prosecution

“We’re here ready to fight aggressively and in a sophisticated way for anyone who faces any federal prosecution at any time,” Ortega said.

Federal judges ultimately decide on a final punishment and they have flexibility within guidelines - so the defence and prosecution will spend much of Friday arguing in court over Combs' sentence.

“The government attorneys handling these cases shall, within 7 days of this order, file statements in the docket that they are not being supervised by Ms. Chattah in their prosecution of these cases.”

The prosecution said the girls were abused, degraded and then "discarded" by the paedophiles, who worked either at the market or as taxi drivers.

In a recent case, a federal jury acquitted Brayan Ramos-Brito of misdemeanor assault charges after evidence shown in court contradicted what Border Patrol agents had reported to justify his prosecution.