11 Long Islanders Charged In Human Trafficking Takedown

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - A total of 11 people, all from Suffolk County, were charged with 15 counts of participating in the sex trafficking of at least 10 young women, Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of NY, announced on Wednesday.

Nine were arrested and presented before the Honorable Ona T. Wang, United States Magistrate Judge, on Wednesday afternoon.

Two are in state custody and will be presented in federal court on a future date.

According to the U.S. attorney, the following people were charged:

• Lorenzo Randall, 29, of Bay Shore
• Justin Rivera, 29, of Bay Shore
• Dwayne Conley, 50, of Bay Shore
• Ricarda Diamond, 37, of Mastic
• Brian Smith, 30, of Central Islip
• Carl Andrews, 45, of Bay Shore
• Geraldine Faustin, 30, of West Babylon
• Franklyn Francisco, 38, of Central Islip
• Anthony Darby, 26, of Mastic
• Kari Parker, 22, of Mastic
• Magen Moreau, 29, of Mastic

"The takedown of this alleged sex trafficking ring in Suffolk County is crucial in stopping predators who target the vulnerable for financial gain as well as support the victims in getting the necessary assistance they deserve," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said.

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Randall, Rivera, Conley, Diamond and Smith were all accused of conspiring to commit sex trafficking through force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion between 2012 and 2018, the U.S. attorney said.

In addition, Randall allegedly punched, choked, and spit on some of the victims, according to the U.S. attorney.

Officials say that Rivera physically assaulted and brandished a dangerous weapon at a second victim. He also withheld heroin from that victim, knowing that she was addicted to the deadly opiate, unless she engaged in commercial sex acts at his direction and for his profit, the U.S. attorney said.

Conley allegedly physically assaulted a third victim, who was also a heroin addict, and provided her with heroin in exchange for her engagement in commercial sex acts on his behalf, the U.S. attorney said.

Diamond conspired with Randall to transport a victim to locations where she engaged in commercial sex acts as forced by Randall, the U.S. attorney said.

Smith arranged for hotels rooms to be used by women, including the first victim, who were engaging in commercial sex acts on Randall's behalf, the U.S. attorney said.

Randall, Andrews, Faustin and Francisco are all members of a second conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion, the U.S. attorney said.

Francisco recruited a victim to engage in commercial sex acts on behalf of Andrews, knowing that the victim was addicted to controlled substances, while Andrews falsely led the victim to believe that she would be compensated for engaging in commercial sex acts on his behalf, the U.S. attorney said.

Andrews also allegedly withheld the controlled substances from the victim unless she engaged in commercial sex acts at his direction and for his profit, the U.S. attorney said.

Randall allegedly reserved a hotel room for the purpose of the fourth victim engaging in a commercial sex act, and Faustin allegedly transported the fourth victim to locations where she engaged in commercial sex acts, the U.S. attorney said.

Randall is charged with four separate counts of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion, in connection with the trafficking of three victims. Andrews is also charged with one count of sex trafficking of a victim by force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion.

Darby and Parker are charged with two counts of violating the Mann Act for knowingly transporting two victims to multiple states, including New York and Connecticut, with the intent that those victims engage in prostitution.

Diamond is also charged with a violation of the Mann Act.

Moreau and Darby were both charged with conspiracy to violate the Travel Act for published advertisements on the internet offering commercial sex acts.

Darby and Parker were also charged for using an account held by Parker with a classifieds website to publish advertisements on the internet offering commercial sex acts.

In addition to the six charges, Randall is charged with two counts of conspiring to violate the Travel Act for using a phone to direct a co-conspirator not named in the indictment to promote, manage, establish, carry on, and facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, and carrying on of prostitution.

Randall allegedly instructed Andrews – who is also charged in the second Travel Act conspiracy – how to purchase and publish an advertisement for a commercial sex act on the internet, which Andrews ultimately did.

Randall is charged with violating the Travel Act, with respect to illegal prostitution.

"There is a common belief that the victims of human sex trafficking aren’t truly victims. However evidence in this investigation shows the suspects allegedly used whatever means necessary to control and abuse these victims just to make money," FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said. "The FBI New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force not only goes after the pimps and others involved in human trafficking, but we do all we can to help those girls who are being sold to start their lives again."