Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Law enforcement had been involved from the beginning of the case. Originally, they were investigating the missing persons report until it became a trafficking case. Both Galindo and Martinez were arrested. Galindo was cited for statutory rape and released. In February, Martinez pleaded not guilty to procuring a child for lewd acts, aiding and abetting statutory rape and child endangerment. On April 7, 2009, Martinez changed his plea to no contest, in exchange for reduced charges of felony child endangerment. Under the conditions of the plea bargain, he will serve up to a year in jail and face deportation after that.
Child Labor2011
United States US
Harrison, 32, who worked for Newham council under the name Charles Pepple, was today convicted by Woolwich crown court of conspiracy to traffick people for sexual exploitation, conspiracy to breach immigration law and false imprisonment. He received 20 years incarceration. The case is the first where children were illegally brought to the UK to be shipped off to work in the sex industries of Spain and Greece. After "grooming", the girls were sent to Britain on false documents and into the hands of Harrison. Harrison imprisoned both girls - aged 14 and 16 - at his home in Stratford, in 2009, before attempting to traffic them to Spain and Greece as prostitutes. The two had been controlled by Juju magic rituals. One of the girls was gagged and bound in Harrison's bathroom. The case is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe to involve a prosecution linked to such a practice. Both girls came from small villages in Edo, Nigeria, and were sold into prostitution with the help of the local Juju priest. Juju is a significant part of West African culture. Police said Harrison was a key player in a sophisticated network of West African people traffickers operating in the UK. After Harrison was convicted, the prosecution told the court: "This has been something of a unique case and ground-breaking. It's the first time there has been a prosecution for trafficking out of the UK.