Germantown, Maryland, United States
In 2006, Montgomery County Police identified the crime of human trafficking as an emerging issue of concern in the county. Vice and Intelligence officers in the Special Investigations Division took special training to focus on combating this crime, and have been in the forefront of investigating these crimes. In February there were three incidents where individuals who have committed crimes of human trafficking in Montgomery County, and in one incident throughout the Washington Metropolitan area, were arrested by Montgomery County Vice officers. On February 16, 2010, Rodney Hubert, age 34, of the 400 block of Vanderbilt Avenue in New York, was arrested and charged with the human trafficking of a juvenile for prostitution. This long-term investigation revealed that Rodney Hubert employed numerous individuals at his internet website design company in New York City who assisted in transporting a 15-year-old female from New York to Montgomery County, for the purpose of prostitution. The victim was recruited by the organization with the promise that she would travel to Maryland for a modeling photo shoot. Once in Maryland, the organization advertised the juvenile on Craigslist for prostitution. Also arrested were Christy Elmes, age 23, of the 3800 block of Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York; and Katherine Mateo, age 19, from the 200 block of Bethel Park Boulevard in the Bronx, New York. Also arrested in Georgia was Tomika Powell, age 21, of the 300 block of Geary Drive in Montgomery, Alabama; who was also wanted by the U.S. Army for desertion. All were charged with human trafficking, sexual abuse of a minor, and second-degree child abuse. On February 24, 2010, Deangelo A. Bynum, age 24, of the1000 block of 16th Street in northeast Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged for solicitation of a minor for prostitution. He attempted to recruit a 16-year-old female to work for him as an escort/prostitute. Bynum attempted to recruit the victim who he found on Facebook, through multiple telephone, e-mail, and text messages. Bynum insisted on photographs and a “finder fee” from the girl in order to work for him because she was considered “high risk” because of her age. Bynum was arrested after he traveled to Gaithersburg to meet the girl and collect his fee. On February 26, 2010, Arash Koraganie Ghulam Abbas, age 31, of the 17800 block of Cormorant Lane in Germantown,was arrested and charged with multiple counts of human trafficking. Abbas operated an internet escort service that was a front for prostitution and human trafficking. This organized crime business employed many women, recruited from internet social websites, and used extortion to force compliance. The business operated throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It generated thousands of dollars of tax- free income a week. This long-term investigation which began in October of 2009, also identified and arrested several individuals associated with the organization. Montgomery County Police received assistance in this investigation from Arlington County and Fairfax County Police. The sexual solicitation of a minor for prostitution and the human trafficking of a minor for the purposes for prostitution are felonies in the state of Maryland and also violate federal laws. The public is reminded that prostitution is a crime and the human trafficking of a minor for prostitution (anyone under 18 years) has even more serious criminal ramifications. In some cases, even if a suspect claims that he did not knowingly engage a minor in prostitution, simply the fact that the victim is under 18 years of age is all that is necessary to be prosecuted for human trafficking. The Maryland State Legislature is currently considering bills that would increase the penalties for human traffickers and seize the assets of organizations that engage in this illegal activity.