CSECArchive 2008–2016

CSEC in Fresno, California (2009)

A CSEC case from 2009 in Fresno, California, United States.

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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?

What happened

" Officers busted a massage parlor at Fresno and Gettysburg this week, and found evidence that young immigrant women from China may have been forced to work as prostitutes at the New China Massage parlor at Fresno and Gettysburg. We've been told it was a busy place, with customers coming in every half an hour, day and night. With different groups of young Asian women providing massages, and police say prostitution. By the signs in the window it looks like a place to get a foot massage. But Fresno Police believe this place was selling sex. Numerous complaints and tips that there may be illegal activity going on, specifically prostitution," said Jeff Cardinale, Fresno Police Spokesperson."

Response and intervention

"Fresno police are conducting an extensive investigation. They arrested one owner of this business, and one worker. They are looking for another girl, but witnesses say there has been a constant turnover of Chinese girls here every week for months. Witnesses also say they roamed the parking lot trying to attract customers. But Police believe most didn't volunteer to be prostitutes."

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Forced Labor2023

Fresno, California, United States, 2023

United States US

H-2A farmworkers employed by Rancho Nuevo Harvesting in California, including Fresno County, experienced violations involving substandard housing, inadequate or spoiled food, unsafe transportation, failure to pay required transportation and subsistence costs, and failure to meet the H-2A three-fourths pay guarantee.

1 source

Child Labor2011

Stratford, England, United States, 2011

United States US

Harrison, 32, who worked for Newham council under the name Charles Pepple, was today convicted by Woolwich crown court of conspiracy to traffick people for sexual exploitation, conspiracy to breach immigration law and false imprisonment. He received 20 years incarceration. The case is the first where children were illegally brought to the UK to be shipped off to work in the sex industries of Spain and Greece. After "grooming", the girls were sent to Britain on false documents and into the hands of Harrison. Harrison imprisoned both girls - aged 14 and 16 - at his home in Stratford, in 2009, before attempting to traffic them to Spain and Greece as prostitutes. The two had been controlled by Juju magic rituals. One of the girls was gagged and bound in Harrison's bathroom. The case is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe to involve a prosecution linked to such a practice. Both girls came from small villages in Edo, Nigeria, and were sold into prostitution with the help of the local Juju priest. Juju is a significant part of West African culture. Police said Harrison was a key player in a sophisticated network of West African people traffickers operating in the UK. After Harrison was convicted, the prosecution told the court: "This has been something of a unique case and ground-breaking. It's the first time there has been a prosecution for trafficking out of the UK.

4 sourcesArchive 2008–2016

Domestic Servitude2009

Pasidena, California, United States, 2009

United States US

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement A Mexican housekeeper claims a married couple paid coyotes to smuggle her into the United States, then held her captive for 6 years and put her to forced labor for more than 100 hours a week in their home. She seeks damages of $125,800 in back wages, and punitive damages for slavery.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016