Eleven alleged members of a street gang based in Los Angeles are facing federal racketeering and other charges for their roles in a suspected prostitution and sex-trafficking ring.
Members of the Hoover Criminal Gang are accused of forcing girls and women into prostitution on the Figueroa Corridor of Los Angeles, resulting in a 31-count federal indictment, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.
All 11 people listed below face a count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, otherwise known as RICO:
- Amaya Armstead, 25, aka “Lady Duck,” of South Los Angeles
- Armstead is the case’s lead defendant and the de facto leader of the 112 set of the Hoover Criminal Gang. She is accused of sex trafficking a 14-year-old girl.
- Kenyondre Young, 22, aka “Yunkg Poke,” of South Los Angeles
- Naziz Harris, 19, aka “N4,” of South Los Angeles
- Avery Amoako, 27, aka “Handz,” of Long Beach
- Jared Evans, 29, aka “Jmoney,” of the Mid-City area of Los Angeles
- Mathew Brooks, 22, aka “Vermont Star,” of Riverside
- Derail Robinson, 22, aka “Popkorn,” of South Los Angeles
- Jalon Phillips, 22, aka “Chop Em,” of South Los Angeles
- Bryan Isrel, 31, aka “4Loc,” of South Los Angeles
- Tejohn Gray, 25, aka “Tiny3,” of South Los Angeles
- Tommy Crockham, 30, aka “Tommy Gunz,” of South Los Angeles
The indictment also includes allegations of “various other crimes,” including:
- Sex trafficking of minors
- Sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion
- Transportation of a minor for sex trafficking
- Sexual exploitation of a child
- Drug trafficking conspiracy
- Money laundering to promote specified unlawful activity
- Conspiracy to straw purchase firearms
Some of those sex trafficking victims were runaways or in the foster care system, and they were recruited through social media, then branded with tattoos of gang members’ names.
“The exploitation of vulnerable women and children through sex trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes our society faces,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “The victims in this case – many of them minors, runaways, or from the foster care system – were preyed upon by individuals who sought to profit from their pain.”
Despite “false promises of a luxurious lifestyle,” the women and girls were instead “plied … with drugs ranging from oxycodone to amphetamines,” threatened with violence and pimped out.
One girl was as young as 14 years old, prosecutors said.
“Victims were required to remit all proceeds from commercial sex dates to the pimp,” the DOJ said. “A victim who refused or who otherwise disobeyed a pimp faced discipline, including assaults, berating, public humiliation, and withholding of affection, drugs or food. Victims also were branded with tattoos of a defendant’s moniker.”
“Human trafficking is among the most heinous crimes perpetuated throughout the world,” said Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “No human should be for sale – not here in Los Angeles or anywhere in our society.”
Amoako, Evans, Brooks, Phillips and Crockham were arrested Wednesday morning.
Armstead was transferred from state custody to federal custody, and investigators are still looking for Isrel.
If convicted of all counts, some of the defendants face a minimum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.