“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.”

“Quamae Taylor took advantage of this survivor’s vulnerable state and raped her while she was asleep and physically helpless,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I thank the survivor for her resilience and her strength in speaking at today’s sentencing. The facts of this case bely many common misunderstandings of rape, while mirroring what we see across our Special Victims Division. This defendant was an acquaintance, not a stranger, and raped this survivor in a relative’s apartment, not a stereotypical darkened street corner. I want to reiterate that regardless of the circumstances, rape is rape, and we are here to help you. I urge survivors to call us at 212-335-9373.”

“Jermaine Gabadian inflicted a horrific cycle of abuse on this survivor, using threats and extreme violence to keep her in fear while he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of two months,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I commend this survivor for her incredible bravery in reporting these crimes and testifying at trial for six days.