Seven folks had been indicted in connection to 2 separate human trafficking rings in New Jersey, officers introduced Tuesday.
In one of many trafficking rings – based mostly in Essex County – the suspects bodily abused their teenage victims with {an electrical} wire and different strategies, investigators mentioned.
Within the different trafficking ring – based mostly in Cumberland County – every week new teams of ladies had been dropped at a brothel in Bridgeton the place they engaged in intercourse acts with quite a few males for cash, in accordance with investigators.
Human trafficking ring in Essex County
Khailah Meekins, 21, and Donte Barkley, 28, each of Newark, New Jersey, had been indicted on Dec. 2, 2024, in connection to the human trafficking of three youngsters – two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old — in Essex County, New Jersey, investigators mentioned. A 3rd suspect, 24-year-old Richard Johnson of Irvington, New Jersey, had been indicted on fees of aggravated sexual assault and different offenses in connection to the ring on Aug. 14, 2024, in accordance with the New Jersey Legal professional Basic’s Workplace.
Investigators mentioned the suspects organized sexual encounters of the three teenagers by smartphone functions and on-line commercials the place they posted nude photographs of the underage victims. The victims had been dropped at short-term leases and motels the place patrons sexually assaulted them and paid the three suspects in trade, in accordance with officers. Barkley organized the sexual encounters, instructed them which sexual acts to carry out and advisable to Meekins how a lot to cost the shoppers, officers mentioned. He additionally allegedly obtained a portion of the proceeds from the patrons.
The suspects threatened the three victims and bodily abused them by pulling their hair, biting them, hitting them with an extension wire, punching and stomping them, investigators mentioned.
Human trafficking in Cumberland County
Usiel Luna, 42, Jose Perez-Lopez, 40, Rosendo Vazquez-Hernandez, 35, and Yerson Puentes Marquez, 28, all from Bridgeton, had been indicted in connection to the human trafficking ring in Cumberland County, New Jersey, officers mentioned.
The 4 suspects are accused of distributing medicine and working a brothel out of a house on North Laurel Road in Bridgeton. Investigators mentioned the suspects recruited girls on the false pretense that they’d be working as “dancers.” As soon as they arrived on the house, Luna instructed the victims they weren’t allowed to go away they usually witnessed violent exercise on the property, in accordance with officers.
The victims had been then provided to patrons for intercourse in trade for cash, in accordance with the indictment. Officers mentioned the victims had been picked up on a weekly foundation from Queens, New York, and Paterson, New Jersey, and compelled to have intercourse with tons of of males every week.
Investigators mentioned in addition they seized methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana together with over $50,000 in money from the brothel and Luna’s house.
Sources for victims of sexual assault can be found by the Nationwide Sexual Violence Sources Middle and the Nationwide Sexual Assault Phone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
New Jersey Legal professional Basic Matthew J. Platkin introduced the indictment and fees in opposition to the seven suspects throughout a press convention on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
“There is no tolerance for the exploitation of anyone, especially in this dehumanizing way,” Platkin mentioned.“My office has made the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking a top priority. We urge members of the public to call our confidential hotline, 855-END-NJ-HT, if they are being victimized or see someone who they suspect is being subjected to this type of exploitation. We will investigate, and we will prosecute.”
Barkley’s protection lawyer instructed NBC10 he would offer an announcement on his consumer’s behalf. We are going to embrace it as soon as we obtain it. A spokesperson for the lawyer representing Puentes-Marquez instructed NBC10 they don’t touch upon pending instances. NBC10 additionally reached out to the attorneys for Johnson, Luna, Perez-Lopez and Vazquez-Hernandez. We are going to embrace their statements as soon as we obtain them.
