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Human trafficking investigation
FBI agents believe that hundreds of women may have been victimized by a human trafficking operation.
NEW YORK - The FBI is looking for possible victims in connection with a human trafficking investigation in the New York City area. Federal agents believe that hundreds of women may have been victimized.
Investigators arrested Ysenni Gomez on Aug. 12, 2022, and charged her with sex trafficking in Westchester County and the Bronx. Prosecutors claim that Gomez posted an online ad searching for waitresses to work at a restaurant in Manhattan.
They say Gomez interviewed a woman who responded to the ad and said she had the job. On the woman's first day, Gomez allegedly told her there was no waitress position and forced her into having sex with men by threatening to call federal authorities to have her deported, according to FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Brendan Kenney. The FBI believes other people may have been coerced under that same threat, he said.
"We want to ensure that any victims out there come forward because the FBI is singularly focused on seeking justice for them," Kenney said. "Those victims should not fear deportation if they come forward."
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The FBI released these images of Ysenni Gomez.
During an investigation, federal agents say they found more than 1,600 ads associated with Gomez promoting prostitution, dating back 10 years, using Facebook, Bedpage.com, and MegaPersonals.com.
Gomez is known to go by aliases Carolina and Ysenni Peguero, and could possibly have used the business name "Chicas Express" in the ads she placed, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York.
The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, Greenburgh Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department ask that anyone with information about Gomez, or anyone who may have been a victim is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
With FOX 5 NY's Jessica Formoso.