BATH, N.Y. (WENY) – Five men from Chemung and Steuben Counties, including a Steuben County legislator, have been charged in connection to an investigation into a sex trafficking ring.

According to an unsealed indictment out of Steuben County, the indictment is the result of an extended investigation by the County Grand Jury, basked on evidence provided by New York State Police into allegations of sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, enterprise corruption and other crimes in Chemung and Steuben Counties.

The five men who were arrested are Larry Comfort, Sr. of Elmira Heights; Larry Comfort, Jr. of Elmira Heights; Jonathan Hamilton of Elmira; Michael Stratton of the Town of Corning and Steven Maio of the City of Corning.

As WENY News reported, Maio was arrested back in August and charged with patronizing a prostitute. Maio is also a local attorney. Despite that charge, Maio has not resigned and is still listed as the County Legislator. Friday, Steuben County Republican Chairman Joe Sempolinski released a statement, calling for the "immediate resignation" of Maio: 

"I was shocked to learn today that Steuben County Legislator Steve Maio had been charged in connection to an investigation into a sex trafficking ring," said Sempolinski. "Mr. Maio has been charged with felonies related to his alleged participation in horrific criminal activity alongside some of the most notorious criminals in Steuben County history. He is an utter disgrace to his office, profession and Steuben County. He needs to resign his office immediately. Not tomorrow. Not later today. Immediately."

The Steuben County Democratic Party also released a statement Thursday evening, regarding the indictment against Maio. The following statement was provided by Shawn Hogan, Margie Lawlor, and Hilda Lando:

"We were deeply troubled and even more deeply saddened to hear that Steuben County Legislator Steven Maio has been charged in connection to an investigation into a sex trafficking ring.  Although in America our system of justice says you are innocent until proven guilty, these charges are extremely serious and disheartening.   We as leaders of the Steuben County Democratic Party call upon Steven Maio to examine his heart and determine if, by his action or inaction, is doing the right thing for his family, his county and the people he serves by continuing to serve as a County Legislator. We sincerely hope Steven Maio makes the right decision, which at this time only he can make, for the good of all parties involved.  As Leaders of the Democratic Party in Steuben County we are deeply saddened to have to comment on this matter; particularly at this difficult time while dealing with a pandemic and hoping that we all stay safe this Christmas Season. "

Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker says all five were arrested on warrants by New York State Police in the past 24 hours. Comfort Sr. and Stratton were stopped by troopers late Thursday afternoon; both were arraigned and pleaded not guilty. Comfort Sr. was sent to the Steuben County Jail without bail while Stratton – who is not charged with enterprise corruption -- was released on his own recognizance due to State Bail Reform guidelines.

Hamilton was arrested on Friday morning after a foot chase with troopers, as was Larry Comfort Jr. Maio was also arrested Friday, appeared in court and was released on his own recognizance.

All the men will appear before a judge at a later date.

Baker says the indictment includes 34 counts including multiple counts of sex trafficking; promoting prostitution; criminal sale of a controlled substance; criminal solicitation and conspiracy to commit murder; falsifying business records; forgery; enterprise corruption and endangering the welfare of a child.

Larry Comfort, Senior is charged under each count of the indictment, according to the DA's office. The other men are charged as accomplices.

Comfort, Senior is also the same Larry Comfort who was paroled from state prison in 2013 after serving time following the fatal shooting of an NYSP investigator Robert Van Hall on December 5,1980 in Corning. Larry Comfort, along with his brother, Joseph Comfort, were involved in a shootout that killed Inv. Van Hall, and wounded his partner, Investigator William Gorenflo, Sr., who were working undercover. Both Comforts were originally convicted of murder; Larry Comfort's murder conviction was overturned in 1985, though he was sentenced to 21-years-to life for first degree Criminal Sale of Cocaine. Larry Comfort was granted parole in 2013. Joseph Comfort died in prison in January 2019. 

In regards to the sex trafficking investigation, Comfort Sr., Comfort Jr., Hamilton and Maio are all charged with enterprise corruption. That charge alleges the men “intentionally committed felony offenses and participated together in a pattern of criminal activity constituting a criminal enterprise”.

“This is not the type of case we expect in places like Steuben and Chemung Counties – sex trafficking and Criminal Enterprises are supposed to be urban problems – this investigation proves that simply isn't the case, that it can happen anywhere, even in our own communities,” said DA Baker.
Baker would go on to praise State Police for their work.


“With that reality in mind, local members of the State Police did not dismiss indicators of this type of activity; they did the right thing to protect our community. They did the hard work and followed the leads, investigating this coordinated criminal conduct. Over a year of investigative time, thousands of man-hours and dozens of investigators worked to put this case together – to try to save local victims of sex trafficking, and remove this type of threat (sex trafficking and narcotics sales) from our community.”

According to Baker, the State Special Investigation Unit received the first tips about this group and initiated the investigation with help from the State Police Violent Gangs and Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Elmira City Police Drug Enforcement Unit and troopers from the Painted Post Barracks.
“They followed leads, did hundreds of hours of surveillance, interviewed witnesses and put the evidence together for the grand jury that ultimately led to this indictment,” said Baker.

“This case is far from over; all defendants have entered not guilty pleas and must be presumed innocent unless and until a trial jury says otherwise, but just getting to this point makes our community safer, and will hopefully prevent others from being dragged into the dark world of sex trafficking.”

State Police Acting Superintendent Kevin Bruen also commented on the case, saying, “I want to commend the outstanding work put in by our members and our partners with the Elmira Police Department and the Steuben County District Attorney's Office. Teamwork is critically important to an investigation of this nature, and thanks to our combined efforts, we have removed these suspects from our streets and made our communities safer. We are determined to hold these suspects accountable for their actions.”

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information about this case, or any case of potential sex trafficking, should reach out to the Steuben County District Attorney's Office or New York State Police.

If you have been a victim of sex trafficking, or have information regarding these suspects, contact the State Police Rochester Office of the Special Investigations Unit at 585-529-3660. All information provided will be kept confidential.