A group of five individuals has been indicted on charges including conspiracy, sex trafficking, and promoting prostitution, as publicly announced by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. The District Attorney stated, "These defendants allegedly preyed on vulnerable young women using violence, threats, and psychological coercion to traffic them across multiple states for profit." Those facing charges are Brooklyn residents Layquan Highsmith, 30; Ronasia Robinson, 31, of Troy, New York; Tyshawn Crawford, 29; Richard Baker, 45; and Eyecess Chapman, 24, with arraignments occurring today and in preceding weeks.
The indictment comes after a 19-year-old victim reported having been forced into prostitution following a concert encounter in Times Square, where she was allegedly coerced at gunpoint into a vehicle and subsequently trafficked in various locations by the defendants, the money earned from these coerced acts reportedly went to Baker and Chapman with a cut going to Highsmith who also along with Crawford were accused of being violent towards the young victim. In addition, a 15-year-old reported missing was also believed to have been ensnared in the trafficking ring orchestrated by Highsmith, Robinson, and Crawford. Apparently, the case unravelled when, on November 6, 2024, the 19-year-old called 911 from a Red Roof Inn in Wilmington, N.C., claiming she was suicidal, an incident that exposed the alleged trafficking activities.
Highlighted within the case's development was a significant cooperative effort among law enforcement agencies, including NYPD, FBI, and multiple state and local police departments. According to the official announcement, the investigation was spearheaded by Detectives from the NYPD and the joint FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the supervision of a specialized team, as well as invaluable assistance from various other law enforcement units. The prosecutorial team comprises Assistant District Attorney Audrey Chao and David Weiss, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, overseen by Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the Special Victims Bureau.
The case has revealed a harrowing pattern of exploitation, showcasing the distressing methods used to manipulate and control vulnerable young people. On February 6, one of the missing minors featured in prostitution ads was found and Robinson was arrested following an investigative lead; Crawford was detained later in Florida by the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force. The defendants are scheduled for their next court appearance on May 21, as the case against them continues to unveil the severity of the crimes alleged.
