Human trafficking fugitive on ICE's top 10 list extradited to US from Mexico
Fugitive faces criminal charges in Eastern District of New York
NEW YORK — One of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) top 10 most wanted human traffickers was extradited from Mexico Tuesday to face criminal charges in the Eastern District of New York.
Paulino Ramirez-Granados, who had been on ICE’s most wanted list since 2010, was arrested March 31 in Tenancingo, Mexico, following a joint investigation between ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Mexico City, HSI New York and the Mexican Federal Police.
Ramirez-Granados was charged in the Eastern District of New York on Aug. 5, 2011 with sex trafficking, alien smuggling, money laundering and conspiracy to import aliens for immoral purposes. He is currently in Bureau of Prisons’ custody and will be arraigned today in the Eastern District of New York before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“This extradition brings us one step closer to justice,” said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña. “I commend the Mexican government, the Eastern District of New York and the men and women of ICE who worked tirelessly to ensure this day would come.”
“This case is the latest chapter in this Office’s multi-year effort to dismantle the Granados sex trafficking organization, a brutal group that promised their victims a better life and instead forced them into a life of sexual servitude through heinous acts of violence,” stated United States Attorney Robert L. Capers. “With our dedicated partners at Homeland Security Investigations and with the assistance of the Mexican authorities, we were able to locate this fugitive defendant and bring him to the United States to face charges. With this important development, we are one step closer to closure for the brave victims of the defendant’s crimes.” U.S. Attorney Capers also expressed his thanks to HSI and the Mexican government for their assistance with the extradition and prosecution.
As set forth in extradition affidavits, between October 1998 and June 2011, members of the Granados sex trafficking organization, including Ramirez-Granados and others, illegally smuggled young women into the United States, where they were forced to work as prostitutes in New York City and elsewhere in the United States. The organization collected profits from the victims’ activities. When victims refused to work or resisted, members of the organization beat and sexually assaulted the victims, and threatened the victims’ family members in Mexico, including the victims’ children.
HSI special agents identified and rescued over 20 additional victims – all Mexican nationals – and arrested over a dozen additional traffickers or smugglers, all members or associates of the Granados family. Several victims were sexually assaulted by their traffickers, while others were physically assaulted. All the victims said the traffickers threatened to harm their family members.
To date, 13 members of the Granados organization have been indicted in the Eastern District of New York on sex trafficking charges. Twelve have been arrested, and one – Raul Granados-Rendon – remains a fugitive.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Granados Rendon should immediately contact the local ICE office or call the national hotline at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) as soon as possible. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Tips can also be submitted online at www.ICE.gov/tips.
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