In a recent crackdown on sex trafficking, Jonathan Ruiz, known as "Saiint," has pleaded guilty to charges of sex and labor trafficking, among others. According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Ruiz coerced multiple women into commercial sexual acts across six states, utilizing violence and drug coercion. Jamixa Alvarez, his accomplice, also pleaded guilty after aiding Ruiz in evading law enforcement and perpetuating the trafficking operation while he was in custody. Ruiz is expected to receive a 16 1/3-year sentence, while Alvarez is looking at 1-to-3 years.
Detailing the heinous acts, the DA's statement indicated Ruiz's operation extended from February 2020 to February 2021, involving online advertisements and transporting the women to various locations for sex work. Even from behind bars at Rikers Island, Ruiz continued to mastermind the operation. Using recorded phone calls and contraband cell phones, he directed Alvarez to isolate and continue exploiting one of the survivors included in his earlier indictment. While running the prostitution operation from Rikers Island, Ruiz had coordinated with Alvarez to keep a survivor hidden from law enforcement and in the cycle of exploitation, as discovered by the DA's office.
Assistant D.A.s John Fuller and Candace White are leading the prosecution under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Jonathon Junig. The DA's office credits its investigative team, including Ariela DaSilva and Sean Ryan, and external agencies such as the FBI New Haven Office and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, for their coordinated efforts in bringing these individuals to justice. Clinical support to the survivors was provided by Human Trafficking Clinical Director Melissa Martinez.
The statement from DA Bragg's office emphasized the pervasive harm of Ruiz's actions, remarking, "Jonathan Ruiz ran a violent sex trafficking operation that spanned from Massachusetts to Delaware." The office seeks to reassure survivors, affirming Manhattan as "a safe place to seek help," and encourages contact with the authorities. The conviction of Ruiz and Alvarez adds to a roster of recent sex trafficking cases being prosecuted in New York.
