A New York man pleads guilty to trafficking teenage girls

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced yesterday that Alfredo Morocho has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges after he assaulted and exploited a migrant teenager for prostitution. Morocho arranged meetings between the teen and paying customers at various locations in Queens, profiting from her exploitation for months. He pocketed the money he earned from these encounters and also paid the teen for sexual services himself.

Morocho’s guilty plea is a crucial step in tackling the exploitation of vulnerable youth in the community, as authorities continue to crack down on human trafficking and protect survivors.

District Attorney Katz said, “This defendant brazenly trafficked a minor child in the Queens County area and made money from her degrading sexual encounters. He exploited a child and will now serve eight years in prison. My office is committed to eradicating sex trafficking in our communities, and we stand with survivors as we dismantle this harmful industry.”

About the case:

Morocho, 38, of 110th Street in Corona, pleaded guilty before Judge Peter Vallone, Jr. to two counts of sex trafficking of a child, five counts of promoting prostitution in the second and third degrees, and two counts of patronizing a person for prostitution in the third degree. Morocho was also charged in a criminal complaint with second-degree bail jumping after failing to appear in court following a 2018 arrest. The suspect is expected to receive an eight-year prison sentence on October 24, 2024. The Queens District Attorney’s Office recommended a sentence of 12 years in prison.

According to the allegations in the indictment:

Morocho met the victim and her friends in November 2023 at a deli in Jamaica. Even though he knew she was underage, he assured her that he could find clients. Shortly afterwards, Morocho requested semi-nude photos of the victim to send to potential clients.

From December 1 to March 5, Morocho regularly picked up the teenager from her migrant shelter and took her to an apartment in Corona and several other locations where she was forced to have sex for money. Customers paid Morocho directly, and he kept control of the cash, leaving the victim with only half of the earnings at the end of the day.

In addition to benefiting from her exploitation, Morocho also paid for sex with the victim during this period, further exacerbating the abuse she suffered.

On March 6, Morocho arrived with the victim at the Renaissance New York Flushing Hotel in Tangram. Upon arrival, Morocho met with an undercover officer to negotiate the price of sex with the victim and was arrested shortly afterwards.

Morocho was in possession of a business card advertising “in-calls” with a telephone number linked to hundreds of online prostitution advertisements.

FROSTBURG, Md. – A truck fire has closed all westbound lanes of Interstate 68 near mile marker 34, according to the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office. The closure, announced early Thursday, has prompted officials to urge motorists to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

The fire brigade is currently on site trying to get the fire under control. No details have been released about possible injuries or the cause of the fire.

Authorities have advised motorists to exercise caution when traveling in the area as traffic congestion is expected. The duration of the closure remains unclear.

“We recommend avoiding the area for the time being,” the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office wrote on social media. Updates are expected as more information becomes available.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Elon Musk has accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of hampering the relief efforts of SpaceX personnel in North Carolina following recent natural disasters in the area. In a statement shared on social media, Musk referenced a message from a SpaceX engineer working on site alleging that FEMA was interfering with the shipment of goods and services intended for affected residents.

“FEMA is not only failing to adequately assist those in need, but is actively blocking citizens who attempt to help,” Musk wrote, citing reports from his team in Asheville. According to the engineer, SpaceX has deployed more than 300 Starlink units, which have provided crucial internet connectivity in areas where traditional communications have been disrupted.

The engineer also mentioned that SpaceX has set up two large operating bases to facilitate the distribution of aid by helicopter. However, they claim that FEMA has seized locally produced goods and services and is preventing further deliveries without an official escort. “The major problem is that FEMA is actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them up to mark them as theirs,” the engineer wrote.

“Hey Elon, update here on the Asheville, NC site. We have set up two large operational bases where helicopters can deliver goods. We deployed more than 300 starlinks and the power saved many lives,” the SpaceX employee reported. “The big problem is that FEMA is actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them up to declare them as theirs. It is very real and frightening how much they have taken control to prevent people from helping. We are now blocked from the shipments of new Starlinks coming in until we get an escort from the fire department. But that may not be enough.”

FEMA has not yet responded to Musk’s allegations. The federal agency is responsible for coordinating disaster response across the United States and often works with local governments and private organizations during emergencies.

SpaceX’s involvement in disaster relief has focused on deploying Starlink satellites to restore internet service in areas where infrastructure has been damaged. Musk’s company has played a prominent role in other disaster-hit areas in recent years, with Starlink technology seen as a lifeline for first responders and residents.

Local authorities have not commented on the specific claims regarding FEMA’s alleged obstruction of relief supplies, but coordination between federal agencies and private companies is often critical in large-scale disaster recovery efforts.