Buffalo man pleads guilty to sex trafficking by coercion — Handcuffed hands of a prisoner in prison, Male prisoners were severely strained in the dark prison, violence, human trafficking, prison and prisoner concept.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Steven Gonzalez, also known by multiple aliases including Steven Hernandez and Stevie, 48, of Buffalo, NY, has pleaded guilty to charges of sex trafficking by coercion. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with the potential for a life sentence, along with a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti and Caitlin M. Higgins reported that from 2012 to March 2015, Gonzalez exploited a minor, referred to as A.N., by providing cocaine in exchange for sex, leveraging A.N.’s cocaine addiction to coerce her into commercial sex acts. Similarly, between 2012 and 2013, Gonzalez manipulated another minor, identified as B.E., by supplying heroin in exchange for sex, utilizing B.E.’s heroin addiction as a means of coercion.

This guilty plea is the culmination of a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe led by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.