Buffalo Man Admits to Sex Trafficking Two Women

Both victims have since died.

Steven Gonzalez, 48, who is already serving a 15-year prison sentence for his role in a drug conspiracy that led to an overdose death, admitted to one count of sex trafficking by coercion. U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. said he would impose a prison sentence of between 17 1/2 and 20 years, specified in the plea agreement, to be served concurrently with his current prison sentence.

Between 2012 and March 2015, Gonzalez exploited victims’ addictions to cocaine, heroin and pills, refusing to supply them with drugs despite their terrible withdrawal symptoms unless they had sex with clients and gave him 100 percent of their profits, according to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti and Caitlin M. Higgins.

If the case had gone to trial, the government would have planned to present statements made by one of the victims when she sought medical treatment at the children’s hospital following an overdose.

Witnesses said they saw Gonzalez beat at least one of the victims, prosecutors said. Witnesses also said he kept them drugged to maintain control.

Prosecutors said witnesses were prepared to testify that both deceased victims made comments acknowledging they had sex with Gonzalez when they were minors.

At the plea hearing Thursday, Gonzalez admitted that “the girls were doing sexual things.”

“They were buying drugs from me” in exchange for sex, he said.

Witnesses reportedly said Gonzalez bought the victims expensive gifts, such as sneakers, clothing and jewelry, according to a prosecution filing.

The victim, who was trained from the age of 12, stored drugs and weapons for Gonzalez at his grandmother’s house, prosecutors said. But Gonzalez isolated the victims from family and friends, controlling how and when they could have contact.

“Although the two named victims will not have their moment to speak in court, numerous witnesses will give their opinions about what this defendant inflicted on them,” Violanti and Higgins said in a court filing.

Earlier this week, co-defendant Isaiah Berry pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug premises.

Between 2011 and 2012, Berry sold heroin for Gonzalez, according to his plea agreement. Berry used a residence controlled by Gonzalez at 232 Richmond Ave., in the Elmwood Bryant neighborhood, to sell heroin to others.

Gonzalez operated a “trap house” in the basement apartment at 232 Richmond to house several drug-addicted women who would engage in forced prostitution for him and to distribute crack cocaine and heroin. He also used his residence at 197 West Ave. to distribute drugs, prosecutors said.

Berry said he saw Gonzalez give heroin to addicted customers to test the heroin. After testing the heroin, the addicts would tell Gonzalez whether the heroin was good or not.

Berry also admitted to seeing Gonzalez give heroin to other people, including women, who then sold it to other addicts already waiting at the residence. Some of the women paid Gonzalez with money they had just received after having sex with men.