NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A man was indicted for allegedly sexually assaulting at least four newly arrived migrant women who he allegedly lured to secluded places across Manhattan with offers of fake employment opportunities, prosecutors announced this week.
Agustin Diaz was indicted Wednesday on rape, sexual abuse, stalking and other charges in connection with the assault of at least four women going back at least to 2018, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office.
According to court documents, Diaz allegedly targeted Spanish-speaking women on the subway, approaching them to ask if they were recent immigrants seeking employment, then providing business cards and additional instructions to those who responded affirmatively.
In one incident, on May 10, 2018, Diaz allegedly lured the first woman to an empty office space on Wall Street by offering her a job cleaning a dental office. Once inside, Diaz allegedly threw her to the ground and raped her twice.
On Aug. 8, 2023, Diaz allegedly convinced a second woman to come work for him in a building on Pearl Street, down the block from the Wall Street location. When she arrived, he allegedly led her down into a small storage room in the back of a basement. He told her to fill plastic bags with candy and other products and while she did he allegedly came up behind her, grabbed her waist, kissed her face, and sexually abused her before she was able to escape, according to prosecutors.
In another incident, on Sept. 23, 2023, Diaz lured a third woman to the Pearl Street location, similarly instructing her to fill plastic bags with candy and snacks. As she worked, he allegedly sexually assaulted her. He also told her that if she didn't do what he told her to do, he wasn't going to give her a job.
In December 2023, Diaz met a fourth woman on the subway and offered her a job at the Pearl Street location, which he claimed was his deli. As she removed items from a shelf in the basement, Diaz allegedly grabbed her from behind. After she left, Diaz repeatedly called and texted her, but she responded that she did not want to work for him again.
In late January, her financial status changed, and she needed employment. Once again, she ran into Diaz on the subway. He asked her to return and reassured her that things would be different. She returned weeks later, and Diaz again allegedly touched her without her consent. He then instructed her to return the following day and would pay her for both shifts. She did, and he allegedly sexually abused her again. She left and said he would not return.
Diaz then allegedly continued to call and text her repeatedly. When she blocked him, he called her from restricted numbers. He began attending her church, forcing her to change services, and followed her on the subway, according to prosecutors.
She continued to ignore him until late April, when she was in need of money. Diaz approached her on the subway once again and allegedly apologized. He offered her a job delivering the candy and snack bags instead of working with him in the basement. When she returned to the Pearl Street location to discuss the job, Diaz allegedly pulled her pants down and held a knife to her body while demanding she have sex with him.
The woman fought back and sustained multiple injuries, prosecutors said. Both were taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for treatment.
Diaz allegedly also threatened to have at least two victims deported if they reported what happened.
An investigation is ongoing.
"As alleged, Agustin Diaz purposefully targeted Spanish-speaking women who were new to the United States and in desperate need of employment," Bragg said. "He allegedly lured them to isolated locations with promises of work, only to sexually assault them in a pattern he repeated with at least four survivors."
Survivors of these assaults or individuals with information are asked to contact the D.A.'s office at 212-335-9793.
