THOSE WHO WERE LEFT OUT WITH THE RIFLES ON THEIR SHOULDERS

What You Should Know 
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District 

  You should know that in Puerto Rico, when you are a soldier and you are all prepared to do something and cannot do a thing, we use the expression to describe this situation as being left with your rifle on your shoulder.

You should know that the General Elections in the United States of America took place yesterday and Americans have chosen Mr. Donald Trump to become the 45th President of the United States.

It is important for you to know that the Evangelicals throughout the nation threw their support en masse to elect Donald Trump. This triumph was inspired by Reverend Franklin Graham, the son of Evangelical Billy Graham, Reverend Jerry Falwell, Jr., and other evangelical leaders who were instrumental in Donald Trump’s victory.

President-Elect Donald Trump’s pro-life platform against abortion, along with his support for traditional family values, marriage as stated in the Bible as one man and one woman instead of same-sex marriage, in favor of prayer and the reading of sacred scripture in our public schools, and his promise to appoint conservative judges to the United States Supreme Court made Evangelicals and even Democrats who espouse those positions to support Donald Trump.

Donald Trump’s victory also helped Republicans to maintain control of the Unites States House of Representatives and protected them from losing majority in the United States Senate.

This has caused many people and institutions to be left out, leaving them all holding their rifles on their shoulders. Even though many of them had already planned to become whatever they wanted and do whatever they wanted, Donald Trump has thrown them to the ground.

Among the people and entities who are left holding their rifles on their shoulders are

(1)   Hillary Rodham Clinton, William Jefferson Clinton, and all of their political machinery.  Their aspirations to replace President Barack and Michelle Obama as the most important and powerful Democratic power brokers in the nation have evaporated.  Now, President Obama and his wife, Michelle will continue to be the most important and powerful leaders of the Democratic Party in our nation, due to the fact that Hillary Clinton’s machine was destroyed by Donald Trump.

(2)   Senator Chuck Schumer was also left holding the rifle on his shoulder. We Democrats in the State of New York were all wishing and planning to see Chuck Schumer serve as Leader of the US Senate. For me personally, last year during the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization’s Banquet, I introduced Chuck Schumer as the next President of the United States Senate.  Since this will no longer happen, we are all left holding the rifles on our shoulders.

(3)   Every publication, media outlet, radio and television station, newspaper, reporters and pundits that were making their plans while talking badly about Donald Trump have all seen their wishes disappear, and were left holding the rifles on their shoulders.

(4)   Reverend Al Sharpton and all of the Hollywood actors and personalities who expressed their desires to move out of the county if Donald Trump wins will now be forced to make the decision to be either a bluffer, or to move out of the country.

(5)   New York State Senator Jeff Klein and his Independent Democratic Conference comprised of seven rebellious Democratic Senators were also left holding the rifles on their shoulders. This was due to the fact that it was expected that the Republicans would lose seats in the Senate, leaving Jeff Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference in a situation where Jeff Klein would become the only and absolute Leader of the State Senate. Now that the Senate Republicans have obtained more seats than expected, and with the help of Senator Simcha Felder, they have 33 seats, leaving Jeff Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference in the same place than they were before Election Day.

Last but not least, I personally want to express my gratitude to the more that 72,000 residents of the 32nd Senatorial District who came out to give me more that 98% of the vote.

You should already know that during this past Democratic Primary, the residents of the 32nd Senatorial District helped me to make history in Bronx County by obtaining a victory close to 95%. That along with the results of the General Election where Democrats came out en masse to help me obtain 98% of the vote sends a strong message that this Black, Puerto Rican with kinky hair, and broken English from Bayamón, Puerto Rico is the one they prefer.  Because of that, I am honored.

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Number Five is very interesting to me since it looks like Senator Diaz Sr. is trying to break up the relationship between the Republican Majority and the IDC. 

Is Senator Diaz Sr. saying that he wants to become a Simca Felder and become number 34 for the Republicans so they can let go of the IDC?

But wait Senator Diaz Sr. announced months ago his intentions to run for the 18th City Council seat next year when his friend Councilwoman Palma is term limited out of office.

One more thing Senator Diaz Sr. you did not get 98 percent of the vote in the general election. Your total vote count was 81,085 votes out of a total of 95,469 total votes cast in the 32nd State Senate District according to the New York State Board of Elections. That means you Senator Diaz Sr. only received 84.93 percent of the vote, again according to the New York State Board of elections. 

That is what the voters should know.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

A reprint of part of my special article on the race for president six days before the election, Yes six days before the election. The parts about Anthony Weiner have been edited out.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

   It looks like despite his own party, the media, and his own unforgiving behavior Donald Trump should become the next President of the United States. Last week I held out the chance of a Trump win, and this week with only a few days to go until election day it looks like President Donald Trump will be a reality.

 How did all this come about so soon after the last presidential debate?

   

  Candidate Trump had been gaining in polls, especially in what are called key states. The polls just before the renewal of the Clinton e-mail scandal had the two candidates in a virtual dead heat with candidate Trump ahead in a few key states. Now it seems that while there may be many people still voting for Hillary Clinton my call as to the outcome will be a Donald Trump victory with him receiving between 49 - 56 percent of the vote. As to the other two candidates they may now receive 4 - 8 percent of the vote.

    How this will affect down ballot races is to be seen especially in the U. S. Senate, Congress, and New York State Senate. Can the current Republican majority hold on to its majority with the new revaluations, or will voters cast them out for not supporting President Donald Trump. As I always say 'You never know what may happen next in politics.'

  So just what happened on Election day?

  It appears that the open seat on the Supreme Court may have pulled out every Republican and Conservative voter so that the Supreme Court stays the way it was before the death of Justice Scalia. 

   The key states that Democrats took for granted as being in their pocket wound up in the pocket of Donald Trump. One by one as the night wore on state after state went red, with some going the way they should have. However as election day ended, and the wee hours of the next day began the numbers were there for Donald Trump, but which network was going to be the first to call it a win for President Donald Trump. If you check my Facebook page under my name Robert Press you will see that I had called the race well before Ten PM. It was just a matter of time when the states would become red for Trump, and he would surpass the magic number of 270 in the electoral college. 

   How did the two houses do? They both remained Republican, and the New York State Senate has remained Republican as in the last election, and it is a question of what role will State Senator Jeff Klein and the IDC play there. 

STATE SENATOR JESSE HAMILTON TO JOIN THE IDC

STATEMENT FROM THE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE

We welcome Senator Jesse Hamilton aboard the Independent Democratic Conference as our seventh member and look forward to achieving even more results for the people of New York with his support. Six years ago, our conference grew out of a mission to make positive change in this state and today its continued growth is a validation of its success. The IDC propelled policies like paid family leave, the $15 minimum wage and the toughest gun laws in the nation. We are proud to deliver for the people of New York and know that Senator Hamilton will help us continue that vision.

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR JESSE HAMILTON

The Independent Democratic Conference delivers for New Yorkers: the best paid family leave program in the nation, a $15 minimum wage, and the toughest gun laws in the country. They get results. That’s why I’ve decided to join my fellow Democrats and become the newest member of the IDC. This conference will continue to innovate, delivering to the people who matter most, my community and our fellow New Yorkers. Standing with them, I will be a prominent voice on affordable housing, quality education, safe streets and criminal justice reform. I look forward to serving with the Independent Democrats and achieving more victories for all New Yorkers.

Bronx Democratic Party to Host Election Night Results Watch Party

Democratic State and Local Officials to Join Supporters and Volunteers as Presidential Election Results are Announced

  On Tuesday night November 8th starting at 8 PM Bronx Democratic State and local legislators will host a watch party at the Bronx Democratic Party Headquarters located at 1640 Eastchester Road to view the election results as they come in. There will be food and soft drinks served as supporters and volunteers gather to wrap up what has become a historic campaign.

Election Night Results Watch Party

Bronx Democratic County Headquarters  

1640 Eastchester Road at the corner of Blondell Avenue 

Starting at 8 PM.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND POLICE COMMISSIONER O’NEILL DISCUSS ELECTION DAY SECURITY PREPARATIONS

  Police Commissioner James O’Neill: Tomorrow, Election Day in New York City, brings with it a very unique set of challenges. For the first time in modern memory, both major party candidates for president will monitor the results here in New York and hold election night parties in Midtown Manhattan. So, in addition to securing the over 1,000 polling sites around the five boroughs all day, we also have two large venues, the Jacob Javits Center and the New York Hilton Hotel to safeguard as well.

The NYPD has a great working relationship with the United States Secret Service. It used to be Bob Sica, now it is Dave Beach and Dave is going to speak. And together, we have been planning how to best protect these sites and the people inside, while minimizing the impact on New Yorkers and the vehicular and pedestrian traffic outside. There are many ways we will be keeping you safe. There will be much the public will see and much the public will not see. In a few moments, Carlos Gomez, our Chief of Department, will provide an overview of some of the resources that will be deployed and will update you on what to expect in terms of street closures.

I’d like to have our Counterterrorism Chief Jim Waters speak to that aspect of our planning. Tomorrow, I want everyone to remember, of course, that public safety is a shared responsibility. If anyone sees something tomorrow that doesn’t look right or doesn’t feel right, let one of our officers know about it. There will be no shortage of uniformed cops around to tell – or call 9-1-1. Remember, that is what we are here for. We are here to keep people safe. 

I’ll finish up with this, planning for security events like this is a big part of what we do. You recall that just one year ago we faced perhaps the largest security challenge the NYPD and this City ever had to deal with when Pope Francis visited New York City during the United Nations General Assembly while President Obama and 90 percent of the world’s leaders were here at the same time. So this is nothing new to us. So this kind of preparation is nothing new also for the men and women of this great police department.

  Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you very much. Thank you, Commissioner. I want to start by saying that the men and women of the NYPD are doing an extraordinary job as we prepare for this unprecedented day tomorrow. And evidence of that is already clear from the way that the marathon was handled yesterday – an extraordinary example of what the NYPD and all the City agencies are able to do together. The marathon came off very safely and without a hitch, so I commend you Commissioner and all the men and women that you lead.

I also want to say it is a tough time for our police officers. They are feeling deeply the loss on Friday of Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo. And I have talked to a number of officers in the last few days and offered my condolences to them. And one thing is clear – is that people are feeling this deeply. And they honor their fallen comrade and the heroic act that he took to save the lives of so many others. I’d like to ask for a moment of silence for Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo.

The resolve of the NYPD and of everyone who works for the City of New York is quite clear in this moment. We told you a few days ago that we expected that there would be a level of vigilance starting on Sunday, continuing through today, and into tomorrow that would lead to extraordinary presence of NYPD officers at key sites around the city, and obviously an extraordinary effort on Election Day itself. Everyone is focused; everyone is resolved in carrying out that mission. And we know that the eyes of the world will be on New York City. We have an obligation, not only to the people of this city, but to this country to make sure that tomorrow, all through the day, and particularly tomorrow night, goes smoothly and goes well. So we have extraordinary resources in place to do that and we’ll be working very closely with our federal partners.

I want to be clear at the outset – New York City will never be intimidated – never by threats of terror, nor by anyone who wants to do anything to disrupt our electoral process. We’re focused on the big stage tomorrow night, but we’re also focused on our poll sites all over the city during the day. We will not allow any form of voter intimidation. NYPD is ready to step in if we see any evidence of that occurring.

Now, I want to thank, in addition to Commissioner O’Neill, I want to thank our First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker; our Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism, John Miller – all of the NYPD leadership present. I particularly want to thank the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office for the Secret Service, David Beach, for your partnership and your work together as we prepare for this extraordinary day. And my colleagues in elective office –Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and State Senator Brad Hoylman – thank you for your support.

Let me note that tomorrow it takes on a very special significance. It has been a tough election year. We all know this. It’s been in many ways a challenging and painful year. It’s strained our democracy, but tomorrow is the day when we get to make it right when the democratic process comes alive and the people choose. It is our sacred obligation to protect that process; to make sure that democracy unfolds as it is meant to be. The NYPD not only has all of its traditional extraordinary resources, but as you know over the last year or two, we have added tremendous anti-terrorism capacity, particularly the 500-plus member Critical Response Command, the Strategic Response Group as well playing a crucial role. We have beefed up our ability to handle multiple sites simultaneously. And I agree with the Commissioner’s analysis. Last year, with the Pope, and 170 world leaders in town at the – all at the same time plus the president of the United States – that showed the range and the ability of the NYPD. And you’re going to see it again today and tomorrow. We’ve also deepened over the last few years the partnership with the federal agencies, and that has allowed for a much more seamless flow of information and much greater partnership. You saw that in the aftermath of the Chelsea bombing. So, a lot is changing to help us cover more ground and keep people safer.

And again, we have an obligation to protect the voting process, so you will see, of course, NYPD officers at every poll site around the city. And if we see any evidence of voter intimidation, we have the ability to reinforce those sites quickly and make sure that any pattern of intimidation is snuffed out immediately.

Bottom-line for all New Yorkers is – expect to see a lot of NYPD presence today and tomorrow. Know that you are safe and well-protected. You will see the presence at key locations around the City. You’ll see it in the subways; you’ll see it around the locations where the election celebrations will be happening. But we all depend on the people of this city. The phrase – if you see something, say something – is a very specific idea; it’s not just words; it means we’re all responsible; it means we all have to help the NYPD. So, I remind people to keep those words in mind over these next few days.

We are a society that honors democracy, that honors freedom, that honors inclusivity. We’re a society that believes that people of all backgrounds can actually work together. We’re going to prove it over the next 24 hours here in New York City.

Monday, November 14, 2016 - Croton FMC Meeting Agenda

Agenda

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting (CFMC)

Monday, November 14, 2016 – 6:30 PM

DEP Office – 3660 Jerome Avenue, Bronx NY 10467 - (718) 231-8470

I - Welcome, Call Meeting to Order -

     Dan Padernacht, Chair CFMC

II - Consider, Adopt November 14 CFMC Agenda 

       CFMC Representatives

III - Consider, Adopt Minutes from September 29, 2016 Meeting

        CFMC Representatives

IV - Select CFMC Chair for 2017 

        CFMC Representatives

V - Jerome Park Reservoir – DEP Plans for Open Access Weekend November 19/20

       Eric Landau, DEP

VI - Croton Costs Report and Construction Update 

        Bernard Daly, DEP

VII - Old Business 

         CFMC Representatives, and Public

VIII - New Business 

          CFMC Representatives, and Public

IX - Select Date for Next Meeting and Adjourn.

United States Attorneys Available To Receive Election Complaints

  PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and ROBERT L. CAPERS, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today that special telephone numbers have been set up to receive complaints of possible violations of federal election laws relating to the upcoming general elections in New York City and other counties in their districts. 

The United States Attorneys said that their Offices will be available to receive complaints at the following numbers on Tuesday, November 8, 2016:

(646) 369-4739                       (Manhattan, Bronx, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties)    

(718) 254-6323                       (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties)

In addition, complaints of possible violations of federal election laws may be made directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (212) 384-1000.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting, may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

The United States Attorneys also noted that the following additional telephone numbers are available on election day for citizens to call for routine inquiries, such as where to vote or how late the polls are open, or to register complaints that may concern violations of New York State election laws:

IN NEW YORK CITY

City Board of Elections

Main Office                           (866) 868-3692

TTY #: 212-487-5496

Bronx                                      (718) 299-9017

Brooklyn                                 (718) 797-8800

Manhattan                               (212) 886-2100

Queens                                    (718) 730-6730

Staten Island                           (718) 876-0079

IN COUNTIES OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY

County Boards of Elections

Dutchess                                 (845) 486-2473

Nassau                                     (516) 571- 8683

Orange                                    (845) 360-6500

Putnam                                    (845) 808-1300

Rockland                                 (845) 638-5172

Suffolk                                    (631) 852-4500

Sullivan                                   (845) 807-0400

Westchester                             (914) 995-5700

Assistant United States Attorney DAVID J. KENNEDY is responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of voting rights abuses and election fraud for the Southern District of New York.

Assistant United States Attorney CATHERINE MIRABILE is responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of voting rights abuses and election fraud for the Eastern District of New York.

Indictment Of Seven Individuals And Six Arrests In The United States And Mexico On International Sex Trafficking Charges

   Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Sarah R. Saldaña, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, and Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the unsealing of a 21-count superseding indictment (the “Indictment”) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York charging seven defendants with sex trafficking offenses.  The Indictment, which was returned under seal on September 15, 2016, alleges that the defendants are members of an international sex trafficking organization that exploited and trafficked adult and minor women in Mexico and in the United States from at least 2000 to 2016.  Members of the defendants’ sex trafficking organization, which operated largely as a family business, used false promises, physical and sexual violence, and threats to force and coerce adult and minor women to work in prostitution for the organization’s profit in both Mexico and the United States. 

Six of the defendants charged were taken into custody on October 26 and 27, 2016.  As part of a coordinated bilateral law enforcement action, two defendants, RAUL ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “Chicarcas,” a/k/a “El Negro,” and ISAAC LOMELI-RIVERA, a/k/a “Giro,” were arrested in the United States, and four defendants, EFRAIN GRANADOS-CORONA, a/k/a “Chavito,” a/k/a “Cepillo,” ALAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “El Flaco,” PEDRO ROJAS-ROMERO, and EMILIO ROJAS-ROMERO, were arrested in Mexico.  The defendants arrested in Mexico were taken into custody by Mexican authorities pursuant to Provisional Arrest Warrants submitted by the United States in August 2016.  The defendants arrested in the United States were presented on October 27, 2016, in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox.  One defendant, JUAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “Chegoya,” a/k/a “El Guero,” remains a fugitive.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr.  

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said:  “The Indictment outlines alleged conduct of these defendants that is brutal and predatory.  The defendants allegedly raped, beat, tortured, and enslaved their victims, often minors who were coercively separated from their families.  The combined efforts of American and Mexican law enforcement that made these charges possible reflect our joint commitment to protect victims of these most predatory crimes that treat human beings as chattel.”

ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña said:  “The sexual exploitation of human beings is one of the vilest crimes committed against humanity.  This operation reflects our commitment to bring to justice traffickers who have no regard for human life.  Each arrest is a testament to the outstanding bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States.  We are sending a clear message to human traffickers that law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border have them in their sights.”

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta said:  “Through vigorous enforcement efforts and collaborative international partnerships, the Justice Department works tirelessly to bring traffickers to justice and protect victims held in modern-day slavery.  Human traffickers degrade the humanity of the vulnerable victims they target.  I commend our Mexican counterparts for their dedication to fighting the heinous crime of human trafficking and their critical assistance in this case.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “Human trafficking is nothing less than a modern form of slavery and no one should be forced to live in a world of fear and involuntary servitude. HSI will remain steadfast in its commitment to working with its law enforcement partners to dismantle the international criminal organizations involved in human trafficking.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed on October 27, 2016, in Manhattan federal court:[1] 

EFRAIN GRANADOS-CORONA, a/k/a “Chavito,” a/k/a “Cepillo,” RAUL ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “Chicarcas,” a/k/a “El Negro,” ISAAC LOMELI-RIVERA, a/k/a “Giro,” JUAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “Chegoya,” a/k/a “El Guero,” ALAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “El Flaco,” PEDRO ROJAS-ROMERO, and EMILIO ROJAS-ROMERO, the defendants, are members of an international sex trafficking organization (the “STO”).  Many of the members of the STO are related by blood, marriage and community.  For example:  EFRAIN GRANADOS-CORONA is the uncle of RAUL ROMERO-GRANADOS, ISAAC LOMELI-RIVERA (through LOMELI-RIVERA’s relationship with EFRAIN GRANADOS-CORONA’s niece), JUAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, and ALAN ROMERO-GRANADOS; PEDRO ROJAS-ROMERO and EMILIO ROJAS-ROMERO are brothers; JUAN ROMERO-GRANADOS and ALAN ROMERO-GRANADOS are also brothers; and ISAAC LOMELI-RIVERA is RAUL ROMERO-GRANADOS’s brother-in-law.

Between at least in or about 2000 and the present, members of the STO (the “Traffickers”) have used false romantic promises, physical and sexual violence, threats of the same, lies, and coercion to force and coerce adult and minor women (the “Victims”) to work in prostitution in both Mexico and the United States.

In most cases, a Trafficker entices a Victim – frequently a minor – in Mexico.  The Trafficker then uses multiple means to isolate the Victim from her family.  In some cases, the Trafficker uses romantic promises to induce the Victim to leave her family and live with him.  In other cases, the Trafficker rapes the Victim, making it difficult for her to return to her family due to the associated stigma of the rape.  Once a Victim is separated from her family, the Trafficker frequently monitors her communications, keeps her locked in an apartment, leaves her without food, and engages in physical or sexual violence against the Victim.  Traffickers often tell Victims that the Traffickers owe a significant debt and that the Victim must work in prostitution to assist in repaying the debt.  Traffickers typically begin forcing the Victims to work in prostitution in Mexico, frequently in a neighborhood of Mexico City known as “La Merced.”   Victims are often required to see at least 20 to 40 customers per day.  Traffickers monitor the number of clients a Victim sees by surveilling the Victim, communicating with brothel workers, and by counting the number of condoms provided to a Victim.  Traffickers typically require the Victims to turn over all of the prostitution proceeds to the Traffickers. 

After a Victim has worked in prostitution in Mexico for some time, Traffickers typically arrange for the Victim to be smuggled into the United States.  Members of the STO assist one another in making smuggling arrangements.  In many cases, multiple Traffickers and multiple Victims are smuggled into the United States together.  In other cases, one Trafficker may remain in Mexico while arranging for a Victim to be smuggled together with another Trafficker and other Victims.

Once in the United States, the members of the STO generally maintain their Victims at one of several shared apartments in New York City.  Victims living in the same apartment are frequently forbidden to communicate with one another.  Once in the United States, Traffickers continue to use physical and sexual violence, threats of the same, lies, and coercion to force the Victims to work in prostitution. 

In most cases, the Trafficker or another member of the STO provides a Victim with contact information with which to find work.  The Victims typically work weeklong shifts either in a brothel, or in a “delivery service.”  In a delivery service, the Victim is delivered to a customer’s home by a “driver.”  These brothels and delivery services are located both within New York, and in surrounding states, including, but not limited to Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Generally, each customer pays $30-35 for 15 minutes of sex.  Of that, half of the money typically goes to the driver (in the case of a delivery service) or to the brothel.  The other $15 goes to the Victim, who is then typically forced to give all of the proceeds to the Trafficker.  When a Trafficker is unavailable, a Victim may also give the proceeds to another member of the STO.

The Traffickers then frequently send, or have their Victims send, some of the prostitution proceeds to Traffickers’ family members and associates in Mexico by wire transfer.  Such transfers provide financial assistance to the Traffickers’ families and provide financial support to the Traffickers themselves if they return to Mexico.               

Since 2009, the Department of Justice and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have collaborated with Mexican law enforcement counterparts in a Bilateral Human Trafficking Enforcement Initiative aimed at strengthening high-impact prosecutions under both U.S. and Mexican law.  The initiative is aimed at dismantling human trafficking networks operating across the United States-Mexico border, bringing human traffickers to justice, reuniting victims with their children, and restoring the rights and dignity of human trafficking victims held under the trafficking networks’ control.  These efforts have resulted in successful prosecutions in both Mexico and the United States, including U.S. federal prosecutions of over 50 defendants in multiple cases in New York, Georgia, Florida, and Texas since 2009, and numerous Mexican federal and state prosecutions of associated sex traffickers.  In announcing the unsealed charges, Attorney General Lynch commended U.S. and Mexican law enforcement partners for their shared and continued commitment to coordinated bilateral anti-trafficking efforts.

Attorney General Lynch and U.S. Attorney Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, the work of the Mexican government and Mexican law enforcement in executing the arrests and preparing for the extradition of the defendants to the United States, and the assistance provided by the New York City Police Department, the State Department, the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.  The Justice Department also acknowledged the non-governmental victim service providers and advocates for their dedicated efforts to restore and improve the lives of survivors of trafficking and their families in connection with this case and others.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The prosecution is being handled by the Violent and Organized Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy J. Greenberg, Jane Kim, and Rebecca G. Mermelstein are in charge of the prosecution.

United States v. Efrain Granados-Corona, a/k/a “Chavito,” a/k/a “Cepillo,” et al.,