Executive Summary
- David and Bryce Amin, members of the Bloods gang, pleaded guilty to federal sex trafficking and narcotics charges.
- Prosecutors stated the ring operated from 2018 to 2023, using violence and drugs to coerce victims.
- The defendants agreed to forfeit over $390,000 and luxury vehicles purchased with criminal proceeds.
- Both brothers face a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison at sentencing.
Two brothers identified as members of the Bloods street gang have pleaded guilty to orchestrating a sex trafficking and narcotics enterprise on Long Island, federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday. David M. Amin, 31, and Bryce K. Amin, 25, admitted to charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and substantive sex trafficking in separate proceedings, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
According to federal prosecutors, the defendants operated the trafficking ring from October 2018 through May 2023, utilizing hotels across Long Island, including locations in Bohemia, Islandia, Patchogue, Bayport, and Sayville. Court filings state that the brothers recruited women struggling with drug addiction and coerced them into commercial sex acts through violence, threats of violence, and the distribution of narcotics. United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. stated that the defendants took advantage of vulnerable victims, making them beholden to illegal narcotics, including fentanyl and cocaine, supplied by the enterprise.
Prosecutors detailed that the operation involved significant manipulation and cruelty. In one recorded jailhouse phone call from 2021, Bryce Amin reportedly boasted about controlling a victim, referring to her as “my little puppet.” Investigative reports note that David Amin engaged in physical violence, including choking and striking victims, and withheld drugs to force the women into withdrawal to ensure compliance. The narcotics distribution was described by authorities as an “add-on service” advertised as “party favors” to clients.
As part of the plea agreements, officials stated that David Amin and his wife, co-defendant Patricia A. Peralta, have agreed to forfeit more than $390,000 in cash, along with a 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG SUV and a 2021 BMW M550i. Prosecutors allege these assets were purchased with proceeds from criminal activity. Peralta, 32, pleaded guilty last year to money laundering conspiracy for her role in processing the illicit funds and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Judicial Proceedings and Sentencing Outlook
The guilty pleas entered by the Amin brothers carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with a maximum potential sentence of life in prison. This outcome underscores the severity with which the federal justice system pursues cases involving the intersection of gang activity, narcotics distribution, and human exploitation. The substantial asset forfeiture agreed to in this case serves as a mechanism to strip the criminal enterprise of its financial gains. David Amin is scheduled for sentencing on May 15, while a date for Bryce Amin has not yet been set. It is important to note that while pleas have been entered, all individuals involved in criminal proceedings are technically presumed innocent until formally proven guilty and sentenced in a court of law.
