QUEENS COUNTY — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment of Hector Galindo Capultitla on charges related to sex trafficking, including acts of violence against a Mexican woman forced into prostitution in Mexico and the United States. Galindo Capultitla, 39, from Corona, Queens, was arraigned on a seven-count indictment, with allegations of exploiting the victim over a three-year period through physical abuse and threats to her family.
The indictment includes charges of sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, coercion, and assault, with Galindo Capultitla facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone Jr. has scheduled the next court appearance for March 21.
Galindo Capultitla allegedly coerced the victim into sex work initially in Mexico in 2021 and later in the United States. He demanded weekly earnings from her, amounting to at least $2,000, and retained all her income from prostitution activities across New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. The defendant resorted to physical violence and threats against the victim and her family in Mexico to enforce compliance.
This case underscores the ongoing battle against human trafficking, with DA Katz highlighting the establishment of a Human Trafficking Bureau to address such crimes. The arrest of Galindo Capultitla followed a violent incident captured by video surveillance and a subsequent 911 call, leading to his apprehension and the victim’s relocation.