Domestic Servitude2009
United Kingdom GB
A woman approached parents in Africa and told them she would find their daughters a home and a better life in London. She single-handedly escorted the six of them on a flight from Africa to the UK. On arrival in the UK, she loaded them into a waiting van and dropped them off at various locations around the city. The new guardians who received them paid the trafficker some money. One of the victims worked as a household servant to a married couple with a young son. Her duties ran about 12 hours a day, but she was sometimes wakened after hours to do more chores. If she didn’t hear her master’s call, the woman of the household would pour cold water on her face while she was sleeping. She was verbally abused and beaten for very slight offenses, and sent to clean the homes of friends. Her identification papers were confiscated.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Jodi went to the FBI in 2003. On March 5, 2007, Marcus was convicted of forced labor and sex trafficking, but cleared of obscenity. In a 42-page ruling, U.S. v. Marcus, 05-CR-457, Eastern District of New York Judge Allyne R. Ross upheld the conviction. Ross stated that there was a difference between consent and abuse in such relationships. She also ruled that the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 could be interpreted to apply to domestic relationships. On September 7, 2007, Marcus was sentenced to 9 years in prison. On August 14, 2008, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Marcus' conviction and ordered a retrial because the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act was used to prosecute him for events before the law was in place. In July 2009 the Department of Justice Appealed the 2nd circuit courts ruling to the Supreme Court and in October 2009 the Supreme Court agreed to review the prosecutions appeal. Arguments will be held early in 2010.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
On April 11, 2006, after a multi-agency investigation by ICE, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and the LA County Sheriff’s Department, agents conducted a raid of eight locations, including the brothels and homes of the suspects. Mao, Lutt, and Johnson were arrested on April 11, 2006, on a 40-count indictment. Fields remained a fugitive, but was found and arrested on a later date. On August 2, 2007, Mao pleaded guilty to two felony counts--conspiring to use interstate commerce to promote prostitution, and using the proceeds from the brothels to purchase real estate, including four motocross tracks for her motocross company, MX Oasis. Mao will serve 18 months in federal prison and forfeit $10 million worth of real estate. Fields pleaded guilty to two felony counts—conspiring to use interstate commerce to promote prostitution, and conspiring to engage in money laundering. Johnson pleaded guilty to one felony count of money laundering.
Child Labor2009
Uganda UG
The girl' aunt took her to Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL).
CSEC2009
United States US
Kenny King, aka "Country Cane" hair dresser, recently moved from Alabama to Madison. He recruited an underage girl to engage in prostitution on multiple occasions in Madison, Waunakee and Sun Prairie. He has denied having any contact with the victim. Was arrested on charges of trafficking a child, 2nd degree sexual assault of a child, physical abuse of a child, and kidnapping.
Sex Trafficking2009
Spain ES
23 suspects are charged with human trafficking. Women were brought over from Nigeria to Spain. Forced them into prostitution with threats of Voodoo curses.
CSEC2009
South Africa ZA
A woman in the Eastern Cape offered to find work for 17 year old Sindiswa and 15 year old Elizabeth. After driving them eight hours north to Bloemfontein, the recruiter sold them to a Nigerian drug and human-trafficking syndicate in exchange for $120 and crack cocaine. "[The recruiter] said we could find a job," Sindiswa recalled, "but as soon as we got here, she told us, 'No. You have to go into the streets and sell yourselves.' " The buyer, Jude, forced them into prostitution on the streets of central Bloemfontein for 12 straight hours every night.
Child Labor2009
Sierra Leone SL
Twenty-two children, aged 4 to 16, were trafficked to the United States allegedly under the auspices of ‘Help A Needy Child International (HANCI), which operates an orphanage and a home for destitute children in Sierra Leone’s northern town of Makeni. During Sierra Leone's civil war, parents placed their children in Cherith orphanage, operated by HANCI, in Makeni and then were flown to the U.S. through neighboring countries (Ghana, Guineau) for the purposes of adoption. It is allegated that the accused traffickers established their organization under the HANCI name; however, HANCI states that they do not have any affiliation with them. Maine Adoption Placement Service (MAPS) in the United States confirmed that they received 29 children from Sierra Leone via the accused traffickers. However, they did not know that the children were not orphans.
Domestic Servitude2009
South Sudan SS
The Khartoum government of Sudan raided villages in southern Sudan and Arabs from northern Sudan enslaved southerners. The Khartoum government of Sudan repeatedly raided the villages of the Shilluk Kingdom of southern Sudan. Two of the victims friends were killed in the raids. Being a child of about six, the victim did not understand what was happening, he and four friends fled to the bush. One, a woman, was not able to keep up because she was pregnant. That night, she was killed and eaten by wild animals. After that attack, the family moved to Malakal. The government raided them again there, and he was captured and enslaved by an Arab man. The town where he was sent to serve his master was predominantly Arab, making it very difficult to escape. He claims that he and the other slaves were treated like animals.
CSEC2009
Eswatini SZ
Victim was alone at home when a woman came, posing as her "aunt". She said 'Come, let's go to my house', and the victim refused, but she was threatened with death and abuducted. She was brought to Barberton. The woman forced her to do household chores and hard labour. She was also repeatedly raped during her second year of captivity.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Uche Ifedikwa, 28, of Hyde Park was prostituting females out of the Super 8 on Brown Avenue in Manchester, NH using craigslist.org. Police said Ifedikwa was using hotels in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachussetts. They are certain that an 18 year old female was being prostituted, and suspect that a girl as young as 12 was also being prostituted.
CSEC2009
Philippines PH
Senior State Prosecutor Deana Perez of the Department of Justice filed charges of qualified human trafficking against Reci, Manansala, and a John Doe who fled during the raid. Amelia Tria-Infante meted out the penalty of life imprisonment to Police Officer 2 Dennis A. Reci and his co-accused Feliciano Manansala after finding them guilty of qualified trafficking, the gravest offense under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act 9208
Sex Trafficking2009
Argentina AR
Victim was picked up by a man claiming to be her "cousin". Then sent to a brothel.
Forced Labor2009
Zimbabwe ZW
The accused trafficker is the Security Defense Forces of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe National Army has assumed control of the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields in Manicaland. Senior army officers are said to be engaged in the illegal mining of diamonds in the area. Witnesses say the soldiers regularly conscript both children and adults as forced labour to mine diamonds illegally in the controversial Marange diamond fields. Many of those forced to work on the diamonds fields have reported being beaten up and tortured by the soldiers.
Sex Trafficking2009
Italy IT
The arrests follow a police bust of a drug trafficking network in April, in which drugs were smuggled from Madrid in Spain to the Italian regions of Piedmont and Marche by using drug 'mules', who were often the women forced into protitution. The suspects were arrested.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Police investigation led to the intervention and arrests. From the article: "TBO.com Published: May 28, 2009 Pinellas County sheriff's detectives continue to investigate a human trafficking ring and on Thursday announced the arrest of Roosevelt James "Pudgie" Wade, 31, 1910 Cobb Drive in Marietta, Ga., Wade was charged with one count of human trafficking and remained in the Cobb County Jail in Georgia on Thursday, according to local authorities. Since the initial arrests of three men on May 10, detectives say they have talked to additional victims and witnesses and more charges may be filed. In all, six men have been charged. This week, prosecutors dismissed nudity charges against two dancers at the Vegas Showgirls nightclub because they might be victims of the human trafficking ring, they said. The women had been charged with violating a law that prohibits nudity in an establishment that serves alcohol. The Tribune is not using their names because they are alleged to be the victims of sex crimes. Court documents say female victims were transported from a house in Treasure Island to nude dance clubs - including Vegas Showgirls at 10570 Gandy Blvd. - where one woman was forced to have sex with men, documents say.
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
What is known about the trafficker? Her parents could not send her to high school, so she lived with an old lady and worked for her. She was supposed to get to go to school, but that never happened. After a year, the old lady told her she knew someone who could offered her an education in US in exchange for some baby sitting work. At first her father refused, saying it was too far away, but she convinced him, insisting this was her dream come true. They told her she would need to wait till the next term to start school, but a whole year went by and they only said they were still thinking about it. Then they starting saying that just bringing her to America was enough. Later they sent her two days a week to a free class to prepare for the GED. For five years, from the time she was 13 till she was 18 years of age, she worked up to 20 hours a day, usually 5 a.m. to midnight, every day of the week without a day off. She did housework, cooking and laundry and ironing. She was not permitted to make or to receive calls. She wrote letters to her parents but never received any back. She never received any pay at all. She was told money was being sent back home to her family, which was not true. She was denied any contact with her parents, using the excuse that they were trying to get in touch with them.
Child Labor2009
Uganda UG
The girl's neighbor referred her to Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL).
Child Labor2009
Uganda UG
A social worker brought the boy to Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL).
Child Labor2009
DR Congo CD
A ten year old boy was forciby abducted by the RCD militia from his home in Masisi Territory, RD Congo. For five years he was forced to fight on the front lines. More information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6d_85gjRuo
Child Labor2009
Uganda UG
Two men from the same village kidnapped an eighteen month old baby girl and used her for eighteen months for ritual purposes in a traditional shrine. They or the shrine later discarded the child in a tightly tied bag, but she was discovered and rescued at near the point of death. The two men then appeared to threaten the foster family, which led to their apprehension.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Mark Burns, 48 was indicted by the Carroll County Grand Jury on two more counts of Aggravated Rape in addition to his previous charges of 10 counts of Aggravated Statutory Rape, 5 counts of Rape, 4 counts of Aggravated Rape, 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, 1 count of Trafficking for Sexual Servitude and 1 count of Evading Arrest. He also previously violated his parole on three counts of Attempted Murder. Burns’ girlfriend, Lindsey Marie Tutor, 26, of Lexington, TN was also involved in abusing the victim with Burns. She was charged with 6 counts of Statutory Rape, 6 counts of Rape and 4 counts of Aggravated Rape. The charges stemmed from one victim who was repeatedly abused in 2008, but additional victims came forward after TBI arrested Burns in January 2009.
CSEC2009
United States US
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Memphis Police Dept. and the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. The case was prosecuted in US District Court in Memphis.The plea was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King and U.S. Attorney Lawrence Laurenzi. Fox faces 10 years to life in prison. He could also be fined $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2009. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Steve Parker and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Jim Felte. Sentencing has been postponed to July 9, 2009.
Forced Labor2009
Mexico MX
Mexico City's attorney gerneral, Miguel Angel Mancera reports that the victims ranged from 14 to 70 years old. Some were tortured, some victims also suffered sexual abuse, some had serious wounds, some even had fractures. All of the victims were suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition. Some were taken to a hospital. The captives, some of whom speak only indigenous languages and no Spanish, were locked in the building, which had bars on the windows and a fence outside, he said. They made handbags and clothespins and were not paid. Their only daily meal consisted of chicken legs and rotten vegetables, Mancera said. "The vast majority of the food we found was spoiled," he said. Video of the inside of the building showed filthy and crowded living conditions. The men and women worked 8 a.m. to midnight and were given only a half-hour food break. They were not allowed to go to the bathroom, and many soiled themselves, officials said.