Bronx, New York, Man and Middlesex County Man Sentenced for Their Roles in Prostitution Ring Involving a Minor

TRENTON, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man and a Bronx, New York, man have been sentenced for their respective roles in a 2018 scheme in which a minor was advertised and provided for commercial sex acts, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Aryeh Goodman, 37, of East Brunswick, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to an information charging him with interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise. Richard Ortiz, 24, a/k/a “Ace,” of Bronx, New York, was sentenced Aug. 27, 2019, to 96 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty before Judge Wolfson to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit the sex trafficking of a child. Judge Wolfson imposed both sentences in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From January 2018 through February 2018, Ortiz and his codefendant, Gabriella Colon, recruited, enticed, and advertised Minor Victim-1, knowing that Minor Victim-1 was less than 18 years old and would be caused to engage in one or more commercial sex acts. Ortiz previously acknowledged having transported Minor Victim-1 from New York into New Jersey and collecting money from numerous individuals who paid to have sexual relations with Minor Victim-1. Aryeh Goodman previously admitted answering an online advertisement that depicted Minor Victim-1 and presented Minor Victim-1 for various sexual acts. Goodman, a previously convicted sex-offender, acknowledged travelling to the East Brunswick motel where Minor Victim-1 was located and paying Ortiz and Colon so he could engage in sexual activities with Minor Victim-1.

In addition to the prison terms, Judge Wolfson sentenced Goodman to one year of supervised release and Ortiz to five years of supervised release. She ordered Ortiz to register as a sex-offender upon being released from prison. Colon previously pleaded guilty to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 26, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, and detectives with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office with the investigation. He also thanked the East Brunswick and Fort Lee Police Departments for their assistance.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Unit in Newark.