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Sex TraffickingArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking in Sunnyvale, California (2002)

A sex trafficking case from 2002 in Sunnyvale, California, United States. 2 sources on file.

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What happened

David Lee Miller Jr., former Sunnyvale police officer; Sue Yun Song and Roger K. Li, owners and operators of the Crystal Palace; Sang Ye Han and Robert Kwong Wong, owners of Ok Yeo Bong From an Asian Week article: http://asianweek.com/2002_08_09/bay_sextrafficking.html "In this particular raid, FBI officials say that the owners of Crystal Palace Nightclub and Ok Yeo Bong bar in Sunnyvale, Calif., were involved in a sex trafficking ring where immigrant women were forced to have “dates” and sex with customers in exchange for rent, utilities and cost incurred to transport them into the U.S." From an article in the SJ Mercury News: http://wc1.worldcrossing.com/WebX/.ef3dd6b "The bars -- Crystal Palace Nightclub and Ok Yeo Bong -- recruited women from Korea for at least two years, authorities say, paying traveling expenses and getting visas, but then forced the women to repay their debts through prostitution. Patrolman David Lee Miller Jr., who has spent 15 years on the force, allegedly helped the bar owners build their enterprises by warning them of police inspections. Federal court documents say the 38-year-old Morgan Hill resident also helped track down women who skipped out on the clubs without paying back the expenses of bringing them into the country."

Response and intervention

FBI, INS, IRS were all involved. The perpetrators were charged with different crimes; four or the five were convicted and sentenced to jail time: David Lee Miller Jr. was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, sentenced 7 May 2007 to 1 year and 1 day in prison. Roger K. Li was sentenced 11 July 2007 to 24 months in prison for involvement in conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and commit extortion. Sang Ye Han was sentenced in 2006 to 33 months in prison. Robert Kwong Wong was sentenced 11 July 2007 to 24 months in prison for involvement in conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and commit extortion. FBI bust. Perpetrators were arrested and charged, establishments shut down. The 9-12 suspected trafficking victims, most likely all Korean, were held in custody and most like were deported by the INS (information found in Asian Week article linked above). The following organizations offered to work w/INS to provide information, but were turned down: Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (NDSDV) Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO)

Sex Trafficking2009

Santa Clara County, United States, 2009

United States US

Timothy Richardson and Robert Hendricks pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to two counts of human trafficking. Under the plea bargain, Richardson will be sentenced to six years and four months in state prison, and Hendricks will be sentenced to three years. Richardson's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ross McMahon, declined to comment. Hendricks' attorney, Eben Kurtzman, could not be reached for comment. Sentencing will occur on Aug. 28. The Santa Clara Police Department, the FBI, and Santa Clara County prosecutors worked together on this case. The traffickers were charged under state law, which is unique as typically these cases are tried under federal law rather than state law (enacted in California 3 years previously).

2 sourcesArchive 2008–2016
Bonded Labor2009

Buena Vista, California, United States, 2009

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.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016
Sex Trafficking2006

San Jose, California, United States, 2006

United States US

Local law enforcement in San Mateo, FBI, ICE, and the IRS were all involved in this case. The investigation began when someone tried to bribe a San Mateo police officer in connection with a pimping charge. The investigation found that 24-99 women were brought to the United States, where they were employed as prostitutes. The women were rotated on a circuit from San Mateo, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016