Brooklyn, New York.After a multi-state investigation into an alleged trafficking organization that stretched from New York to North Carolina, prosecutors revealed Wednesday that eight people had been charged in Brooklyn on sex trafficking and conspiracy counts involving four kids and one adult victim.
According to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, the defendants—six men and two women—are charged with a variety of offenses, including child sex trafficking, conspiracy, and prostitution promotion, in a separate five-count indictment and a 19-count superseding indictment. The claimed actions between 2022 and 2025 are the basis for the allegations.
According to Gonzalez, the indictments today are the outcome of an ongoing investigation into a purportedly extensive, multi-state sex trafficking operation. Three more perpetrators and two more child victims were allegedly involved, according to subsequent inquiry.
Numerous children are allegedly trafficked in North Carolina and Brooklyn.
In addition to Ronasia Robinson, 31, of Troy, New York, the defendants include Mylord Williams, 26, of the Bronx; Terrel Chery, 27, of Nassau County; Kinard Oliver, 27; Layquan Highsmith, 30; Tyshawn Crawford, 29; Richard Baker, 45; and Eyecess Chapman, 24. In a different indictment, Chery and Williams are accused of engaging in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl in Crown Heights from July to October 2022.
According to the prosecution, Williams and Chery rented two rooms in East New York, where they reportedly put up advertisements for commercial sex and kept all of the money earned by the young victim.
In November 2024, a 19-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina, woman called 911 and claimed to have been coerced into prostitution in both states, sparking another inquiry. Five participants in the trafficking operation were identified by her.
Defendants are facing a variety of accusations related to several occurrences.
Between 2024 and 2025, Williams, Chery, Oliver, Highsmith, Crawford, and Robinson allegedly took part in a larger scheme to traffic several kids, according to the authorities. Among the specific events are:
- Williams and Oliver allegedly trafficking a 17-year-old girl in Brooklyn beginning in February 2024. NYPD intervened after the girl texted a friend asking for help.
- In October 2024, Chery, Oliver, and Robinson allegedly transported two minors ages 15 and 16 to North Carolina for prostitution.
- Later that month, Chery allegedly transferred the 15-year-old to Highsmith after complaints about her earnings. Highsmith, Robinson, and Crawford then allegedly brought the girl and others back to North Carolina to continue the trafficking.
An ongoing law enforcement inquiry
Chery was remanded without bail after being charged on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Oliver and Williams were arraigned. Oliver was detained on a $1 million bond or $100,000 bail. On August 13, 2025, everyone is expected to return to court.
With assistance from the Brooklyn DA’s Office and NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad, the case was spearheaded by NYPD Detective Kevin Deleon and retired Detective James Rufle of the FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
After reportedly operating a trafficking operation that targeted teenagers in Brooklyn and North Carolina, eight people are facing serious accusations.
