D.A. Bragg Announces Indictment In Violent Harlem Sex Trafficking Operation

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of LAVILLE DAVIS, 38, for running a sex trafficking operation involving at least three women in his Harlem apartment in August and September 2024. DAVIS allegedly repeatedly beat and strangled the women - including in front of two children - threatened them with a firearm and raped at least one of them. DAVIS is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Sex Trafficking, Rape in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Labor Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

"While this case contains the elements of coercion and control that we see in all of our trafficking prosecutions, the allegations here are especially, disturbingly violent," said District Attorney Bragg. "The swift and effective coordination between the NYPD's 30^th Precinct, the NYPD's Human Trafficking Squad, and my office's dedicated prosecutors and investigators led to the arrest of this alleged trafficker. This indictment speaks to the power of our collaboration, and I am thankful for their commitment to this work."

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, from August 1, 2024, through October 1, 2024, DAVIS ran a sex trafficking operation out of his four-bedroom Harlem apartment where he lived with at least three women and one woman's children. He installed numerous internet-connected video cameras in the apartment so that he could surveil the victims when he was not physically present. He also drove the women across New York City, upstate New York, and New Jersey.

DAVIS beat and raped the women if they did not want to perform prostitution or tried to leave his control. He repeatedly assaulted, strangled, grabbed, and dragged them across the floor, including in front of the children. DAVIS refused to allow the women to get medical treatment, for fear of the hospital involving police, or he would only allow them to go if he accompanied them throughout the medical visit. He used a loaded firearm to threaten the women and intimidate prostitution patrons. DAVIS also forced the women to perform domestic labor, including cooking and cleaning for him.

Assistant D.A.s John Fuller and Katherine Sullivan are handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Courtney Razner (Deputy Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit), Assistant D.A. Jonathan Junig (Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit) and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division).

District Attorney Bragg thanked the NYPD's 30^th Precinct, including Police Officer Martin Sierra, and Human Trafficking Squad, including Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh and Detective Michael McGovern, and Investigative Analyst Margaret Murphy for their work on the investigation.

###

[1] The charges contained in the indictments are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.