Russian Woman

20 Arrested in NYC for Trafficking Eastern European and Russian Woman

Twenty people were arrested Wednesday in connection to trafficking Eastern European and Russian Woman in New York City.

Russian Woman were allegedly forced to dance at strip clubs and marry men in Binghamton, N.Y.  The defendants are accused of getting fake visas and work permits for the women.

Those accused include five Queens residents and three Brooklyn residents.

The defendants face charges for marriage and visa fraud, racketeering, harboring illegal immigrants, as well as, extortion and transporting illegal immigrants.

The Cheetah Club in Midtown, Gallagher’s in Long Island City and the Rouge Adult Club in Maspeth, Queens were involved with bringing Eastern European women to the U.S. illegally for marriage fraud, according to officials.

“Today’s arrests brings to an end a 10-year criminal enterprise operated by colluding organized crime entities that profited wildly through a combination of extortion, visa fraud and the threat of violence,” immigration special agent James Hayes said. “As alleged, the defendants controlled their business and protected their turf through intimidation, violence and threats of physical and economic harm. Today, that business model has been extinguished.”