Gangsters Branded Women, Sex Trafficked Them Along LA's Notorious Prostitution Corridor: Prosecutors

LOS ANGELES, CA — Six gang members and five associates were charged Wednesday with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) after federal agents connected them with a sex trafficking ring in Los Angeles, authorities said.

Amaya Armstead, 25, a de facto leader of the Hoover Street Criminal Gang's 112 set, is accused of sex trafficking a 14-year-old girl, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Kenyondre Young, 22, Naziz Harris, 19, Avery Amoako, 27, Jaren Evans, 29, Mathew Brooks, 22, Derail Robinson, 22, Jalon Phillips, 22, Bryan Isrel, 31, Tejohn Gray, 25 and Tommy Corckham, 30, are also named in a 31-count indictment, according to authorities.

The 31-count indictment includes charges related to sex trafficking of minors, sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion; transportation of a minor for sex trafficking; sexual exploitation of a child; drug trafficking conspiracy; money laundering to promote specified unlawful activity; and conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

“These violent gang members profited from horrific crimes and used online apps to move their money and further their criminal enterprise,” Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office said in a statement Wednesday. “Special Agents at IRS-CI are experts in tracing illegal funds and linking criminals to their illegal acts."

Federal prosecutors say the defendants sex trafficked children and adults, using force, fraud and coercion.

Often, the victims were vulnerable, ran away from home or struggled financially or emotionally, according to authorities. Some of the victims were runaways or children from the foster care system, according to authorities, while others were recruited through social media.

They were lured in through false promises of a luxurious lifestyle, and at other times, were beaten or threatened with violence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Once recruited, many of the victims were forced to work as prostitutes along Los Angeles' notorious Figueroa Corridor. Many of the victims were also branded with tattoos of their pimps' nicknames, authorities said.

“Human trafficking is among the most heinous crimes perpetuated throughout the world,” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang said. “No human should be for sale – not here in Los Angeles or anywhere in our society."

The crimes in the indictment took place between February 2021 and August 2025, according to authorities. Throughout that time, the gangsters largely controlled the sex trafficking and prostitution in the Figueroa Corridor, according to federal prosecutors.

There, they served as pimps, pooling resources to rent several motels for the victims to have sex dates in, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The victims were required to give all the money they earned from these sex dates to their pimps, authorities said. Anyone who refused faced disciplinary actions, including being beaten, berated, humiliated publicly and having drugs, food and affection withheld, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Some of the gangsters went on to produce rap music and videos in which they bragged about their crimes, according to authorities. Some even posted videos and photos of them assaulting their victims to intimidate others and ensure compliance, authorities said.

If convicted of the crimes, some defendants may face a minimum of 15 years in federal prison while others could see life imprisonment, authorities said.

"The U.S. Department of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Pamela Bondi, is making Los Angeles safer by arresting prolific gang members who are viciously trafficking young woman and children for sex,” Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli said. “There are no meaningful consequences for their conduct under state law, so the federal government – aided by its local law enforcement partners – will step in to make sure these criminals face lengthy prison sentences."