Leaders In AOC’s District Demand FBI Action to End Queens’ Brothel Crisis
Community leaders in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) district are once again pleading with federal authorities to intervene in what they describe as an out-of-control crime scene fueled by foreign gangs trafficking women and pushing drugs in Queens.
For weeks, residents have organized rallies outside buildings they say are notorious brothels operating in plain sight. Women allegedly solicit on the sidewalks, while customers rush into dimly lit storefronts posing as massage parlors or tucked beside neighborhood bodegas.
The epicenter of the activity is Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, long plagued by crime, vice, and violence. Despite repeated attempts by the NYPD to restore order, the strip remains one of New York City’s most notorious “red-light districts.” According to police, more than 350 arrests related to prostitution have been made in the area just this year.
At a recent protest, locals plastered “Shut it down” posters on the doors of a rundown brothel disguised as a spa, calling on federal law enforcement to permanently dismantle what they say has become a hotbed for human trafficking and gang rule.
Residents Plead With FBI
In a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, the Restore Roosevelt Avenue Coalition urged federal action to end the “ever-worsening situation” on the strip. The coalition, made up largely of immigrant families, has long pushed for safer streets and better quality of life in the neighborhood.
The group pointed to an April crackdown in which the FBI, DEA, and other agencies arrested eight suspected members of the violent 18th Street gang, accused of stabbings and beatings to maintain territorial control. While residents welcomed the arrests, they argued only a sweeping federal operation under racketeering and trafficking statutes can dismantle the entrenched networks.
According to the coalition, 18th Street operatives have already been replaced by new enforcers, while other groups—including the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and Chinese organized crime syndicates—continue to dominate Roosevelt Avenue with “an iron fist.” Locals claim the gangs not only profit from human trafficking but also run scams involving fraudulent green cards.
“The rampant prostitution that we see on our streets 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is having an adverse effect on the mental and spiritual health of our children and families,” said Rosa Sanchez, the group’s spokesperson. “There is no reason that our children should have to bear witness to the human tragedy of women being forced to sell their bodies for the profits of traffickers and pimps. It is happening in front of our homes. It must stop.”
Political Responses
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s office responded by noting that the congresswoman requested over half a million dollars in federal funds for local nonprofits focused on “violence interruption programs and support for victims of sex trafficking.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), who also represents Queens, said she is forwarding the coalition’s letter to the FBI and has been lobbying for more federal resources. “I have formally requested federal money to support local initiatives and projects specifically requested by the NYPD that would provide them with more tools to combat crime in the area,” Meng told Fox News Digital.
Still, many residents remain skeptical that more nonprofit funding or small-scale grants will be enough to defeat the deeply entrenched gangs that have turned Roosevelt Avenue into a hub of vice. They are demanding stronger federal enforcement and a comprehensive strategy to restore safety to their neighborhood.