Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas and Rosalio Melendez-Rojas, Sex Trafficking, New York 2018
Two brothers, Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas and Rosalio Melendez-Rojas, have been extradited to the United States from Mexico and are facing sex trafficking charges in Brooklyn. The brothers were arraigned on an 18-count indictment that includes charges of sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors, interstate prostitution, alien smuggling and related offenses.
The indictment alleges that the brothers, along with their relatives, smuggled young women and girls from Mexico into the United States between 2006 and 2017. The victims were forced to work as prostitutes in New York City and elsewhere. The defendants are also charged with conspiring to launder money in connection with the illicit proceeds of their sex-trafficking and prostitution enterprise.
The defendants were arrested in February 2018 in Mexico following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Mexico City, HSI New York and the Mexican Federal Police. The extradition and charges were announced by Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge, HSI New York.
“With this successful extradition, we demonstrate our resolve to prosecute those who profit from the forced sexual servitude of vulnerable women and girls, such as the Melendez-Rojas sex-trafficking network,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.
The defendants are charged together with three co-defendants who were previously arrested in the United States. If convicted of the sex-trafficking related charges, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Judge Pollak entered a permanent order of detention with leave for the defendants to present bail packages at a later date.
Mr. Donoghue commended HSI New York’s Trafficking in Persons Unit for leading the investigation of the Melendez-Rojas Trafficking Organization. He thanked the HSI Mexico City Attaché Office, the Office of International Affairs, the State Department, Interpol, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance. He also praised the government of Mexico for its role in advancing bilateral anti-trafficking enforcement efforts.
The investigation, prosecution, bilateral enforcement action and extradition of the defendants apprehended in Mexico were coordinated through the U.S.-Mexico Bilateral Human Trafficking Enforcement Initiative. The defendants are currently being held in federal custody and are awaiting their next court appearance.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be filed.
Defendant: Jose Osvaldo Melendez-Rojas and Rosalio Melendez-Rojas
Criminal Charges: 18-count indictment, sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors, interstate prostitution, alien smuggling and related offenses
City and State: Brooklyn, New York
Arrest Date: February 2018
Outcome: Currently being held in federal custody awaiting next court appearance
Sentence: Maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of sex-trafficking related charges
Case Number: Not specified
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Human Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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