D.A. Bragg Announces New Sex Trafficking, Narcotics Charges In Upstate Correctional Ring Prosecution

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced new charges in the indictment of DEANNA DICASTRO, 39, and GILLIAM CORDERO, 38, for multiple conspiracies including sex trafficking two children and a woman, forcing the woman to smuggle narcotics into an upstate prison facility, facilitating the sales of firearms between each other, and one gunpoint robbery.

Intimate partners DICASTRO, a former Office of Mental Health employee in a secure correctional facility, and CORDERO are charged with running the operation in Manhattan, the Bronx, and in the Rome and Utica, New York, areas between October 2025 and August 2026 - allegedly continuing to operate elements of the conspiracies after being incarcerated on the initial indictment.

Additionally, CORDERO's mother, THERESA WRIGHT, was indicted for allegedly managing money for CORDERO in the sex trafficking conspiracy and keeping proceeds from prostitution. TASHA CRUZ was indicted for allegedly taking photos of the children for prostitution advertisements and arranging prostitution encounters. Finally, JOSHUA HENDERSON was indicted for allegedly conspiring with CORDERO and DICASTRO to smuggle narcotics into the upstate facility where he was housed.

The New York State Supreme Court indictment includes charges of Predatory Sexual Assault, Rape in the First Degree, Sex Trafficking and Sex Trafficking of a Child, among other charges.[1]

"This horrific trafficking and narcotics operation centered around a state employee's insider information and access to firearms, we allege," said District Attorney Bragg. "Deanna DiCastro allegedly funneled firearms to her partner, Gilliam Cordero, to use in a violent trafficking operation that even included forcing a survivor to transport narcotics into state prison. Our Human Trafficking Unit has specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors to seek accountability and help survivors rebuild their lives. Please call us at 212-335-3400."

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record in court, CORDERO and DICASTRO orchestrated three conspiracies: running a sex trafficking and prostitution operation, obtaining firearms, and smuggling narcotics into an upstate prison.

Alleged Firearms Sales

DICASTRO was licensed to obtain and possess pistols. Using her license, she obtained firearms for CORDERO, who specifically requested that she purchase at least three handguns. CORDERO allegedly used firearms in both of the following conspiracies.

Alleged Trafficking and Prostitution Operation

Beginning in October 2025, CORDERO, DICASTRO, CRUZ, and WRIGHT allegedly worked together to traffic two children and one adult woman as part of a prostitution operation.

As alleged, DICASTRO first created an account with Megapersonals to post prostitution advertisements. CORDERO recruited each of the women and children. CORDERO and DICASTRO worked together to arrange prostitution encounters in hotels in Manhattan, as well as in the Bronx and upstate near DICASTRO's home in Rome, New York. CRUZ took photos of one of the children for prostitution advertisements and specifically set up prostitution encounters for the children. WRIGHT managed money for CORDERO, including taking payments from the women and children and keeping proceeds.

CORDERO frequently threatened the women and children with firearms he obtained from DICASTRO. On at least two occasions, he forcibly raped the adult survivor when she refused to perform open-air street prostitution. He also allegedly had sex with both of the children, including a statutory rape.

On November 16, 2025, DICASTRO identified a person for CORDERO to rob at gunpoint. After DICASTRO passed that person's information to CORDERO, CORDERO robbed them at gunpoint, threatening to shoot them if they did not give him their belongings.

Alleged Narcotics Smuggling

CORDERO, DICASTRO, and HENDERSON allegedly worked together to smuggle narcotics into Green Haven Correctional, where HENDERSON is incarcerated. CORDERO and DICASTRO allegedly sprayed liquified ketamine onto sheets of paper, which they strapped to the adult trafficking survivor underneath her clothes, and also forced her to transport marijuana in condoms inserted into her vagina. DICASTRO used her experience working as a Department of Mental Health employee in secure correctional facilities to advise the survivor how to evade detection at security checkpoints and how to respond if anything was detected. HENDERSON took the narcotics to sell to other incarcerated individuals.

CORDERO and DICASTRO allegedly attempted to continue elements of the narcotics operation while incarcerated at Rikers Island following their initial indictment in April 2026.

Assistant D.A.s John Fuller and Caroline Rowley are handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Courtney Razner (Deputy Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit) and Jonathon Junig (Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit), and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney. Investigators Ariela DaSilva and Sean Ryan, and Investigative Analysts Jaden Bharara, Margaret Murphy and Nina Huang, are assisting with the investigation. Former Investigative Analyst Margaret Murphy and former Human Trafficking Clinical Director Melissa Martinez provided invaluable support.

District Attorney Bragg thanked Detective Harrison Graf of the NYPD 9th Precinct Detective Squad, and the Rome, New York Police Department, particularly Captain Alex Sypniewskia.

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.