The New York City Police Department is investigating whether the violent Venezuelan gangster Torren de Aragua is prostituting women at Queens’ Lovers’ Market. This week, dozens of prostitutes boldly plied their trade in defiance of law enforcement enforcement.
When the Post visited on Tuesday night, less than a week after New York City police and state police began operations to combat the scourge of sex trafficking, which is burgeoning with immigrants. It was business as usual in the notorious sex corridor along Belt Avenue. Influx into cities.
Even as 30 police officers patrolled the area, a fiery redhead in a sequined top brazenly offered a Post reporter “$100 for sex” on 76th Street. She teased that the fun lasted “40 minutes” and included oral sex.
New York City police say they are investigating whether the Torren de Aragua gang, whose members often wear Chicago Bulls costumes, is forcing women to work as prostitutes at Queens’ “lovers’ market.” . JC Rice
She suddenly fumbled for the scribe, then turned her attention to shabby John, who held out a wad of bills.
Two blocks away, in front of a closed clinic, a curvaceous Spanish-speaking prostitute in a tube top shouted, Our services cover everything. ”
When I asked her, or the three other skimpily clad girls on the block, if she knew Torren de Aragua, she replied: No,” he shook his head.
But across the street, two men wearing head-to-toe black, red and white Chicago Bulls shirts and shorts (the trademark colors of immigrant gangs that have expanded to the Big Apple) are monitoring the incident. It seemed like he was doing it. woman.
Later, another man wearing a white Michael Jordan jersey with the number 23, another gang’s signature, was seen near 75th Street. Police say the gang often wears Chicago Bulls clothing, a nod to the team’s colors.
Deputy Chief of Operations Kaz Daughtry announced this week that investigators identified a suspected Roosevelt Street prostitute and a Torren de Aragua member from videos posted on social media by gang members.
NYPD investigators identified members of Torren de Aragua, suspected prostitutes, on Roosevelt Street. JC Rice
“How did you identify them?” he asked. “They were wearing hats — 23 Bulls hats. They had 23 tattoos. They were wearing red and white. So gang experts say, They are either part of the TDA group or working with the TDA.
Daughtry said the women “do not appear to be being held against their will” and acknowledged that the women were “sexually exploited.”
Advocates told the Post that gang members were targeting women in immigrant shelters in the city.
Police announced the crackdown on Roosevelt Street after months of complaints from local residents. JC Rice
Taina Bien Eme, who heads the Coalition Against Women’s Sex Trafficking, said Venezuelan gangs are “recruiting very aggressively.” Her account was supported by a nonprofit worker at a Queens shelter who declined to be identified or quoted out of fear for her safety.
“I heard from the Department of Homeland Security in New York that the women on Roosevelt Street (Avenue) have an allotment worth $1,000 a day,” Bienheime said. “There will be penalties if you don’t meet the quota.”
The pimps “beat them and refused to give them food,” the longtime activist said.
One activist said he had heard that prostitutes on Roosevelt Street had a daily quota of $1,000. JC Rice
That’s why she and other advocates are urging police to go after sex traffickers.
“If you want public safety, focus on the men,” she said. “There are no buyers, there is no market.”
The NYPD is focusing on Johns, but said it may provide data on those arrested until “the operation is complete.”
Officials say Venezuelan gangs are targeting women in migrant shelters. Gregory P. Mango
Roosevelt Street is “out of control,” said one recently retired vice squad detective who worked in the city for many years.
“I’ve never seen a situation like this and I’ve been talking about it for years. I see kids walking through there. It’s terrible.”
He said prostitutes especially prey on immigrant women, and many sex workers are tricked and trapped.
One activist said gangs in Venezuela are actively recruiting sex workers. Paul Martinka
“When these girls come here, they are promised jobs in restaurants, and this is one of the places they are dropped off,” he says. “They call it a hub. Most of these girls are forced into this. It’s sad.”
He said gangs MS-13 and Sureños have traditionally “run the show there,” adding that Torren de Aragua is now fighting for “a piece of the pie.”
He said the problem has been exacerbated by crime mitigation policies instituted under former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
A former NYPD detective said gangs like MS-13 have historically “run the show” along Roosevelt Avenue, but now Torren de Aragua is stepping in forcefully.
“Things changed a lot during the de Blasio era, and that opened the door to really mess things up,” he said.
A transgender prostitute who has been working as a prostitute for about 15 years said the number of prostitutes has increased rapidly recently.
“Because of the recent wave of immigration, there are so many men occupying the streets,” said the orange-haired hustler.
A former detective said many immigrant women are tricked into sex work. Paul Martinka
On 88th Street, a blonde madam told a reporter her phone number: “Flicker is $100,” and led her up a flight of stairs between a dentist’s office and a beauty salon to a dimly lit second-floor spa. .
A groan could be heard coming from one of the four massage beds separated by curtains.
“It’s okay, baby, come on,” Madame repeated as she guided the reporter to the massage bed, “for $100, anything goes.”
A blonde woman, believed to be a madam, lured a Post reporter into a dimly lit spa after seducing him for sex. JC Rice
At that point, reporters began to leave, prompting protests from madams.
“What’s wrong?” she wondered, shouting, “Don’t call me again!”
Additional reporting by Georgett Roberts.
