HENRIETTA, N.Y. — There are new developments in the alleged sex trafficking case out of Henrietta earlier this month.
Officials say there may be more victims in this case and that local authorities are working with the FBI on what is now an interagency sex trafficking investigation.
“Obviously we work on the state side. We work in conjunction with our federal partners here. I can say that the FBI is working with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office on this case and we’re working in conjunction with our federal partners, and if there are more victims out there, we’d certainly like to hear from them,” said Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Sara Van Strydonck. “It’s certainly something that would be important for the investigation, and I can say that this is an ongoing and active investigation.”
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance video they say shows the scene at the Microtel in Henrietta on July 5. The video appears to show a woman and a man drag someone out of the hotel lobby.
Hours later on the same day, police took the alleged suspects into custody and found the alleged victim safe.
Following a grand jury indictment, Shuntiayana Sims, 27, is charged with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, kidnapping and assault. During her arraignment Thursday afternoon, she entered a not-guilty plea.
Following the grand jury indictment, Cordell Brooks, 27, is also charged with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, kidnapping and assault. He, too, entered a not-guilty plea.
“Everybody saw it. They saw the horrific nature of it,” said Van Strydonck. “They saw it because it was on video. Just because it’s not on video and sometimes it’s not, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. But you’ve got to, I think, see a small bite of what this individual, what our victim lived through.”
Authorities say the victim was briefly hospitalized and was offered services. As for Sims and Brooks, they are being held on $100,000 cash bail. A trial for them is set to take place in January.