Hernandez-Velazquez Gets 15+ Years for Brutal Sex Trafficking

BROOKLYN, NY – Hugo Hernandez-Velazquez, the ringleader of a vicious sex trafficking operation spanning the United States, received a crushing 188 months – over 15 years – in federal prison today. United States District Judge William F. Kuntz handed down the sentence at the Brooklyn courthouse, bringing a measure of justice to the years of abuse inflicted upon multiple victims.

Hernandez-Velazquez, extradited from Mexico in February 2021, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one count of sex trafficking. The Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed a decade-long scheme, dating back to approximately 2001, where Hernandez-Velazquez and his siblings – Ernesto, Giovanni, and Arcelia Hernandez-Velazquez – preyed on vulnerable young women in Mexico. They lured victims with false promises of love and a better life, only to force them into prostitution upon arrival in the United States.

The Hernandez-Velazquez Sex Trafficking Organization didn’t limit its exploitation to one location. Based in Mexico, the family established a stronghold in Queens, New York, using it as a base to force victims to work not only in the Empire State but across the nation – including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The operation wasn’t about profit alone; it was fueled by brutal control.

According to court documents and statements from prosecutors, Hernandez-Velazquez subjected his victims to horrific abuse: physical beatings, forced abortions, and threats of violence, not only against the women themselves but against their families back in Mexico. This ensured compliance and kept the victims trapped in a cycle of exploitation. The family operated with chilling efficiency, using coercion and manipulation to maintain control over their network of abuse.

“For years, the defendant and his siblings operated an illegal, abusive, and exploitative sex trafficking operation that stripped victims of their dignity and subjected them to inhumane violence,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. “It is my hope that the prosecution of their tormentors and the punishment meted out will provide a measure of closure for the brave survivors who assisted the investigation and will help them on their path to healing.” Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) added that the sentencing was a direct result of the courage of those survivors.

Following completion of his sentence, Hernandez-Velazquez will be deported back to Mexico. The DOJ acknowledged the extensive collaboration with Mexican authorities – including the HSI Mexico City Attaché Office, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, Interpol, and various Mexican law enforcement agencies – in bringing Hernandez-Velazquez to justice. The investigation, led by HSI New York’s Trafficking in Persons Unit, serves as a grim reminder of the pervasive threat of human trafficking and the urgent need for continued vigilance and international cooperation.