In order to keep control of their violent and unlawful prostitution ring, two members of a Queens-based sex trafficking organization were found guilty of felonies, including robbery and assault. Following their role in a ring that brutalized sex workers, Siyang Chen and Yichu Chen were found guilty on a number of offenses by a federal jury in Brooklyn, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Siyang Chen was found guilty of sex trafficking conspiracy, multiple assaults in aid of racketeering, and Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy following a month-long trial and extensive investigations involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Yichu Chen was also found guilty, particularly for the robbery and assault of a sex worker in Virginia on September 15, 2020, which, according to the evidence presented in court, represented a single act within a broad pattern of offenses spanning multiple states. Members of the ring disseminated images of violence against these workers, creating a threatening environment to stifle competition—a terrifying detail exemplified by their acts.
“This verdict is a victory for justice and for the victims who were subjected to brutal beatings and degrading treatment at the hands of the defendants,” said Breon Peace, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, acknowledging the bravery of those who testified against their abusers. The organization’s brutal methods, which included beatings with tools like breaker bars, hammers, and wrenches that caused severe injuries, were vividly depicted in the evidence presented during the trial. These actions were all intended to maintain the organization’s illegal business’s dominance over the commercial sex industry.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy told the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “May this conviction emphasize the FBI’s intolerance of the systemic use of violence and serve as a deterrent to those who employ such horrific measures to increase profits.” Dennehy highlighted the agency’s dedication to fighting monopoly-driven violence. The case shows that law enforcement is making a concerted attempt to use violence and intimidation to reduce the power that these criminal organizations wield. WeChat messages and videos that the criminal organization used to spread fear and exercise control were among the alarming evidence produced during the trial, which also showed Siyang Chen’s managerial role in encouraging the use of violence.
Yichu Chen faces up to 20 years in prison and Siyang Chen faces up to life in prison after being found guilty on all counts. The sentences highlight the seriousness of their crimes and the larger effort to break up networks that take advantage of people for financial gain. Throughout the proceedings, law enforcement’s unwavering goal of shielding vulnerable groups from such horrific exploitation was evident. A thorough crackdown on this criminal business was made possible by the prosecution team, which was directed by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew R. Galeotti, Sophia M. Suarez, and Stephanie Pak. The case also entailed the cooperation of numerous police agencies around the country.
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