Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Members of a prostitution ring are charged with bringing Asian women into the Bay Area from Taiwan and China and forcing them into prostitution. Investigations began approximately a year before the arrests after neighborhood complaints about suspected prostitution activities in a home. The investigation revealed the home to be part of a chain of brothels. Law enforcement estimates that the chain had brought dozens of women into the country. Arrests were made in 10 locations around the Bay Area. Eight people were arrested, and ten women were brought into protective custody. The suspects were charged with conspiracy, pimping, pandering and human trafficking. They were all charged in the Alameda County Superior Court. “The suspects could face federal charges in addition to the local charges because federal agencies were part of the investigation.” (SF Examiner)
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Mahendar "Mike" Singh, 40, and his wife, Helen Jean Singh (née Kearney), 22, are accused in an indictment, filed Dec. 1, 2011 of conspiring to traffic teenage females to provide sex acts to customers in exchange for money and other things of value. Mahendar Singh was arraigned Tuesday and pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in Oakland. Helen Jean Singh's arraignment is set for Dec. 8., 2011 According to the indictment, the defendants recruited teenagers by promising them money, drugs and a "family-like environment." Instead, the couple allegedly maintained control over the victims by using physical force and threats of physical force, and fostering a climate of fear. According to court documents, the defendants advertised their prostitution enterprise, which operated in Sacramento County and multiple Bay Area counties, over the Internet. An affidavit filed in the case alleges the defendants used an Internet website to advertise their victims and employed cell phones and text-messaging to make arrangements with customers. That affidavit states the defendants were arrested Aug. 20, 2011 after the South San Francisco Police Department responded to a motel near the San Francisco airport and found Mahendar Singh with a 19-year-old and two 16-year-olds.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
An April 18, 2011 federal indictment says that Hitesh Vinod Patel, age 27, and his father, Vinod N. Patel, age 60, acting on behalf of Gayatri Investments LLC, helped and allowed members and associates of a criminal enterprise to rent rooms for prostitution at the Travelodge hotel on North Coast Highway in Oceanside. According to the indictment, the Patels arranged to have the participants housed in specific areas and rooms within the hotel so that they were segregated from legitimate customers. According to the indictment, the Patels charged --- and the defendants paid higher room rates --- in exchange for permitting the prostitution activities to be conducted at the Travelodge.The Patels are also accused of warning members and associates of the enterprise about law enforcement activity or inquiries. The operation was run by the Oceanside Crips gang, which included three different gang "sets," authorities said. The sets -- the Insane Crip Gang; Deep Valley Crips; and Crook, Mob, Gangsters -- who have been rivals in the past, worked together to run the prostitution operation, according to U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy. Six others, all women, were charged as associates of the criminal enterprise. The indictment targets not only pimps, but also women known as "bottoms," who federal prosecutors said are the most senior and trusted prostitutes, who help recruit and rein in the junior girls. U.S. Atttorney Laura E. Duffy said prostitutes caught up in the operation were often "traded like property" and beaten by their pimps if they did not do as they were told. Michael Carney, Acting Special Agent in Charge for ICE Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego, said the victims and the gang members were primarily U.S. citizens. An indictment is not evidence the defendants are guilty of the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed by the law to be innocent of the charges until the Government proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Samuel Martinez Gonzalez, 26, of Santa Ana, Calif., was charged in a criminal complaint filed August 15, 2011 in U.S. District Court with transporting minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, one of the teens told investigators that Martinez invited them to go to California to "go to the beach." After arriving in California, the affidavit describes how the defendant took the girls shopping for “hoochie” dresses and high heels for their "job." The affidavit alleges that, in addition to the three Texas teens, Martinez had a fourth minor in his custody who was already working for him as a prostitute. At the time of his arrest, Martinez was accompanied by three females, including one of the teenage girls from Texas. The affidavit states that approximately one hour later, HSI agents and officers from the Orange Police Department located the two other missing teens in a motel room in Orange, California. According to the court document, the girls - who are 15 and 16 years old - told agents they were relieved they had been rescued and looked forward to being reunited with their families. During the probe, investigators found receipts in Gonzalez’s wallet for condoms and empty boxes of condoms in the motel room. Investigators also picked up a call to his cell phone from someone who wanted to arrange sexual services.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
On December 6 , 2011, a federal jury found six members of an Eastern European prostitution ring guilty of various federal crimes, including conspiracy, traveling in interstate and foreign commerce to promote a prostitution business, and using facilities of interstate commerce to promote a prostitution business. In total, the jury convicted these individuals on eighteen of nineteen charges against them. Those convicted were Tatiana Belinschi (26, Moldova), Alexandr Postica (25, Moldova), Saida Babaeva (29, Russia), Aleksandra Liubina (24, Russia), Natalia Fedorova (24, Russia), and Alina Priadko (25, Ukraine). According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, a number of aliens worked together in a commercial sex business that sought to make money by providing sexual services and other services for money in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, and Massachusetts. The above-named individuals were in the country illegally and were not authorized to work during the time periods alleged in the indictment. The sole remaining fugitive on the indictment, Roman Caraiman (24, Moldova), has fled the country and is being sought through an international arrest warrant. Any information about his whereabouts should be communicated to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Jeffrey L. Byrd was investigated for recruiting an 18-year-old prostitute and transporting her to New York, and attempted recruitment a 14-year-old into prostitution. Local law enforcement interceded in the matter and arrested Byrd. Byrd was charged with transportation to engage in prostitution; attempted interstate transportation to engage in prostitution; and attempted interstate transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Byrd entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to over 4 years imprisonment; three years supervised release, and was ordered to pay $600.00 in fines.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Hong Wei, a.k.a. Ms. Chen, 38, from Flushing, NY; Jing Liang, a.k.a. Mike Chen, 31, from Quincy MA; Xiang Hua, a.k.a. Darren Zhang, 27, from Flushing NY; Yu En, a.k.a. Eric Jin, 26, from Quincy, MA; Dong Kai Chem, 41, from Quincy, MA. All were arrested March, 31st, 2010 after a police raid on the Quincy brothel. Two of these men were previously arrested in Aug. 2005 after a police raid on the Peabody brothel run by Ms. Chen & Mike Chen. These traffickers ran several brothels out of various apartments scattered throughout the greater Boston area including Peabody, Quincy, Boston, Wellesly, Newton, Watertown, Somerville, Woburn, Burlington,Medford, Stoneham, & Malden. Most of these brothels have been in operation for at least the past 5 1/2 years. The traffickers enticed Asian women to travel to Massachusettes where they were put to work as prostitutes. They advertised in Chinese language papers in California, New York, & Massachusettes and on Craig's list and in the Boston Pheonix under the female escort section. It is reported that they paid over $13,125 to the Boston Pheonix over a 7 month period. The traffickers transported women by bus to South Station and then by car to various brothels throughout the greater Boston area. The women were lured or tricked into prostitution, being told they would be doing other types of work, and were forced to stay with threats to themselves or other family members and physical abuse if they did not comply with the demands of Ms. Chen. They also forced older women to work as domestic servants in the apartments (brothels) to take care of house cleaning and upkeeping of the apartments and taking care of the younger women as well.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
On November 9, 2011, Kemp Shiffer, 58, of Reno, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben to one count of transporting an individual in interstate commerce for purposes of prostitution. The plea agreement filed in the case states that on about July 25, 2011, Shiffer transported an individual identified as “C.M.,” from California to Nevada with the intent that “C.M.” would engage in prostitution when she arrived in Nevada. Shiffer engaged in coercive conduct in order to compel “C.M.” to engage in prostitution, and Shiffer was the organizer, leader, manager, and supervisor of the criminal activity, which included another participant, identified in the plea agreement as “E.H.”, who helped Shiffer recruit and transport “C.M.” from California to Nevada. As the investigation into Shiffer's dealings continued, Reno PD says that Shiffer retired from the United States Internal Revenue Service years ago but believe he may have been using his IRS badge to further his recruitment efforts into prostitution. His recruiting may go back as far as 10 years. Aside from his stint as an IRS agent, Shiffer was also an accounting instructor at the University of Nevada, Reno. According to Lahontan Valley News Shiffer along with David Houston and John Kirsch applied for a brothel license in 2006 but were denied.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
The Undercover Officer (UC herein) called the phone number provided in the ad at 4:30 PM. The UC spoke with a female. The female on the phone stated that she was just checking in at her hotel and asked the UC to call back in 30 minutes. Officers then contacted the hotel and learned that Sanders and Nicholas had just checked in again. Officers learned that they had rented rooms 216 and 253/4 (a suite). The UC called the phone number in the ad at 5:30 PM and again spoke to the female. The female on the phone stated it was $150.00 for a 1/2 session and $200.00 for an hour. The UC and the female discussed the particular sexual acts included in this price and the female indicated it was "full service." The female indicated her location and told the UC to call back when he was close to get the room number. At about 5:59 PM, the UC called the phone number again and the female stated she was in room 216. As he exited his vehicle, the UC observed a white female, exit room 216 and walk around the corner towards room 253/4. The female stared intently at the UC as he approached the hotel. The UC went to room 216, knocked on the door and victim answered. The UC and victim agreed to exchange money for sexual contact and the UC signaled the arrest team to enter the room. Officers went to room 253/4 and located defendant and other as well as a small child. The room smelled of marijuana. A plastic bag containing a small amount of what appeared to be marijuana was located on defendant.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Three suspects were arrested and charged with kidnapping. During the investigation, police obtained a search warrant for “the room and a 2001 BMW sport utility vehicle, seizing records, cellular telephones, computers and cash. Police impounded the car.” After the arrest, the suspects were held in York County jail on a bail of $100,000. That bail was later lowered to $2500 for the two women and $1000 for the man. “Police say they are exploring charges of aggravated promotion of prostitution.”
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
22-year-old Tynisha Marie Hornbuckle, 25-year-old Tamrell Rena Hornbuckle, 23-year-old Latrelle Alicia Hornbuckle, 24-year-old Cherrelle Elizabeth Hornbuckle, 43-year-old Tammy Rena Brown, and 24-year-old Jacquelin Lanoise Radisha Wade
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
The husband and 3 girls were taken into custody by the police. When questioned, all 3 girls reported that they were being forced into prostitution by the husband and wife. The wife was also later found at the hotel and arrested along with her husband – they were booked into San Mateo County Jail for human trafficking under the agoe of 18, pimping, pandering and conspiracy.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Police entered a hotel room to find a 19-year-old girl in only a bra and underwear. The girl claimed that Armstrong was forcing her to prostitute herself. Armstrong was arrested.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Two Tulsa women say Vincent Broussard, a man from Texas offered them a ride to an east side bar. When they got in the car with him, he did not go to the bar, but instead kept driving, threatening to take the women all the way to Texas. Then he stopped at an RV park and attempted to sell the two women to another man. They were able to flee.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Convicted pimp Anthony "Mack" Terry was sentenced to 20 years in prison April 29, 2011. Terry, whose defense was that he was a drug dealer, not a pimp, was convicted in March 2011 of two counts of promoting the commercial sex abuse of a minor, second-degree promoting prostitution, and witness tampering. King County Superior Court Judge Beth Andrus had just handed down the 20-year prison sentence when the courtroom phone rang. On the line was the teenage victim Terry had pimped out and later asked to lie for him in a series of recorded phone calls he made from inside the King County Jail. "I just want to say I was never a victim, and Anthony Terry was never my pimp," said the woman, whose call was put on the Court's speaker phone. The woman was 18 at the time of the sentencing but was 17 when Terry was twice arrested for pimping her out. Judge Andrus had already heard the woman's denials during Terry's bench trial, but apparently found them unpersuasive. In March 2011, Judge Andrus found Terry guilty of two counts of promoting the commercial sex abuse of a minor, second-degree promoting prostitution, and witness tampering. During closing arguments in March 2011, Prosecutor O'Donnell played a series of recorded phone calls between Terry and the 17-year-old, in which Terry can be heard directing her to post photos of herself online to make money to bail him out and pay for an attorney. O'Donnell also held up a screen shot of Terry's MySpace page, which bore the words "pimp in action."
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Shadina Rice, a 38 year old woman from Tacoma, WA, took in two, 13 year old girls who had runaway from home and pimped them out. She would post pictures of the girls online, and then men would meet her at a doughnut shop and then taken them to an apartment where the girls were. She would then wait in the car till the johns were finished. http://www.ktvb.com/news/regional/Tacoma-woman-used-donut-shop-for-child-prostitution-say-feds-111611689.html http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/09/1457919/tacoma-woman-charged-with-sex.html
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Eric Antwan Bell (37,Tampa) was indicted September 29, 2011 by a grand jury. The indictment charges Bell with four counts of conspiracy to entice a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, four counts of enticing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, three counts of production of child pornography, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Bell, along with a co-conspirator, enticed four minor victims to engage in prostitution. Bell and his co-conspirator lived off of the prostitution proceeds. Bell produced child pornography of the four minors and possessed multiple firearms after being convicted of a felony offense. One of his victims, a 15 year old, told Bell, who identified himself as “Santana”, she was 15. Bell raped her as soon as he got her to his home in the Highland Pines neighborhood near U.S. 41 and Interstate 4, court documents say. He also made her undress, took pictures of her and uploaded them onto Internet sites, advertising her as an escort, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Tampa in January. For the next three weeks, "Santana" raped her daily, videotaped her sexual encounters with adult men and threatened to kill her if she told anyone, the girl told detectives. According to the complaint, she charged about $150 per "date," performed 15 to 20 "tricks" a day and estimated that she handed over $40,000 to $50,000 to the man during the time she lived with him. The girl who told investigators that Bell often wore a gun in his waistband. She said Bell sold oxycodone and marijuana from the home. Authorities did not provide details about how the girl eventually got away from Bell. Investigators serving a search warrant at Bell's home found firearms, ammunition, body armor, and cameras and computers containing pornographic images of the victims, the complaint said.
Sex Trafficking2010
United States US
Tilford Black offered an 18 year old runaway food, shelter, and money. She agreed, and was then forced to engage in sexual acts for money, and hand the money over to Black. Black admitted that he "knowingly recruited, solicited, enticed, obtained or transported the victim with the intent or knowledge that force, fraud or coercion was used to subject her to engage in commercial sexual activity."
Sex Trafficking2010
United States US
In April 2008, a NOLA vice unit was driving around in an unmarked car when Ricky Womack and an "unidentified white female" were seen flagging down cars. They stopped and he offered the girl as a prostitute to the plain-clothed cops for $100. Womack only allowed sexual liaisons to occur in his motel room so that he could protect the girl. The police officers found a "contract" handwritten by the girl in the motel room: 'I do solemnly swear to give Ricky Womack the next five years of my life. I promise never to cheat, lie, or betray him.' The detectives learned the girl was a teenage runaway from Arkansas whom Womack had lured to New Orleans.
Sex Trafficking2010
United States US
The perpetrator plead guilty to one count of sex trafficking. His co-defendant, name unknown plead guilty to involvement with sex trafficking on October 23, 2009.
Sex Trafficking2010
United States US
DOJ Press Release - Feb 3, 2010 ================= Citizen of Mexico Sentenced for Role in Federal Sex Trafficking Conspiracy . http://atlanta.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/at020310.htm . ATLANTA, GA MIGUEL RUGERIO, 28, a Mexican national, lured young women from Mexico with the promise of money and legitimate jobs and then forced them into prostitution and repulsive living conditions. . According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the indictment, and information presented in court: RUGERIO admitted in his plea that from July 2006 to August 2008, he conspired with others to use force, fraud and coercion to cause approximately five female victims to come to the Atlanta area from Mexico and to engage in prostitution for the financial benefit of the members of the alleged conspiracy. . RUGERIO further admitted to transporting a victim to states outside of Georgia, including Alabama and Florida to engage her in prostitution. RUGERIO used false promises of better lives and marriage to lure young, impoverished Mexican women to come to the United States, knowing that he would cause the victims to engage in prostitution upon their arrival. RUGERIO required his victims to engage in commercial sex with many men per night, seven days a week.
Sex Trafficking2010
United States US
The sex trafficking charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The transportation charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000.
Sex Trafficking2010
United States US
Kasiem Brown, 36 years old pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor girl by force, fraud and coercion, and conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license.In the US Camden Court.
Sex Trafficking2010
United States US
From an article in the Seattle Times on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 titled, "Arrest made in prostitution, child-pornography case." The trafficker, Alexander Dalgardno,a 20-year old man from Mukilteo and "convicted child rapist" has been arrested for "allegedly forcing a young woman into prostitution and possessing nude photos of her and a teenage girl." With the assistance of a 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy, the woman was lured through a "social networking site" and was offered a job in "hospitality work." According to the article, after meeting them, they "drove her to Bellevue Square, where they bought her $500 worth of clothes and lingerie. Later, in a hotel room they told her she'd be in the 'escort business'...The young woman wanted to leave but...'They threatened to harm her family and threatened to break her fingers if she did not comply,' a Bellevue detective said." This article also explains that Delgardno raped the woman, and "advertised her as an adult escort on a website and hosted those who replied at the Bellevue hotels...[and]three men had sex with the 18-year-old during three nights in early March, according to the police."