A Brooklyn man has been indicted in federal court on charges connected to an alleged sex-trafficking operation. Kaleem Nurse, also known as “Consistent,” is charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, as well as interstate prostitution and promoting prostitution. His arrest is part of a broader federal investigation into what authorities describe as an open-air sex-trafficking market along Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn, commonly referred to as “Penn Track,” as well as other locations across the United States, according to a press release.
A press release from the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York reports that from January 2021 to June, Nurse had several women engaged in prostitution on his behalf. He directed them to solicit customers not only on the Penn Track but also in other cities, including Miami and Atlantic City. The release states that he collected the earnings from these activities and is alleged to have used violence and emotional manipulation to maintain control over them.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated that Nurse’s arrest reflects the office’s ongoing effort to address criminal activity in the district and to support victims of exploitation through prosecution. Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, emphasized the seriousness of the conduct described in the charges, saying that the alleged actions deprived the victims of their dignity and autonomy.
If convicted, Nurse would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for the sex-trafficking charge. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Reid and Miranda Gonzalez from the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. The indictment consists of allegations, and Nurse remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
