By Ivan Pereira
Jonathan “NY” Kelly, 23, pleaded guilty Sept. 19 to operating an under-age illegal business at 91-11 182nd St., in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, DOJ said. His business partner, John “Pop” Ramirez, 24, pleaded guilty 10 days earlier to violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the interstate transport of individuals for prostitution.
Both men admitted to recruiting girls as young as 14 in Brooklyn and Queens to work as prostitutes in the city and strip clubs in Connecticut, according to U.S. Attorney Benton J. Campbell.
“The defendants exploited young and vulnerable women and girls in our community in order to line their own pockets at the expense of their victims,” he said.
Kelly and Ramirez advertised their prostitutes on Web sites such as Craigslist and reaped all the money the victims earned, Justice said.
Kelly faces between 10 years and life in prison, while Ramirez faces up to 10 years in prison for his crime, according to Campbell.
