Former Professor Sentenced To 97 Months In Prison In Connection With Human Smuggling And Sex Crimes

Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JORGE ALBERTO RAMOS was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for smuggling three female victims from El Salvador to the U.S., where he sexually abused them, and possession of child pornography.  RAMOS’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who also presided over his guilty plea.

U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “Today, Jorge Alberto Ramos was held to account for his horrific exploitation of women he smuggled into the United States and sexually abused over the course of a decade.  We thank and commend the courageous women who came forward to law enforcement.  Ramos’s sentencing is a reminder that the Southern District of New York will work tirelessly to protect vulnerable victims from abuse.”

According to the Indictment, the Information, and statements made in related court proceedings:

From at least in or about 2013 and in or about 2023, RAMOS smuggled three victims from El Salvador to the Bronx, New York, where he raped, sexually assaulted, and sexually abused them.  RAMOS groomed at least three women (“Victim-1,” “Victim-2,” and “Victim-3,” and together, the “Victims”) by, among other things, expressing concern for them and their families and by sending them gifts and money.  RAMOS then arranged for each of the Victims to be smuggled from El Salvador into the U.S., including by paying fees for smugglers (or “coyotes”) to transport the Victims across the southern U.S. border.

Over the course of a decade, each of the Victims was smuggled into the U.S. and transported to New York. RAMOS then brought each of the Victims, respectively and at different times, to his residence in the Bronx (the “Ramos Residence”).  Once at the Ramos Residence, RAMOS raped and sexually assaulted the Victims.  In or about 2016, RAMOS raped and sexually assaulted Victim-1 on the first day he brought Victim-1 to the Ramos Residence and then continued to do so for several weeks until Victim-1 fled from RAMOS.  In or about 2017, RAMOS raped and sexually assaulted Victim-2 on the first day he brought Victim-2 to the Ramos Residence and continued to do so for approximately one month until Victim-2 fled from RAMOS.  Between in or about 2013 and in or about 2014, RAMOS raped and sexually assaulted Victim-3 on at least three occasions after bringing Victim-3 to the Ramos Residence. While the Victims stayed at the Ramos Residence, RAMOS attempted to control the Victims by, among other things, ordering the Victims to stay inside the Ramos Residence, attempting to isolate the Victims from other people, and threatening to report the Victims to immigration officials for deportation back to El Salvador.

After RAMOS was arrested, law enforcement agents seized a desktop computer from the Ramos Residence that was powered on at the time of the search. A forensic analysis of the computer led to the discovery of multiple photographs and videos containing known child pornography.

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In addition to the prison term, RAMOS, 45, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding investigative work of U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division and the Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth A. Espinosa, Emily A. Johnson, and Jane Kim are in charge of the prosecution.