Sex Trafficking2008
United States US
A Thai woman, Chomphoonut Dongrid, was arrested for operating brothels in Kirkland, Bellevue and SeaTac, Washington. I.C.E. arrested her on a charge of conspiracy to transport individuals in furterance of prostitution. She is accused of arranging sham marriages for the purpose of bringing Asian women to work in the sex industry. Dongrid ran brothels at 1942 Market St., Kirkland, 16407 Lake Hills Blvd., Bellevue, and 3312 S. 192 St., SeaTac. To staff the brothels, she is accused or recruiting women in Bangkok, Thailand. On one occasion in 2006, Dongrid sent a co-conspirator to Thailand to marry a womanb through a sham arrangement so she could gain entrance to the U.S., court documents say. When the woman arrived in Seattle, Dongrid told her she owed a debt of about $25,000 for her immigration papers and for travel to the U.S. A month later, she began working for Dongrid, as a masseuse and was required to provide sexual services. In June, 2006, a second woman answered a newspaper ad to work as a masseuse and traveled to Seattle from California, where she too, performed sexual services for money. In June 2002, a third woman traveled from Bangkok to Seattle and worked for Dongrid as a household servant and prostitute. If found guilty, Dongrid faces 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She is a citizen of Thailand and a legal, permanent resident of the U.S.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
Doanld Kerry Frey, 36, of South Lake Tahoe, Ca., and Nguyen Tran Nguyen, 26, were arrested on charges of conspiracy to transport prostitutes across state lines and money laundering after a two year investigation into several King County tanning salons. Prosecutors allege Frey, through a holding company called Crown Venture Capital, owned the now-closed Aloha Tanning Resort in Renton, the Avalon Spa on Aurora Avenue North in North Seattle, and the Mailbu Tanning Spa in Tukwila. They alleged the salons operated as brothels for itinerant prostitutes traveling a circuit between the West Coast and Texas. Nguyen Tran Nguyen, according to the indictment, had booked more than 70 airline tickets to bring prostitutes into Seattle since early 2007. Once here, they work at the spas for several weeks and then move on. The women, mostly Asians, would advertise on a variety of Web sites. Over the past two years, several undercover officers and informants have visited the spas and have been offered sex for money, acording to the indictment. The warrant says Fret and a business partner had been under investigation for prostitution in Southern California as well.
CSEC2011
United States US
Tramble first came to the attention of law enforcement in or about August 2010, when Kent Police Department officers encountered a juvenile female working as a prostitute. This victim told police how Tramble beat and coerced her, and how he advertised her as a prostitute on Backpage.com. Further investigation by law enforcement revealed that Tramble forced numerous women to work for him as prostitutes. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Innocence Lost Task Force, which is composed of local, state and federal law enforcement officers who investigate juvenile prostitution. Key assistance was provided by the Kent Police Department.