'MS-13 gang member' accused of sex trafficking migrant teen in NYC while on the run after 'fondling nine-year-old girl'
- Alfredo Morocho is accused of sex trafficking a 17-year-old migrant girl in Queens
- The 37-year-old was arrested March 6 when he tried to set up the girl with an undercover cop at a hotel
- Morocho is facing nine counts and could be sentenced to 25 years in prison if he is convicted
An accused MS-13 gang member was arrested earlier this month for allegedly luring a 17-year-old migrant girl out of a shelter in Queens and forcing her to perform sex work.
Alfredo Morocho, 37, was also wanted by authorities for skipping bail in connection with a 2018 child molestation case, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Morocho, who was apprehended on March 6, is being held at Rikers Island.
A Queens DA spokesperson told the DailyMail.com that Morocho is scheduled to appear in court May 30.
He is facing two counts of sex trafficking a minor and five counts of promoting prostitution. He was also charged with two counts of patronizing a person in prostitution.
Alfredo Morocho, 37, an accused MS-13 gang member, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly luring a 17-year-old migrant girl out of a shelter in Queens and forcing her to perform sex work. He was apprehended on March 6, is being held at Rikers Island
Morocho allegedly forced her into prostitution and transported her to and from an apartment (pictured) in the neighborhood of Corona
Morocho faces up to 25 years in prison if he is found guilty.
'No child should ever be exploited,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
'I have dedicated significant resources to supporting those impacted by sex trafficking and to hold the perpetrators accountable.'
Morocho first met the migrant teenager at a deli in November in the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica and asked her if she was interested in working, according to the Queen’s DA office said.
Morocho allegedly forced her into prostitution and transported her to and from an apartment in the neighborhood of Corona, where she performed sex work for other men.
Katz’s office said that he only paid the teenager half of the money she collected and that he conned her into providing half-naked photographs of herself, which were used to promote her to customers.
Morocho was arrested when he drove the young girl to a hotel (pictured) in Flushing and negotiated her prices with an undercover police officer, who immediately placed him under arrest
Morocho was arrested when he drove the young girl to a hotel in Flushing and negotiated her prices with an undercover police officer, who immediately placed him under arrest.
Morocho had been on the run since 2019 after he was arrested for allegedly molesting a nine-year-old girl in front of a Queens cell phone store in September 2018.
He approached the girl while she was looking at phones behind the display window and allegedly lifted her skirt and touched her buttock.
The girl confronted Morocho, who allegedly told her, ‘Don’t move, I don’t want to do this longer.’
Morocho was arrested and told cops that he was allegedly ‘trying to record her butt.’
