I.C.E. News Release

July 17, 2009

Montgomery County woman sentenced to 21 months in case involving prostituted Russian orphans

PHILADELPHIA - Natalya Goretska, 29, of King of Prussia, Pa., was sentenced to 21 months on July 16 for one count of making a false statement to the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In her application to become a permanent resident of the United States, Goretska, a Ukraine national, falsely stated she had never been a prostitute nor procured anyone for prostitution.

An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed Goretska was involved in securing clients via the Internet for a Russian prostitution business known as "Berenika." Berenika employed adults and minors to work as prostitutes in Moscow. Goretska was arrested on Dec. 2, 2008, following the filing of a criminal complaint. Andrew Mogilyansky, who is awaiting sentencing for sex charges brought against him in the case, was one of the owners and operators of Berenika.

In addition to the prison sentence, Goretska was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. She faces immigration removal proceedings that have not yet been scheduled.

This case was investigated by ICE Office of Investigations in Philadelphia and the Office of International Affairs in Moscow. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Michelle Morgan-Kelly.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative launched in 2003 to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 21, 2009
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0907/090717philadelphia.htm