TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
the indictment today of an alleged pimp who
is charged with running a human trafficking
and prostitution ring in Jersey City in which
scores of women were induced to use heroin
and cocaine and were beaten if they did not
turn a daily quota of tricks.
According
to Division of Criminal Justice Director Deborah
L. Gramiccioni, the leader of the ring, Allen
Brown, a.k.a. “Prince,” 47, of
Jersey City, was indicted by a state grand
jury on first-degree charges of racketeering,
human trafficking and money laundering, as
well as numerous second- and third-degree
charges, including conspiracy, promoting prostitution,
criminal coercion, theft by extortion, failure
to pay taxes, and drug and weapons offenses.
The
first-degree human trafficking charge alone
carries a sentence of 20 years to life in
state prison. The charges resulted from “Operation
Red Light,” an investigation by the
Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized
Crime Bureau and the Jersey City Police Department.
“This
is a shocking case of human trafficking,”
said Attorney General Milgram. “We charge
that Allen Brown enslaved vulnerable young
women in a living hell of addiction and prostitution,
controlling them with narcotics, threats and
beatings. We will prosecute him to the full
extent of the law.”
For
nearly two decades, Brown allegedly ran prostitution
rings in Jersey City, coercing scores of women
to prostitute for him. Through the years,
Brown allegedly had residences that served
as “stables” in a number of locations
in Jersey City, bringing women to the stables
from other cities. He brought women from cities
including Camden, Atlantic City, Elizabeth,
Newark and Philadelphia. His last stable was
18 Lyon Court in Jersey City, an upscale condo
development on Newark Bay in the Society Hill
section of the city.
Once
the women went with Brown, he allegedly would
take away their cell phones and any form of
identification they possessed. A number of
the locations where they were housed allegedly
had reverse locks on them that could not be
unlocked from the inside without a key. Only
a select few had a key. The others would be
locked in until it was time to work again.
None of the women were allowed to go anywhere
alone or without permission.
It
is alleged that the women forced to prostitute
for Brown were given heroin and cocaine so
Brown could control them and exploit their
addiction. They were driven to “tracks”
- motels or streets in Jersey City and sometimes
locations in other cities - where they were
expected to make a certain amount of money
each night turning tricks to cover their daily
drug debt and provide a profit for Brown.
If they did not make the daily quota, ranging
from $500-$1,000, they were allegedly refused
drugs, beaten or denied entry into the house
until the money was made.
“Human
trafficking takes a devastating toll on its
victims,” said Director Gramiccioni.
“We urge anyone with information about
suspected human trafficking to call our hotline
at 1-877-986-7534. We will continue to make
investigating and prosecuting these crimes
a priority.”
“The
arrest and subsequent indictment of Allen
Brown is another example of the positive results
achieved when law enforcement agencies join
forces,” said Jersey City Police Chief
Thomas Comey. “This collaborative effort
resulted in the rescue of vulnerable individuals
from what basically is a life of involuntary
servitude. This case shows that prostitution
is not a victimless crime. I am pleased the
Division of Criminal Justice chose to work
with the Jersey City Police Department and
look forward to a successful prosecution.”
Brown
allegedly collected all money and ordered
subordinates to secure and control the women.
On July 28, the woman who acted as boss or
“bottom” over the women for Brown
pleaded guilty to first-degree racketeering.
Annie Cooper, a.k.a. “China,”
40, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty before
Superior Court Judge Kevin G. Callahan in
Hudson County. Under the plea agreement, the
state will recommend that she be sentenced
to five to 10 years in state prison.
Cooper
was tasked with enforcing the house rules
Brown established and disciplining the women
for breaking the rules. If Cooper refused
to enforce the rules, she allegedly would
face physical violence at the hands of Brown.
Cooper would discipline the women for not
bringing home the daily quota of money they
were required to make, sometimes kicking them
and beating them with her fists and household
objects. Cooper handed out heroin and cocaine
to the women or withheld drugs if they did
not meet demands.
The
enterprise also consisted of subordinates
who were responsible for transporting the
women to work as prostitutes, obtaining narcotics
for the women, maintaining the household and
vehicles, and securing the women. These individuals
allegedly included, among others, three men
who were indicted today: Anthony Evans, 51,
of Jersey City; Brown’s nephew, Arthur
Brown, 37, of Jersey City; and Jerome Robinson,
30, of Newark.
Over
the years, Allen Brown allegedly made hundreds
of thousands of dollars, which he used to
furnish his home, purchase jewelry, buy vehicles,
and purchase drugs. The ring also included
individuals who allegedly laundered the proceeds
of the criminal activities through various
financial transactions. Frequently Allen Brown
used family members and friends to act as
the legitimate holder of vehicle titles, real
property leases, cash and other property that
he paid for with criminal proceeds. Those
people included Prince’s mother, Tecora
P. Brown, 72, of Bayonne; his niece, Tecora
L. Brown, 35, of Jersey City; and Marlo Taylor,
39, of Newark. They are also named in the
indictment. Robinson also is charged with
money laundering.
It
is charged that Allen Brown specifically used
his mother’s bank account to launder
almost $500,000 he extorted from one his victims.
This victim received an inheritance from her
family estate and turned it over to Brown
after he allegedly made threats against her
and her family.
Brown,
Cooper and Evans were arrested on Sept. 12,
2008, when detectives from the Division of
Criminal Justice and Jersey City Police executed
a search warrant at 18 Lyon Court. Arthur
Brown was also charged that day. Allen Brown,
Evans and Cooper are being held in the Hudson
County Jail with bail for each set at $325,000.
Arthur Brown is in state prison on other charges.
The remaining defendants will be ordered to
appear in court at a later date to answer
the charges.
Deputy
Attorney General Annmarie Taggart and Supervising
Deputy Attorney General Lauren Scarpa Yfantis
presented the case to the state grand jury.
The
investigation was conducted and coordinated
for the Division of Criminal Justice by Detective
Noelle Holl, Taggart, Yfantis and the Gangs
& Organized Crime Bureau North Squad.
They worked cooperatively with the Jersey
City Police Department. The investigation
was conducted for the Jersey City Police Department
by Capt. Gary Lallo and the Special Investigation
Unit. Attorney General Milgram also thanked
Detective Mike Kurinzi of the Elizabeth Police
Department for his valuable assistance.
The
indictment was handed up to Superior Court
Judge Linda R. Feinberg in Mercer County,
who assigned the case to Hudson County.
First-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of 20 years
in prison and a $200,000 fine, while second-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years
in prison and a $150,000 fine. Third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years
in prison and a $15,000 fine. The first-degree
money laundering charge carries an enhanced
penalty of $500,000.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty. A copy of the indictment is linked
to this release at www.njpublicsafety.com.
The
State has seized the following vehicles that
allegedly were purchased with criminal proceeds:
• 1999 Dae Woo, registered to Tecora
P. Brown;
• 1994 Cadillac DeVille, registered
to Marlo Taylor;
• 2004 Hummer, H2, registered to Tecora
P. Brown; and
• 1981 Rolls Royce, registered to Marlo
Taylor.
The
defendants were charged in the indictment
as follows:
Allen
Brown a.k.a. Prince
• Racketeering. First Degree.
• Conspiracy to Commit Human Trafficking
and Promote Prostitution. Second Degree.
• Human Trafficking. First Degree.
• Promoting Prostitution. Third Degree.
• Criminal Coercion. Third Degree.
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering,
promote prostitution and theft by extortion.
First Degree.
• Money Laundering, First Degree.
• Theft by Extortion, Second Degree.
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering
and promote prostitution. Third Degree.
• Money Laundering. Third Degree.
• Possession of a Weapon and Controlled
Dangerous Substances, Second Degree.
• Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful
Purpose. Third Degree.
• Possession of CDS with the Intent
to Distribute. Third Degree.
• Possession of CDS. Third Degree.
• Failure to file State Taxes. Third
Degree
• Failure to Pay Gross Income Tax.
Third Degree.
Arthur Brown
• Racketeering. First Degree
• Conspiracy to Commit Human Trafficking
and Promote Prostitution. Second Degree.
• Promoting Prostitution. Third Degree.
Tecora Brown
• Racketeering, First Degree
• Promoting Prostitution. Third Degree.
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering,
promote prostitution and theft by extortion.
First Degree.
• Money Laundering. First Degree.
• Theft by Extortion. Second Degree.
• Failure to file State Taxes. Third
Degree
• Failure to Pay Gross Income Tax.
Third Degree.
Marlo Taylor
• Racketeering. First Degree
• Promoting Prostitution. Third Degree.
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering
and promote prostitution. Third Degree.
• Money Laundering, Third Degree.
Tecora L. Brown
• Racketeering, First Degree
• Promoting Prostitution. Third Degree.
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering
and promote prostitution. Third Degree.
• Money Laundering. Third Degree.
Jerome Robinson
• Racketeering. First Degree
• Promoting Prostitution. Third Degree.
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering
and promote prostitution. Third Degree.
• Money Laundering. Third Degree.
Anthony Evans
• Racketeering. First Degree.
• Conspiracy to commit Human Trafficking
and Promote Prostitution. Second Degree.
• Promoting Prostitution. Third Degree.
Criminal Justice Director Gramiccioni noted
that the Division of Criminal Justice has
established a toll-free Human Trafficking
Hotline 1-877-986-7534 for
the public and law enforcement that is open
24/7 to receive reports of suspected human
trafficking. All information received through
the hotline will remain confidential.
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