Bonded Labor2009
United States US
A Mexican couple named Paula Luna Alvarez and Carlos Contreras Del Carmen, wealthy restaurant owners in San Jose, CA, allegedly brought in approximately 30 Mexicans over an undisclosed period of time. Mr. del Carmen recruited Mexicans, promising them $500/week to come and work in the United States, but when they arrived, they were forced to live in squalid conditions in the families' garage. They were forced to sell food on the street or work in the restaurants, and were ordered to avoid speaking to anyone and to avoid eye contact. The restaurants also have been a front for money laundering, with thousands of dollars passing through them to Mexico, though little of it ended up with the families of the victims.
Child Labor2009
Uganda UG
When a man returned from a church service to his village in the Bugiri district of eastern Uganda he was told that his three-year old son had been taken away by strangers. "We were looking for my child for hours, but we couldn't find him," he said. "Someone rang me and told me my son was dead and had been left in the forest. I ran there and saw him lying in a pool of blood. His genitals had been cut off, but he was still alive." Organs are in high demand for use in occult rituals.
Sex Trafficking2009
Burkina Faso BF
A recruiter approached a young woman in Nigeria, offering her an opportunity to travel abroad, to Burkina Faso, for a better life. She showed her a passport and assured her she would not need to pay a dime. The offered seemed good, so she traveled to Burkina Faso. On arrival, the recruiter handed them over to a woman who seized their passports, then took her and other girls to a hotel and informed them that they must prostitute themselves in order to survive.
Child Labor2009
Uganda UG
A 15 year old boy was forced by his father to go work for his uncle. His father hoped that it would be a better life for his son. The money the boy made was sent back to his father. He was kept in a small room with 12 other kids. Everyday they were forced to go collect scrap metal from town so his uncle could sell it. One time he failed to meet his quota and was beaten 100 times with a cain and was denied food for 4 days.
Child Labor2009
Uganda UG
A 13 year old boy was promised a good paying job by his aunt but was forced to work as a waiter in her bar for no pay. He ran away from his aunt to the streets and joined a gang. The gang forced him to pick pocket in crowded areas. One time when he didn't meet his quota for the day, he was sodomized by the gang leader.
Domestic Servitude2009
Uganda UG
A 17 year old was taken from her parents by her older sister who promised she would provide her a good education and $15 a month. Instead she was forced to do rigorous house work for no pay. She was often beaten when she messed up.
Sex Trafficking2009
Philippines PH
The Philippine government handed down life sentences to the Swedes on May 6th, 2011. The court also fined the Swedes, Emil Andreas Solemo and Bo Stefan Sederholm, $46,500 (American) each. Three Filipinos were given 20-year jail sentences for helping the Swedes, who had set up the internet and payment systems, to run the business. The Philippine government justified the charge of Human Trafficking because the women were transported from different parts of the Philippines to the site of the exploitation. As of June 1, 2011, Andreas and Sederholm are appealing the ruling.
Sex Trafficking2009
Canada CA
Linh Quy To, 52, has been charged with unlawfully keeping a common bawdy house, trafficking in persons, material benefit from trafficking in persons, conspiracy to commit an indictable offense, possession of property obtained by crime, and living of the avails of prostitution.
CSEC2009
Cambodia KH
" Department of Justice Press Release For Immediate Release August 31, 2009 United States Attorney's Office Central District of California Contact: (213) 894-2434 Three American Men Accused of Traveling to Cambodia to Have Sex with Children Now En Route to United States to Face Prosecution on Federal ‘Sex Tourism’ Charges LOS ANGELES—The first three defendants to be charged under an international law enforcement initiative targeting Americans who travel to Cambodia to sexually exploit children have been removed from that Southeast Asian nation and are expected to arrive here later today to face prosecution in federal court. The charges against the three men are the result of Operation “Twisted Traveler,” an ongoing effort by the Department of Justice and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify and prosecute “sex tourists” who travel to Cambodia to engage in illicit sex with children. The three defendants currently being transported to the United States were previously convicted of sex offenses in the United States. The defendants will be taken into custody by ICE agents when they arrive at Los Angeles International Airport, which is expected to be sometime this afternoon. The three men, who are named in separate criminal complaints filed earlier this year in United States District Court, are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court tomorrow afternoon. Prior to their return to the United States, the men were arrested and detained by Cambodian authorities on charges related to child sexual exploitation. At a news conference this morning, United States Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien and Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton announced the three cases and promised further enforcement actions focusing on Americans who sexually exploit children in Cambodia and other countries. “The men charged in this investigation apparently thought they could pursue their abhorrent desires by leaving the United States to prey on children in another country, but they were sadly mistaken,” said United States Attorney O’Brien. “We are now working closer than ever with officials in other nations and concerned private parties to take every effort we can to identify and prosecute sex tourists, as well as to provide every protection we can to the world's children.” Assistant Secretary Morton stated: “Sexual predators cannot escape justice simply by traveling overseas to exploit, violate and abuse children. Working closely with our partners overseas, ICE will identify people who travel for illicit purposes. We must protect children from sexual exploitation, whether in the United States or abroad. Today's announcement should send a message that traveling overseas to exploit children will not be tolerated and will not go unnoticed.” The Twisted Traveler cases are the result of information provided to ICE by investigators for Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), a non-governmental organization (NGO) established to combat child sexual exploitation, and International Justice Mission (IJM), a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. The three defendants scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles this afternoon are: Ronald Gerard Boyajian, 49, of Menlo Park, California, who was arrested by the Cambodian National Police (CNP) in February. According to an affidavit by an ICE agent, Boyajian most recently traveled to Cambodia a year ago, where he allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a 10-year-old Vietnamese girl in an area outside Phnom Penh frequented by child sex tourists known as “Kilo 11.” Erik Leonardus Peeters, 41, of Norwalk, California, who was taken into custody by the CNP in late February. The criminal complaint accuses Peeters of engaging in sexual activity with at least three Cambodian boys. The affidavit in the case states that Peeters, who arrived in Cambodia in May 2008, paid the minors $5 to $10 for sex. Jack Louis Sporich, 75, formerly of Santa Monica, California and now a resident of Sedona, Arizona, who was arrested by the CNP in February. According to the criminal complaint, Sporich sexually abused at least one underage Cambodian boy after he arrived there in November 2008. According to the case affidavit, witnesses interviewed by APLE stated that Sporich often drove his motor bike through the streets of the city of Siem Riep, dropping Cambodian currency as a way to attract children. The three men are charged under the PROTECT Act, which went into effect six years ago and substantially strengthened the federal laws related to predatory crimes involving children outside the United States by adding new crimes and increasing sentences. Boyajian, Peeters and Sporich each are charged with international travel and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors, a charge that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. The child sex tourism cases announced today are the direct result of the unprecedented cooperation among U.S. authorities such as the FBI and Department of State, the Cambodian government and NGOs to target Americans traveling to Cambodia to sexually exploit minors. In June, a delegation including United States Attorney O’Brien, Los Angeles ICE Special Agent in Charge Robert Schoch and ICE’s Bangkok attaché Barry Tang traveled to Cambodia, where they met with the United States Ambassador to Cambodia, along with the Commander General of the CNP and representatives from APLE and IJM, to discuss the ongoing enforcement efforts. “These new charges clearly demonstrate to the Cambodian people that the United States will not tolerate this type of abuse,” said Carol Rodley, the United States Ambassador to Cambodia. “These cases not only signal to the Cambodian victims our commitment to justice, but they will also act as a powerful deterrent for those individuals who are contemplating traveling to Cambodia to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors.” Operation Twisted Traveler is a collaborative investigative effort coordinated by ICE’s Office of International Affairs that involves the agency’s Attaché Office in Bangkok and the Los Angeles ICE Office of Investigations. ICE has received substantial support with this initiative from the Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. As part of Operation Twisted Traveler, ICE and FBI agents jointly conducted training for organizations in Cambodia involved in the effort to combat child sex tourism, including representatives from the CNP, local Cambodian law enforcement and several NGOs. The training covered all aspects of child sex tourism investigations, ranging from search and seizure procedures and surveillance techniques to the legal authorities contained in the PROTECT Act."
CSEC2009
United States US
Javon Gordan, age 27 Federal authorities allege Gordon, with the help of at least three other people, ran a prostitution ring that operated from as early as September 2007 to July 2008 in Atlantic City and various other cities, including Washington, D.C. and Boston. Gordon allegedly went online to recruit minor girls and adult women from the Atlantic City area.
Sex Trafficking2009
Canada CA
Detective Assistant Superintendent Selebatso Mokgosi from Interpol confirmed to the Sunday Standard that a Motswana woman who had been trafficked to work in a Canadian brothel was recently arrested in Canada without work and resident permits. Detective Assistant Superintendent Mokgosi would not disclose details on the case, saying, “It is too early to reveal the identity of the suspect.”
CSEC2009
Mexico MX
Jose Rosario Irazaba Aldaco, 45, claims to be from Phoenix, Arizona. It is believed that he kidnapped the victims including his two stepsons with the intent to sell them in the States. The boys ages 1 and 4 would be sold for $10,000 and the girls, 19, 15 and 12 would be sold 2 grand a piece to work as prostitutes.
Bonded Labor2009
United States US
Abrorkhodja Askarkhodjaev, 30, Nodir Yunusov, 22, Rustamjon Shukurov, 21, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Mission; Ilkham Fazilov, 44, Nodirbek Abdoollayev, 27, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Kansas City; Viorel Simon, 27, Alexandru Frumasache , 23, citizens of Moldova living in Kansas City, Kan.; Kristin Dougherty, 49, of Ellisville, Mo.; Andrew Cole, 53, of St. Charles, Mo.; Abdukakhar Azizkhodjaev, 49, a citizen of Uzbekistan living in Panama City, Fla.; and Sandjar Agzamov, 27, and Jakhongir Kakhkharov, 29, citizens of Uzbekistan who recently left the United States.
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
Wealthy long Island couple who enslaved two Indonesians. Would beat them with brooms, slash them with knives and make them sleep in the kitchen on mats. actual article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,381243,00.html
Child Labor2009
Ghana GH
A man told the victim's parents he would be involved in his successful sales business. He sold the victim to fishers on Lake Volta, who enslaved him for 8 years From 4 to 8 a.m., he pulled the nets into the boat and unloaded the fish to the riverside. Then spent the day mending nets to prepare for more fishing in the afternoon. First meal of the day was eaten in the afternoon, and the second and last one just before bed. He was frequently beaten, other times he was punished by having the fishermen steer the boat away, forcing him to swim a long distance to catch up with them. Web address(es) of reports www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY .SSLpage.aspx?pid=378&srcid=248
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
ICE was invloved in the case. here is link to the latest article:http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/story/983851.html?storylink=omni_popular
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
Mercedes Farquharson 63, of Union county, considered her self a deity. She convinced a mother she was a religiuos deity and to give her the mother's children.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Jorge Flores Rojas created a shrine to the patron saint of death, said to protect pimps and other criminasl. Each day he prayed to Santa Muerte, joined by the teenaged girls whom he forced to have sex with as many as 20 men a day.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Jorge Flores Rojas, 45, was a notorious sex trafficking operator in Charlotte. Local and federal authorities say Flores' ring brought in hundreds of young women each year to work as prostitutes. Flores, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, picked up vans full of eight to 10 young women each week outside the McDonald's on West Sugar Creek Road near Interstate 85, where other traffickers had brought them. Others, he smuggled in directly from Latin America. Authorities say he brought customers to his apartment off Sharon Amity Road near Eastland Mall, but mostly took the girls to hotels and brothels set up around the city. In November 2007, court documents say, he "sold" at least two teenagers from Mexico to Yaneth Martinez, a D.C. madam, who advertised her services with cards offering "Hair Cuts for Men Only." Martinez worked the girls in the capital city and gave Flores a cut of the profits. A month later, she returned them to him. Their business relationship worked like this for more than a year, federal authorities said.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Justin Cephus, 31, Stanton Cephus, 28, and Jovan Stewart, 30, all of Hammond, Haneef Jackson-Bey, 20, of East Chicago, and Delbert Patterson, 19, of Steger, Ill., have been charged with conspiring to commit and committing sex trafficking and prostitution violations involving 16 minor and young-adult females. From approximately February 2006 until January 2009, the defendants, led by Justin Cephus, who is charged in each of the 21 counts, ran a prostitution business out of his home and various other locations in and around Hammond,” the statement said. “The business, which advertised in the Yellow Pages in Illinois and Indiana under the names ‘Beauty Escorts,’ ‘Beautiful Entertainment,’ and ‘The Finest and the Best,’ provided sexual services to callers from Northwest Indiana and the Chicago, Ill., area.” “Defendants used a variety of tactics to recruit girls and keep them working for the business, according to the indictment, including handing out business cards to pretty girls at retail outlets and telling them that the business involved ‘promotions,’ ‘modeling,’ ‘house cleaning,’ ‘private dancing,’ or ‘massage therapy,’” the statement said. * Source: http://chestertontribune.com/PoliceFireEmergency/7893%20fbi_seeks_info_in_sex_traffickin.htm (Retrieved 7/20/09)
Domestic Servitude2009
Thailand TH
Eighteen year old's mother sold her into marriage to earn profit. After being with her first husband for two months, where she worked as a housekeeper, nanny, and cook, her husband found another wife and her mother took her back. Her mother then sold her again to a different man, collecting her earnings for a second time.
Sex Trafficking2009
Thailand TH
A thirteen year old girl's boyfriend brought her to Chaing Rai. He sold her to a brothel in the Southern Islands of Thailand to work as a prostitute.
Forced Criminality2009
Thailand TH
The Mirror Foundation was given information about the child. They rescued him, and are now helping him get an education at the local school for disabled.
Child Labor2009
Thailand TH
She has the sweetest face, the biggest smile. You’d never know the heartache hidden in her heart. Her name is Manee, just 6 years old when she came into HE this year. She came in so hungry for hugs and love. Both were sadly lacking in her family. She has the sweetest face, the biggest smile. You’d never know the heartache hidden in her heart. She is so tiny – it is hard to imagine someone wanting to beat someone so little, so defenseless. Her mother is not there to defend her as during the day, she is hired to work in someone else’s fields. Manee’s future looked bleak, until HE came to her village. After assessing the needs, after talk and more talk with the mother and stepfather, Manee was released into the care of HE A safe place at last for a tiny little girl with a wounded heart. That’s Manee.