Leader Of International Sex Trafficking Ring Gets Life In Prison
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man who pleaded guilty to victimizing young Mexican women in New York was sentenced to life in prison Friday.
As WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported, Bonafacio Flores-Mendez was the leader of a 10-year-long international sex trafficking conspiracy, luring young women from Mexico to New York with promises of a better life, only to force them to work as prostitutes.
Leader Of International Sex Trafficking Ring Gets Life In Prison
"He waged a decade-long campaign of terrorizing women -- forcing them into prostitution, assaulting them, even trying to run over one his victims with his car and threatening her child," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
One victim -- who traveled to the area with her child -- had to sleep on a floor with no blankets, was deprived of food, repeatedly beaten and threatened.
During sentencing, judge Katherine Forrest said the punishment must be severe.
"On those mornings when the victims woke up perhaps under a table or in a windowless room or a basement, they may have wondered whether one day this nightmare would end. In holding you responsible for your crimes, now some justice is done," Forrest said.
Flores-Mendez was the last of 16 to be sentenced in the sex trafficking ring.
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