NEW JERSEY – Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Trystal Lozada, 28, formerly of Bronx, New York, was sentenced today to an aggregate term of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison for sexually assaulting her co-worker, a former exotic dancer at Mr. B’s Gentleman’s Club in Passaic.
According to officials, on December 20, 2019, a petit jury found Trystal Lozada and co-defendant Michael Ramirez each guilty of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault, First Degree, two counts of Sexual Assault, Second Degree, three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, Third Degree, and two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact, Fourth Degree.
Officials said that Michael Ramirez was also found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Sexual Assault, Second Degree.
According to the investigation, the sexual assault took place on November 5, 2012, inside Mr. B’s Gentleman’s Club in Passaic after the club closed for the evening.
The State contends that the victim, a former dancer at Mr. B’s, was drugged by one of the managers of the club, rendering her mentally incapacitated and physically helpless, at which point she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by the defendants and others inside of the establishment.
The victim reported the sexual assault to the Passaic Police Department the next day, and she was taken to the hospital for an examination. Portions of the sexual assault were videotaped by one of the participants.
The videotape was subsequently recovered by the Passaic Police Department and introduced into evidence during the trial.
“The victim, who danced at the club to support her two children, testified at trial that she was powerless to stop the assault that began in the business and moved to an apartment upstairs, as coworkers and others in the club continued to violate her while she was incapacitated,” North Jersey reported. “[The prosecutor] told jurors the video shows the victim being asked whether she was “okay” at least 49 times, to which she repeatedly responded she was not, but remained unable to fend off the ongoing assault or leave.”
Upon receiving the jury’s verdict on December 20, 2019, defendant Trystal Lozada and co-defendant Michael Ramirez were remanded to Passaic County Jail by Judge Mercado-Ramirez pending sentence.
Co-defendant Miguel Delacruz pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault, First Degree and was sentenced on February 14, 2018, to 12 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Codefendant Ashley Maldonado pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3, 2021. Co-defendant Luis Guzman is scheduled for trial on June 1.
