BCPO: LEADER OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION RING ARRESTED

Press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office:

Maureen Parenta

2022-02-16

For Immediate Release:

February 16, 2022

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced today the arrest of BIRMANIA “NANCY” RINCON (DOB: 3/15/1959; single; unemployed), formerly of 275 Farrant Terrace, Teaneck, NJ, on charges relating to a human trafficking and prostitution ring.

In November 2020, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad initiated an investigation, dubbed “Operation Hope in Darkness”, into a human trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering organization operating throughout Bergen County, in northern New Jersey, and in New York. The investigation revealed that several individuals were trafficking women throughout Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex, and Passaic Counties, and in Rockland County and Queens County, New York for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts.

As a result of the investigation, BIRMANIA RINCON was identified as one of the primary leaders of a criminal enterprise engaged in money laundering and prostitution offenses since at least 2015. This criminal enterprise employed drivers to facilitate the money laundering and prostitution offenses. Additional individuals were also identified as managing and/or supervising separate money laundering and prostitution organizations throughout northern New Jersey and in New York.

As previously reported, during the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 3, 2021, over 100 detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office executed 19 search warrants in Bergen and Hudson Counties, and arrested 21 individuals. One individual, BIRMANIA RINCON, became a fugitive from justice and was believed to be residing in the country of Colombia.

On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, RINCON was indicted by a Bergen County Grand Jury and charged with second-degree racketeering, 2C:41-2(d); two counts of second-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity, 2C:21-25(c)(e); second-degree promotion of organized street crime, 2C:33-30; and third-degree promoting prostitution, 2C:34-1(b)(2).

On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, RINCON was identified as attempting to enter the United States via a flight from Colombia. RINCON was subsequently taken into custody at Newark Liberty International Airport by law enforcement officers from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Port Authority Police Department, and the United States Customs and Border Protection.

As a result of this investigation, more than 50 women have been identified as being victims of human trafficking. In partnership with the United States Department of Homeland Security Victim Assistance Specialists and Covenant House, the BCPO is continuing efforts to connect these victims with all available services to help them obtain a life free from sexual servitude and abuse.

Anyone who has been the victim of human trafficking is encouraged to call the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tipline at 201-226-5532. Services and assistance are available, and we will ensure that victims are connected to resources.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the following agencies and offices for their assistance in this investigation: Office of Homeland Security Investigations - New Jersey Division, Port Authority Police Department, and the United States Customs and Border Protection.

This press release was produced by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.