Two men charged in Brooklyn sex trafficking murder case

April 23, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Dozens of recent YouTube videos showcase the grim reality of East New York’s ‘Penn Track,’ a known hotspot for sex trafficking, where women can be seen walking the streets at all hours. Photo: Marco Ugarte/AP

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A federal court in Brooklyn unsealed a seven-count indictment charging two men with murder and sex trafficking on Friday, stemming from a violent altercation over control of a trafficking victim in the notorious “Penn Track” area.

The indictment asserts that the individuals, known in the criminal underworld by their monikers “Prince” or “Sir Prince” and “Victory,” ran a sex trafficking operation along Pennsylvania Avenue, a known hub for commercial sex activities.

The conflict reached a deadly climax in spring 2023, when one of the accused forcibly took back a victim who tried to switch allegiance to a rival trafficker, resulting in the rival’s murder by gunshot on May 1, 2023.

“As alleged, the defendants conspired to brazenly murder a rival for control of a victim they perceived to be their property in the course of sex trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “This office is working alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners to prosecute the perpetrators who exploit vulnerable women for profit, and we will provide support for these victims who have been harmed.”

U.S. Attorney Peace, along with senior officials from the FBI and NYPD, announced the arrests and explained the brutal methods employed by the accused to dominate their victims through intimidation and physical aggression. This includes documented threats against the victims and violent acts captured on surveillance videos.

This case highlights the reality of sex trafficking in Brooklyn, and specifically East New York, and the violent lengths to which traffickers will go to maintain dominance over their victims. The accused face severe penalties if convicted, with potential life sentences or the death penalty for the murder charges.

A quick search on “YouTube” of the phrase “Brooklyn Penn Track” reveals over a dozen videos, all published within the last year, of prostitutes strolling through East New York during all hours of the day.

Led by the Office’s Civil Rights Section, the prosecution is part of a concerted effort by federal and state law enforcement to address human trafficking and assist victims, regardless of their immigration status.

One of the accused was arrested on Friday and is slated for arraignment, while the other will face court proceedings at a later date due to currently serving time for unrelated charges.