Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Yan Liu, 48 Ms.Liu spoke by telephone with an Asian woman then in California on several occasions in August, 2007 and persuaded the woman to purchase an airline ticket and travel to Buffalo for the purpose of working in a massage parlor owned or operated by the defendant. She owned or operated Asian Greenday Spa in West Seneca, New York and Rainbow Spa in Amherst, New York. The woman who traveled from California worked in Asian Greenday Spa and performed numerous sexual acts for customers and was paid in "tips" for these services while the parlor's base massage fee was paid over to Ms. Liu.
Forced Labor2007
Jordan JO
The workers went on strike and management took more of the same, above acts to even more oppressive extremes to break the strikers. The strikers appealed to the Jordanian Ministry of Labor and finally was able to get help. After a few months, and after years of abuse, the owner was forced to surrender his factory to the Jordanian Ministry of Labor. An agreement with the Ministry and owners was signed. Part of the agreement, signed on June 6, 2007, called for the new owner of the Cotton Craft Factory to pay every worker months of back wages along with social security payments deducted from the workers' wages by law to be returned to the workers when they leave the factory. The total amount of money due the workers is approximately 460 JD ($648.80). One hundred and thirty-five foreign guest workers at the Cotton Craft factory in Jordan--who were routinely cheated of their overtime pay--have received hundreds of dollars in back wages legally due them. Needless to say, these poor guest workers who never expected to win are not only overjoyed but inspired to continue their struggle for justice.
Forced Labor2007
United States US
Francesco Insolia, the plant manager, Dilia Costa, the payroll manager and Gloria Melo, the office manager of Michael Bianco, Inc. were arrested for forcing illegal immigrants, mostly from Guatemala and El Salvador, to work in harsh conditions for long periods of time without proper payment.
Child Labor2007
Bolivia BO
The Bolivian´s Pastoral Human Movilisation, during 2007 lost the track of 6100 children that have crossed the border ilegally, between Potosí/Bolivia and Jujuy/Argentina.
CSEC2007
United States US
Shaun Leoney, 26, of Dorchester, Mass.; Darryl Tavares, 24, of Revere, Mass.; Eddie Jones, 25, of Roxbury, Mass.; Rueben Porcher, 29, of Dorchester; Aaron Brooks, 23, of Quincy, Mass.; and Trueheart Peeples, 30, of Portland, Maine have been charged with sex trafficking of children, transportation of minors for the purpose of prostitution, and conspiracy. According to the indictment, between approximately February of 2001 and December of 2005, Leoney, Tavares, Jones, Porcher, Brooks and Peeples conspired with each other to transport adults and minors between states for prostitution, assisting each other, and ultimately profiting from each other’s endeavors. The defendants operated in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Massachusetts. The Indictment also alleges that Leoney, Tavares, Jones, Porcher, and Peeples trafficked minors for the purpose of prostitution.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Vanessa Cristina Guedes Lopes, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for bringing aliens to the U.S. illegally, bringing individuals in interstate commerce for prostitution, sex trafficking, and conspiracy. In addition, she has been convicted for making false statements in immigration documents—she will be deported after serving her sentence. Lopes recruited women, advertised them online, and sent them to various cities in Massachusetts. She coerced the women into staying through the use of threats, such as the deportation.
Sex Trafficking2007
Canada CA
According to the Court record, the human trafficking victim was 15 and homeless when Nakpangi forced her into prostitution. He received $360, 000 from her. He led a luxurious lifestyle from the money he made from his illegal activities. He is currently in prison.
Forced Labor2007
Brazil BR
The company has denied abusing workers. It was slapped with a $1.1 million fine and its directors charged with "submitting workers to conditions analogous to slavery." If found guilty, they could be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Justine Alex Reisdorf, a 19-year-old Burnsville woman. Her indictment alleges that between November 2006 and March 2007, Reisdorf operated a prostitution ring. Court documents stated that Reisdorf knowingly employed female students under the age of 18 from Minnesota School District 191 to serve as prostitutes for that business. Reisdorf’s operation was advertised on the Internet, specifically through listings on Craigslist.com. Those listings advertised both adult and minor prostitution services and displayed photographs of the females, along with available services and prices.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
From Marin Independant Journal, article by Gary Klien http://www.masscops.com/forums/cyber-crime/38889-feds-hit-myspace-pimp-suspect-child-sex-trafficking-charge.html "A 32-year-old man accused of pimping a teenage girl in San Rafael after meeting her through MySpace.com is now facing a federal sex trafficking charge. Melvin Parker Jr., a convicted felon from Richmond, could face 10 years to life in prison if convicted of the federal charge of sex trafficking of children, according to a complaint by the FBI. The federal government has an interest in the case because Parker allegedly enticed the victim, a 16-year-old runaway from Washington state, across state lines through MySpace, a social networking site. Federal law prohibits using "force, fraud or coercion" to get a minor across state or national boundaries to engage in a "commercial sex act." Parker, who was arrested in August, has already been charged in Marin Superior Court with soliciting for a prostitute, pandering, unlawful sex, sale or transportation of marijuana and driving without a license. He has pleaded not guilty." "Authorities said Parker put the girl up at the Economy Inn in San Pablo while making her work as a prostitute in Richmond, Concord and San Rafael." According to SF Chonicle, Parker picked up two girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation. http://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2007/10/12/chronicle/archive/2007/10/12/BAHISOPNC.html
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
After San Rafael police arrested Parker, he was charged in Marin Superior Court but the case was dismissed in favor of federal prosecution for Sex Trafficking of a Minor, which resulted in a 130 month sentence (June 2008). US DOJ press release: http://www.justice.gov/usao/can/press/2008/2008_06_18_parker.sentenced.press.html Marin IJ story: http://www.marinij.com/ci_7069141?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com
Domestic Servitude2007
United States US
Enung and Samirah were the 2 domestic workers. On May 13, 2007, the police were called to a Dunkin’ Donuts in Syosset, N.Y., where one of the domestic workers had turned up. Her face was bruised and she wore only pants and a towel. When the Dunkin’ Donuts employees tried to talk to the 51-year-old woman, identified as Samirah — like many Indonesians, she uses only one name — she made gestures of hitting herself and uttered what sounded to them like the word “master.”
Domestic Servitude2007
United States US
Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51, and his wife, Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 45, were each convicted of all charges in a 12-count federal indictment that included forced labor, conspiracy, involuntary servitude, and harboring aliens. They were keeping two housekeeper in their house and paying them only $100-150 a month, all of which was sent back to their families. The women were forced to work 18 hours a day and were subjected to horrible abuses as "punishments" for actions like sleeping late or stealing food from the trash because they were underfed.
Forced Labor2007
United States US
Not Sure.
CSEC2007
United States US
The evidence presented at trial established that in June, 2007, FLINT and co-defendant James Roney brought two victims, a 15-year-old girl and an adult woman from Cleveland, Ohio to Detroit for the purpose of making money through prostitution and striptease dancing, and for the purpose of having sex with them. While in Detroit, defendant FLINT instructed the victims that they would have to engage in commercial sexual acts for money, including sexual intercourse and oral sex. Flint was sentenced with 135 months in prison.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Sept. 2007: Police announced that two women had been arrested for allegedly offering prostitution services out of a massage therapy business, A-Care Health Center in Pacifica. Pacifica Police worked with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the Broadmoor Police Department to execute a search warrant after neighborhood complaints about lewd acts committed at the business surfaced, police reported. Jing Wang was arrested on prostitution charges, and Yu Fen Wang was detained by immigration enforcement officers and charged with immigration violations For original article, see: http://cbs5.com/crime/A.Care.Health.2.459643.html
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Jesus Perez-Laguna was sentenced in Federal Court to 14 years and forced to pay the victim $52,000. Upon serving his sentence Perez-Laguna will be deported back to Mexico and not granted reentry into the United States. Ciro Bustos-Rosales was sentenced to 70 months in prison, ordered to pay restitution, and ordered to comply with similar terms and conditions of release as those included in Perez-Laguna’s sentence.
Bonded Labor2007
United States US
Yes, federal state and local authorities conducted an investigation into possible labor and trafficking charges at a Chinese restaurant. As a result following the raid the restaurant was closed and authorities have declined to release any other information.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Police are aware of 8 massage parlors in and around the Denver Metro area. This particular store was closed and the couple are awaiting charges.
Forced Criminality2007
United States US
Michail Aronov, 34, a Lithuanian national, was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison for his role as a ringleader in an involuntary servitude and money laundering conspiracy. He was the last of nine convicted defendants to be sentenced for crimes associated with this conspiracy. He was convicted for conspiring to violate the civil rights of Eastern European women by forcing them to work as exotic dancers in Detroit-area strip clubs, as well as immigration and money laundering conspiracies. Aronov was also ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution to the victims. The court had previously ordered Aronov’s henchman, Aleksandr Maksimenko, to reimburse the dancers a total of $1,570,450. The court also ordered that $537,043 in cash seized from Maksimenko’s home and safety deposit boxes, as well as about $30,000 worth of jewelry, be used to satisfy a portion of the restitution award. Maksimenko received a 14-year prison sentence. His father, Venyamin Gonikman, remains a fugitive. Three other individuals were also previously sentenced as a part of this conspiracy.
Bonded Labor2007
United States US
Lassissi Afolabi, 45, Akouavi Kpade 40, and Dereck Hounakey, 31, are Tongolese Nationals who are being charged with trafficking approximately girls and women from Togo to work in their hair salon in New Jersey. The girls posed as relatives of visa lottery winners in Togo. The traffickers made their victims work six to seven day a week, up to 14 hours a day, braiding hair. The girls were beaten repeatedly and if they complained, the traffickers threatened to send them back to Togo. The traffickers lured the young women with the promise of well paying jobs in America.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
This case is the result of an investigation by ICE, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the St. Paul Police Department, with the assistance of the police departments from Minneapolis, Richfield, Austin and West St. Paul. The investigation was also aided by the Gerald D. Vick Human Trafficking Task Force. Hisep-Roman was sentenced to 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S.
Sex Trafficking2007
Canada CA
Tonya made a decision to quit cocaine on her own. We are not sure whether the presence of caring friends at church which she attended or simply a growing awareness through the new associations she was making led her to quit. She says she wanted to do what God wanted her to do. She has said that she wants to become an Orthodox Christian. Tonya has fetal alcohol syndrome with some brain damage. He ability to follow through is limited.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Seven women were arrested for prostitution in an undercover operation in Snohomish County. None of the pimps were arrested. Police noted that three of the girls arrested were from out of state and the others live in Seattle and Tacoma. Although no mention was made of any male arrests, the article said that earlier that month police had arrested several men in a "john" sting, targeting customers. In both cases no traffickers were found/arrested.