Two members of a Queens-based sex trafficking operation have been found guilty of felony charges, including assault and robbery, perpetrated in aid of maintaining control over their illegal and violent prostitution ring. According to a U.S. Attorney's Office press release, Siyang Chen and Yichu Chen faced a federal jury in Brooklyn which convicted them of various charges following their involvement in a ring that brutalized sex workers.
The convictions came after a month-long trial and extensive investigations involving multiple law enforcement agencies, that Siyang Chen was found guilty of sex trafficking conspiracy and several assaults in-aid-of racketeering as well as Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy; Yichu Chen was also convicted, notably for the robbery and assault of a sex worker in Virginia which occurred on September 15, 2020, this individual assault representing a single act within a broad pattern of offenses stretching across multiple states according to evidence discussed in court. In a chilling detail illustrated by their crimes, members of the ring shared content depicting violence against these workers, perpetuating a menacing climate to suppress competition.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace stated, "This verdict is a victory for justice and for the victims who were subjected to brutal beatings and degrading treatment at the hands of the defendants," recognizing the courage of those who testified against their abusers. The evidence presented at the trial painted a stark picture of the organization's ruthless tactics, including beatings with instruments like breaker bars, hammers, and wrenches, resulting in serious injuries, all aimed at preserving the dominance of their illicit enterprise over the commercial sex industry.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy emphasized the organization’s commitment to combating monopoly-driven violence, stating to the U.S. Attorney's Office, "May this conviction emphasize the FBI’s intolerance of the systemic use of violence and serve as a deterrent to those who employ such horrific measures to increase profits." The case demonstrates a determined effort by law enforcement to curb the power such criminal organizations wield through fear and violence. The trial highlighted Siyang Chen's managerial role in advising the use of violence and presented disturbing evidence, including WeChat messages and videos, that the criminal organization used to instill fear and exert control.
With Siyang Chen now convicted on all counts, he faces up to life in prison, while Yichu Chen could serve up to 20 years; the sentences underscore the severity of their crimes and the broader effort to dismantle networks that exploit human beings for profit, law enforcement's unyielding mission to protect vulnerable populations from such harrowing exploitation was on full display throughout the proceedings. The prosecution team, led by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew R. Galeotti, Sophia M. Suarez, and Stephanie Pak, managed a case that also involved the cooperation of various police departments nationwide, contributing to a comprehensive crackdown on this criminal enterprise.
