BROOKLYN — A Mexican sex trafficker pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to forcing at least two women into prostitution for eight years — as part of a ring that did the same to nearly two dozen women — the United States Attorney in Brooklyn announced.
Paulino Ramirez-Granados, 38, brought the women from Mexico the United States between October 2000 and December 2008 and used violence to force them to work as prostitutes in Queens, according to prosecutors.
He admitted to trafficking at least two women during this period and agreed to pay restitution to both victims.
More than a dozen members of his trafficking ring smuggled at least 20 women into New York City and forced them into prostitution from 1998 to 2011.
Several of the members beat and sexually assaulted women who refused to work for them and threatened their families in Mexico, according to prosecutors.
So far, 13 traffickers have been indicted in Brooklyn Federal Court. Twelve have been arrested and one is still on the loose.
Two members of the group, brothers Eleuterio Granados-Hernandez and Samuel Granados-Hernandez, also pled guilty were sentenced to 22 years and 15 years in prison, respectively.
More than 20 victims have been identified.
Ramirez-Ganados, who was indicted in 2011 and arrested in 2015, according to court records, faces a minimum of 15 years in prison.
His sentencing date has not yet been set.
His lawyer did not return an immediate request for comment.
