Jonathan Ruiz and his wife Charline Santiago were indicted yesterday in Manhattan (NYC) on suspicion of using violence to force women into prostitution and selling sexual content on OnlyFans.
The pimps Violent men also allegedly took the women’s IDs and used them to “fraudulently obtain government benefits and loans” that they took for themselves, according to New York Post.
Ruiz () and Santiago (27), Youngstown residents (Ohio), were charged with a combined total of 15 felonies of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy, and promotion of prostitution, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The suspects allegedly trafficked multiple women in New York City, as well as or in areas of the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and Massachusetts between 2020 and 2021.
Ruiz, who calls himself “Saiint”, published online advertisements for sex work and forced the women to hotels throughout the Northeast, while his wife waited outside the establishments to collect money, according to the complaints.
Ruiz allegedly beat the women , deprived them of food and forced them to take cocaine to stay awake if they refused to work, did not make enough money, or tried to keep some of the cash. The frequent mistreatment resulted in black eyes, lacerations, bruises and scars, prosecutors said.
Ruiz He also pointed a gun at the victims and forced one of the women to create sex videos on an amateur porn site while keeping all the proceeds after laundering them through a Connecticut company the couple set up, authorities said. .
“These horrific accusations detail a heinous sex trafficking scheme that preyed on vulnerable people so that ringleaders could make a profit,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a press release.
In a similar case, in February Burmania “Nancy” Rincón, a former resident of Teaneck (NJ) who had fled to Colombia, was arrested upon returning to the country, on suspicion of running a prostitution ring in New York and New Jersey with Latina women. That same month, five members of a Mexican family who operated a family sex trafficking network from Mexico to NY and other states were sentenced to long prison terms.
If you are a victim or suspect that someone is being mistreated:
- Text “WELL” to 65173.
- Review information at https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/es/