiago was convicted at trial. I thank the survivor for testifying about this horrific crime after so many years, and for her words at today’s sentencing.”

“Monetary control, including predatory cycles of debt, is a common element of coercion used by sex traffickers,” said District Attorney Bragg. “As alleged, this wide-ranging operation recruited women who were seeking to come to the United States from Venezuela and demanded repayment through prostitution. Many of the women were trafficked when the ringleaders allegedly used coercion, including threats of violence, to force them to continue. Together with our partners in the NYPD/HSI Task Force, we are putting a stop to this predatory cycle and horrific abuse.”