Women's March Defends Website Used to Facilitate Prostitution

San Francisco Police Make Human Trafficking Arrest

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Police have arrested a 20-year-old man after he allegedly participated in the kidnapping of 19-year-old woman in San Francisco's Mission District last week, police said Friday.

On April 8, around 1:30 a.m. a group of suspects allegedly forced the victim into a vehicle near 20th and Shotwell streets, according to police.

The suspects then took the victim to Santa Clara County, where she managed to escape and contacted authorities a short while later.

More from San Francisco FoxNews2KTVU

Police Arrest Sacramento Man Suspected Of Human Trafficking With Victims As Young As 14

By Barbara Harvey
bharvey@sacbee.com

March 31, 2018 04:35 PM

Updated March 31, 2018 04:46 PM

A Sacramento man was arrested on charges of human trafficking in Ventura County last week after investigators said he forced multiple victims – including minors from the Sacramento area – to engage in prostitution.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article207574189.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

James Powell, 31, was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking after an investigation into the whereabouts of a missing Citrus Heights teen led detectives to the discovery of several victims in the Camarillo area. Powell was booked into the Ventura County jail and his bail was set at $510,000. Ventura County Sheriff's Department

 

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Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article207574189.html#storylink=cpy

Accused Sex Trafficker From Madison Facing Federal Charges

MADISON (WKOW) -- Alleged sex trafficking led to federal charges for a man from Madison.

Authorities say 36-year-old Erin Graham, Jr. took two women from Wisconsin to Virginia and forced them into prostitution in June of 2016.

KBJR6 reports

Nxivm's Leader Charged With Sex-Trafficking

NEW YORK (AP) - The leader of a secretive group in upstate New York turned female followers into brainwashed "slaves" who were branded with his initials and coerced into having sex, authorities alleged on Monday in a criminal complaint charging him with sex-trafficking.

Keith Raniere, co-founder of the group called Nxivm, was arrested in Mexico and returned to Texas Monday, authorities said. He was to appear in court on Tuesday in Fort Worth on the charges filed by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn.

According to the complaint, Raniere-known within the group as "Vanguard"-oversaw a barbaric system in which women were told the best way to advance was to become a "slave" overseen by "masters." They also were expected to have sex with him and do menial chores for masters, and to keep the arrangement a secret or be publicly humiliated, the complaint says.

Elle reports

22-Year-Old Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking

March 26, 2018 06:04 PM

A 22-year-old man has been convicted of two counts of sex trafficking, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Monday.

According to a release, Lee Edward Smith Jr. was found guilty by a jury Friday and sentenced to terms of nine and 20 years, to be served concurrently.

The criminal complaint stated a Minneapolis police investigator came across a woman being advertised for sex in August of last year on Backpage.com. After calling that number, the investigator was allegedly directed to go to the 3600 block of Nicollet Avenue.

The investigator then reportedly set up in a place where he could survey the building and contacted the phone number. He said he saw a woman come out of the building, and when she didn't see anyone, she texted the investigator and admitted she was the woman he was seeking.

Read more from KSTP ABC5 Eyewitness News

Rabbi With Prior Sex Crime Conviction Arrested In Underage Sex Trafficking Bust

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A rabbi with a prior conviction for sexually abusing a minor was one of three arrested for allegedly sex trafficking an underage prostitute, according to WPIX.

Rabbi Aryeh Goodman, 35, was arrested along with 18-year-old Gabriella Colon and 23-year-old Richard Ortiz by investigators from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, East Brunswick Police and Middlesex County Sheriff's Office.

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Man Pleads Guilty To Child Sex Trafficking, Drug Charges

March 21, 2018 8:45 AM in News

Source: WBRZ

By: Raquel Derganz Baker

 

NEW ORLEANS- A man pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking charges minutes before his scheduled trial.

Lance Everson, 39, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, according to a release from the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office.

Everson was charged with two counts of child sex trafficking, one count of second-degree kidnapping, one count of aggravated battery, one count of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and one count of simple battery. There were also several drug charges.
Everson will now be required to register as a sex offender after he is released.

Read more from WBRZ2 ABC
 

Sex Trafficking Truckers Arrested In Truck Stop Undercover Operation

Undercover operation to fight sex trafficking makes nearly dozen arrests near truck stop

An undercover operation to battle sex trafficking made nearly a dozen arrests in Pierce County and discovered in a mere four hours seven women who were victims of prostitution and three who were victims of human trafficking, according to the State Patrol. (Photo: KOMO News) 

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. -- An undercover operation in Washington State to battle sex trafficking made nearly a dozen arrests and discovered in a mere four hours seven women who were victims of prostitution and three who were victims of human trafficking.

The Washington State Patrol and Lakewood police launched "Operation Human Freight" on Wednesday night in northern Pierce County near Interstate 5.

More from KOMONews

 

Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking Shot And Killed By Federal Agent In Scottsdale, Police Say

Scottsdale police are investigating after a federal agent shot and killed a suspect who was recently convicted of sex trafficking Friday morning in the parking lot of a shopping center near the Loop 101 and Shea Boulevard.

“The shooting involved federal agents and a male subject,” Sgt. Ben Hoster with the Scottsdale Police Dept. said in an email. “The male subject is deceased. No other injuries reported.”

Sgt. Hoster said those agents are with the Department of Homeland Security.

Hoster said the suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Erik Dunham who was recently convicted of human trafficking and failed to appear for his sentencing.

Read more from FoxNews13

Man Charged For Child Sex Trafficking After Being Turned In By Mother

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A Milwaukee man is heading to trial after his mother turned him in for child sex trafficking.

According to a criminal complaint, 50-year-old Sean Hayes is said to have approached an underage girl about working as an escort back in 2017.

More from CBS 58 WDJT Milwaukee

Man Charged With Human Trafficking In Anne Arundel County

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) — A New York man is accused of assault and profiting off three women engaging in prostitution in Maryland.

Anne Arundel County police said in a release Monday that Vice Unit detectives conducting a prostitution sting arrested 34-year-old Ondray Lamar Pleasant on Feb. 22.

The detectives had made online contact with two women, who told them come to a hotel room where they found three women linked to prostitution activity. Pleasant was taken into custody at a nearby business.

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29 Men Arrested In Sex Trafficking Sting

SAN DIEGO -- Twenty-nine would-be prostitution customers were arrested in the San Diego area last week as part of a statewide crackdown on sexual exploitation of young women and girls, District Attorney Summer Stephan announced Tuesday.

The multi-agency effort, dubbed "Operation Reclaim and Rebuild," took place over a three-day period, focusing on the demand side of human trafficking.

Read more from FOX5 San Diego

2 Dc Men Charged With Human Trafficking Of Missing Juvenile Female In Md., Police Say

FREDERICK, Md. (ABC7) — 

Two D.C. men have been charged with human trafficking a juvenile female in Frederick, Maryland.

Abiathar Abraham Vance was charged with seven counts of human trafficking and C was charged with four counts of human trafficking, according to Frederick Police.

Investigators say the juvenile female was returned to her family.

The victim was found with Vance and Privado in the 400 block of South Jefferson Street.

More from Washington DC ABC7WJLA

Nine Nabbed In Merced Human Trafficking Sting, Police Say

January 31, 2018 05:18 PM 

 

A joint effort in Merced nabbed two alleged human traffickers and seven alleged johns in a recent prostitution sting, according to police.

Two Merced police units, the Disruptive Area Response Team and Gang Violence Suppression Unit, conducted undercover operations last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, police said in a news release. It was part of a statewide effort against human trafficking and prostitution.

Read more from Modesto

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/news/article197763209.html#storylink=cpy

Former Schwartzeneger Advisor and 500+ Arrested In Statewide Human Trafficking Operation

Daniel Pellisier, a former advisor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, was arrested by the Citrus Heights Police Department as part of a human trafficking crackdown.

A man who once advised former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of four alleged "johns" arrested by police in Citrus Heights, Calif., as part of a statewide human trafficking crackdown.

Daniel Pellisier was arrested by the Citrus Heights Police Department, in Sacramento County, as part of Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, a three-day sweep led by the Los Angeles County Regional Human Trafficking Task Force. The crackdown led to more than 500 arrests, including 30 suspected traffickers and 178 alleged "johns."

Los Angeles Times has more

ICE Removes Fugitive Alien Wanted For Human Trafficking In El Salvador

BALTIMORE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed a Salvadoran man today wanted for human trafficking in his native country after his arrest by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) personnel assigned to ICE offices in Baltimore.

Oscar Arturo Alfaro-Romero, a 35-year-old alien fugitive with multiple prior removals, was arrested by ICE May 10, 2017. He was processed as an alien previously removed, and qualified for removal under reinstatement. ICE was subsequently notified that Alfaro-Romero was wanted for crimes in El Salvador.

ICE officers transported Alfaro-Romero to Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in El Salvador where he was turned over to local law-enforcement authorities. ICE offices in El Salvador and its Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) taskforce provided key assistance to the Baltimore field office ahead of Alfaro-Romero’s arrest and subsequent removal.

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Va. Man Indicted On Sex Trafficking, Fentanyl Distribution Charges That Led To Overdoses

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WSET) -- A Virginia man has been charged in a six-count federal indictment with sex trafficking, interstate prostitution, and distribution of fentanyl that led to two overdoses after a grand jury sitting in the U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg.

Kendall Demarko Wysinger, 41, of Manassas is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, one count of interstate transportation for prostitution, one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, which caused the death of another, one count of poindicted, ssession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, which caused the serious bodily injury of another, one count of evidence tampering, and one count of witness tampering.

More from Virginia ABC13 WSET

Ogden Couple Sentenced For Sex Trafficking Charges Following Victim testimony

OGDEN, Utah – After pleading guilty to two counts of human trafficking a piece, Lynnsie Reddish and Terrance Jones were sentenced Monday to a 1-15 year prison sentence.

Reddish and Jones were arrested in July of 2017, and charged with 16 felony offenses stemming from a, “long-term sex trafficking operation that ran out of their residence in Ogden City,” Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes wrote.

From from FoxNews Utah

Sex Trafficking Victim Suing Truck Stops, Hotel For Profiting From Her Suffering

 

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 06:26AM

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) --

A sex trafficking victim from Houston is taking Backpage.com and several well-known truck stops and hotel chains to court, claiming they profited from her suffering.

The alleged victim, identified only as "Jane Doe #1," is suing the classifieds website as well as Hyatt Hotels, Love's Travel Stops and Pilot Travel Centers, among others, in the lawsuit filed Tuesday afternoon.

According to the petition, "Jane Doe #1" is an adult now, but in 2014, she was not even 16 years old and forced into sex slavery. The lawsuit states she was advertised on Backpage.com or trafficked at truck stops and hotels. The businesses sold ads, gas, and hotel rooms and were aware, the lawsuit claims, of what was really happening.

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Fresno Man And Another Plead Guilty To Sex Trafficking Minors

Two men, including one from Fresno, pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple felony charges for sex trafficking of minors.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that defendants Gerald Turner of Fresno and Quinton Brown of Highland in San Bernardino County pleaded guilty to the charges in Tulare County Superior Court.

Read more from the Fresnobee

No Bail For Ex-Death Row Inmate Charged With Sex Trafficking

HONOLULU –  An exonerated death row inmate from Delaware was ordered held without bail Wednesday on a sex trafficking charge in Hawaii.

Isaiah McCoy used force, threats and coercion on young women to make them participate in prostitution, U.S. prosecutors alleged. He needs to be locked up so other victims can safely come forward, Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Early said at Wednesday's detention hearing in Honolulu. He's a danger to the community and to witnesses, she said.

"The nature of the charge involves threats, it involves violence," she said.

FoxNews reports

Michigan Woman Convicted Of Running Online Sex-Trafficking Ring Of Minors

LANSING, Mich. - A Lansing woman was convicted Friday for running a sex-trafficking ring that included minors.
Amber Speed, 40, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of conducting a criminal enterprise for running a sex-trafficking ring composed of minors.

Read more from Michigan WDIV4 News

Third Suspect Arrested In Fayetteville Teen Sex Trafficking Case

FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WTVD) --

Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit have charged and arrested a third suspect in connection with a human trafficking investigation that began in September involving a 16-year-old victim.

 Ashley Skinner, 23, of the 3500 block of Ireland Drive, has been charged with felony promoting prostitution of a minor and felony conspiracy to commit human trafficking of a minor victim.

Skinner was taken to the Cumberland County Detention Center and is being held on a $10,000 secured bond.

A second suspect, Antonio T. McAllister, 33, of the 1900 block of Tryon Drive, was arrested October 11 and and charged with human trafficking a child victim, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, promoting prostitution of a minor, felony conspiracy to commit human trafficking of a minor, second-degree forcible rape, and assault on a female.

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Possible Sex Traffickers Throughout Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) -- Across Kentucky, there's been concern about possible sex traffickers approaching young women including right here in South Central Kentucky...


"Sometimes people aren't as aware of human trafficking especially in their own community you know," said Townley.
Townley is a 15-year-old from Glasgow who was shopping in Kohl's Thursday when she was approached.
"She started asking me like super personal questions that people wouldn't normally ask someone if they're like witnessing to them," explained Townley. Like 'how old are you? Are you here alone? Are you under 18?'"

The woman claimed to be associated with a religious group that believes in God as a female and she invited Townley to a Bible study.

Read more from ABC13 WBKO News