Forced Labor2007
United States US
Jose Hernan Moreno-Sevilla and Alejandro M. Meza prosecutors say Jose Hernan Moreno-Sevilla and Alejandro M. Meza were paid to help a Peruvian man and others obtain illegal visas. The Peruvian man and at least two others were "loaded into a rented truck" in Arizona and brought to Orem to work for Hernan's construction company, court papers show. Each worker reportedly paid more than $10,000 for the move. While living with Hernan, each man worked up to 14 hours daily, over a six day week, earning just $9,500 annually. According to court papers Hernan kept all but $1,000 in wages and told the men they owed him the funds to cover costs related to their "smuggling, housing and transporting." Sources: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705301763/Utah-to-crack-down-on-human-trafficking.html http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2374359
Forced Labor2007
United States US
There was a 3:00 am raid of the Signal International Shipyard worker's trailers by the Signal Security Guards telling everyone they would be deported. A brave worker made a frantic phone call to the New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice because of the incident. Some workers were held hostage in the TV room of the shipyard while all the workers struggled with the idea of suicide rather than returning in debt to their families and facing Indian Aid Debt.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Trevor Jones worked as a landscaper and telemarketer. He was recently prosecuted for his actions with two women whom he met at parties, gave drugs, and then forced them to pay back his "kindness" through prostitution. They had to make at least $150 per event, make at least $1000 per night, and give all the money to him.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
The victim was a 16-year-old girl who ran away from her home in Washington. She arrived in the Bay Area on August 3, 2007. She had met the suspect in MySpace and came to the Bay Area to meet him, but there was no mention of prostitution until after she had arrived. Upon her arrival, the suspect told the victim that she must prostitute herself. According to San Rafael police spokesperson Margo Rohrbacher, "[The suspect] told her that he wanted her to prostitute herself, or his friends would look up her family and hurt them … She would give all her money to him, and he would give her money for food and clothing. She was staying with him at some location in the East Bay." Police found the girl on the street, where she appeared to be looking for sexual customers. They stopped to question her, and she told them her situation. Under their direction, she called the suspect, saying she had a customer waiting and asking how much to charge. The suspect gave her instructions and said he would meet her at the Canal area Burger King to collect the money. Police arrested the suspect when he drove up to the restaurant. Police also found marijuana in his car, which was impounded. The suspect was arraigned on 8/10/2007 on charges of “soliciting for a prostitute, pandering, unlawful sex by fraud or fear, sale or transportation of marijuana and driving with a suspended or revoked license”
CSEC2007
United States US
Sean Jarae Hart, also known as Hush, has been charged in an 11-count indictment with sex trafficking of a child for transporting a young girl across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. Between May 25 and June 5, 2006, Hart drove the young girl to various areas within Seattle and Everett for the purposes of prostitution. Also, from January-April 2006 Hart forced two women to travel between Washington and Nevada, to have them engage in prostitution and take their earnings. He was arrested in Oregan. Also charged in the indictment is Randy Wamon Ivey, who allegedly picked the girl up at Sea-Tac Airport on May 24 had her work for him as a prostitute. An unnamed co-conspirator arranged for the girl to fly from California to Seattle. Ivey is a fugitive.
Sex Trafficking2007
United States US
Trafficker was indicted on June 21, 2007 for leading a human-smuggling ring that trafficked South Koreans into the United States through Canada. He pleaded guilty on April 7, 2008, and admitted that he smuggled between 25 and 99 Koreans into the United States. In July 2009, he was sentenced in a Seattle court to two years in federal prison, but had already served that time while he awaited the outcome of his case in the U.S. District Court. He was also sentenced to two years of supervised release for conspiracy to smuggle and transport aliens into the United States. Prosecutors said they sought an unusually light sentence for Sohn because he cooperated with authorities who were investigating other similar smuggling operations. After Sohn was indicted, he helped agents crack other smuggling rings that had been using the same safe houses as Sohn’s group.
CSEC2007
United States US
Bianchi's case is among more than 50 that have been brought under a largely untested 2003 law that puts Americans accused of preying on children overseas on trial in U.S. courtrooms. Several boys from Moldova were brought to Philadelphia to testify in 2007. They testified that Bianchi assaulted them in small boarding houses where he stayed during his trips. the Moldovan boys testified that Bianchi invited them to have dinner or go bowling with them, and before long made sexual advances. One boy said Bianchi raped him, while another said he was assaulted while he was intoxicated. Another said that Bianchi asked to sleep with him in his bed in his family's small apartment -- and that he fled when Bianchi started fondling him.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
When the victim's grandmother asked for her to be removed because she had run away from home so many times, she was placed in a group home. She continued her pattern of running away. After arrests from prostitution, drugs, and going AWOL from a group home, she was placed in Juvenile Hall. When going AWOl again, she was sent to MISSSEY in Oakland. She was subsequently arrested for being an accomplice to a murder, tried and found guilty. Presejtly she is serving time in prison. She did not identify her pimp's name, and he was not apprehended or tried for any involvement in the murder.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
Juan Balderas-Orosco and Maria Camacho Teran are being charged for transportation for prostitution, importation of illegal aliens and conspiracy to smuggle, transport and harbor illegal aliens. The two were part of prostitution ring from November 2002 to June 2006. They sneaked hundreds of women mainly from Latin America in the U.S. to rotate them among brothels in Austin. Most of the women were illegal immigrants. Survivors claim that all of their earnings were kept.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
The 21-month investigation used confidential informants, court approved wiretaps, and GPS tracking to identify those involved with the sex trafficking ring. Information about the criminal activity first surfaced in April 2004 when the Eastside Narcotics Task Force raided the Apple Spa in Bellevue after determining it was a front for prostitution. Both KANG, JIANG, and ZHU had been involved in the operation of the Apple Spa. ZHU was deported to China as an illegal alien, but quickly returned illegally to the United States. KANG and JIANG failed to show up for deportation hearings. In December 2004, FBI agents in Portland learned KANG had resurfaced there and was operating a brothel. In the midst of the investigation in May 2005, KANG returned to Seattle and opened a brothel. In various conversations with confidential sources or on wiretapped telephone calls, conspirators discussed how the Asian women had been smuggled into the United States. KANG told one confidential informant that women were being smuggled into the U.S. in shipping containers, paying fees to smugglers of as much as $50,000. The investigation determined that some of the women were smuggled into the U.S. by illegally crossing the border from Canada. The women had to pay off their debts to the smugglers by working in brothels in cities across the country. One of the conspirators was recorded in a phone conversation saying she had lost a lot of money when smuggled women fled without working off their debt. Law enforcement was able to track tens of thousands of dollars going from the U.S. to possible smuggling “agents” in China who arrange for the women to be smuggled into the country. The investigation determined women working in the brothels were citizens of China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Laos. The investigation is continuing into the brothel network in other U.S. cities.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
The 21-month investigation used confidential informants, court approved wiretaps, and GPS tracking to identify those involved with the sex trafficking ring. Information about the criminal activity first surfaced in April 2004 when the Eastside Narcotics Task Force raided the Apple Spa in Bellevue after determining it was a front for prostitution. Both KANG, JIANG, and ZHU had been involved in the operation of the Apple Spa. ZHU was deported to China as an illegal alien, but quickly returned illegally to the United States. KANG and JIANG failed to show up for deportation hearings. In December 2004, FBI agents in Portland learned KANG had resurfaced there and was operating a brothel. In the midst of the investigation in May 2005, KANG returned to Seattle and opened a brothel. In various conversations with confidential sources or on wiretapped telephone calls, conspirators discussed how the Asian women had been smuggled into the United States. KANG told one confidential informant that women were being smuggled into the U.S. in shipping containers, paying fees to smugglers of as much as $50,000. The investigation determined that some of the women were smuggled into the U.S. by illegally crossing the border from Canada. The women had to pay off their debts to the smugglers by working in brothels in cities across the country. One of the conspirators was recorded in a phone conversation saying she had lost a lot of money when smuggled women fled without working off their debt. Law enforcement was able to track tens of thousands of dollars going from the U.S. to possible smuggling “agents” in China who arrange for the women to be smuggled into the country. The investigation determined women working in the brothels were citizens of China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Laos. The investigation is continuing into the brothel network in other U.S. cities.
CSEC2006
United States US
Corey Davis was the ring-leader of a sex-trafficking ring that spanned at least three states, and exploited as many as 20 women, including minors one of which was only 12 years old. Davis lured victims to his operation with promises of modeling contracts and a glamorous lifestyle. Davis then forced them into a grueling schedule of dancing and performing at strip clubs in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. When the clubs closed, Davis forced the victims to walk the streets until 4:00 or 5:00 A.M. propositioning customers. The indictment also alleged that Davis beat many of the victims to force them to work for him and that he also used physical abuse as punishment for disobeying the stringent rules he imposed to isolate and control them. The victims earned up to $5,000 a night in these activities, which Davis confiscated and kept for himself. more info at: http://newhaven.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2007/nh031607a.htm
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
The case was investigated by ICE Special Agents from the New York Office of Investigations, with assistance provided by ICE Special Agents from the New Jersey and Mexico City offices, the New York City Police Department, the U.S. Department of State, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and officials of the Mexican Prosecutor General of the Republic.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
In December of 2006, Eagan Detective Kurt Bratulich, who worked as a Police Liaison at one of the victim's schools, learned about the case after a victim confided in him. The victim came forward about the prostitution ring operating out of a townhouse at the time. From the tip, investigators were able to execute a warrant of the townhouse. Unfortunately Reisdorf had already packed up and police were unable to find any useful information. After more interviews from victims, Detective Bratulich was able to build a strong case and by March of 2007, the FBI got involved. Because the internet and the soliciting of juveniles were involved, the investigation turned into a federal case. Reisdorf continued to post services on Craigslist. After more interviews from victims and tracing Reisdorf's ads to her computer, by June of 2007, investigators learned she was securing rooms for service at a Burnsville motel where she worked. Reisdorf was eventually arrested in June of 2007 at her Eagan home when a search warrant was executed.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
There were 31 arrests made, reported by the Associated Press on August 16, 2006, with no details regarding the traffickers, other than the fact that it was connected with a Korean couple in New York City. Some of the charges brought against the 31 suspects include "conspiracy to engage in human trafficking, prostitution, and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens."* *sourced: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208838,00.html
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
The Pacifica Police Department reported that Kwor "Tommy" Chou, 29, of Colorado and Ri Luo, 41, of Oakland were arrested on suspicion of felony pimping, pandering and criminal conspiracy. According to the San Mateo district attorney's office, Luo ran an escort service that was actually a front for prostitution services involving women imported from Korea, China and other countries. Also arrested after an eight- month investigation by federal and state officials were Wai Chong Kong, 38, and his wife, Kit Chi Ho, 43, of Highlands Ranch, both identified as citizens of China. They are each charged with transporting people to engage in illegal sexual activity. The couple allegedly advertised the women's services online. The ads included pictures of nude or scantily clad women and listed prices of $140 for 30 minutes and $180 for one hour.
CSEC2006
United States US
John France Gonzales Age: 23 former pharmacy technician Gonzales met the girl in 2000, when she was 10 years old and living in San Bruno with her aunt, whom Gonzales was dating, according to former defense attorney Jeffery Neubarth. Gonzales molested the girl for the first time when she was 12 and maintained his relationship with the girl for several years while she lived in San Bruno and with her grandmother in Healdsburg. Gonzales allegedly took the girl from her grandmother's home in August 2005 and told her that she could not return, eventually moving her into a bedroom at his parents' Daly City home in October 2005, according to prosecutors. The girl remained with Gonzales until October 2006 when Gonzales' parents' home was foreclosed on, forcing Gonzales to move out and return the girl to her family. A few weeks after returning home, she told members of her family of her ordeal. The victim, who prosecutors say initially went willingly to Gonzales' home, reportedly told authorities she and Gonzales had sexual relations more than 500 times in five counties. Gonzales held the girl captive in the basement of his parents’ Daly City home for 18 months. John Paule France Gonzales smuggled food into his locked room and disposed of the girl's feces in plastic bags to keep her hidden from his parents, prosecutors said. "He used threats to himself, to her and to her family members to either play upon her sympathies or scare her into having sex with him for years," McKowan said. "Did he put her in chains and lock her in a bedroom and never let her out? No," Pitt said. But "because of his perverted sexual assaults on her over time, she was scared. He threatened at various times to kill her, he threatened to kill her family and he threatened to kill himself if she left him."
CSEC2006
United States US
Timothy Houser, 53, was arrested in October 2006 after a tip from the Denver Police Department that Houser had contacted a 16-year-old female who posted an ad in the erotic services section of Craigslist. Detectives said Houser gave the teen directions to his house in Parker, where there was a sexual encounter that he paid for.
CSEC2006
United States US
Victor Diaz – resident of East Boston, (24) and his niece, Evelyn Diaz- resident of Chelsea(21), were charged with conspiring to sex traffic a minor between April 2004 and April 2005. At trial, the government proved that between approximately July 2003 and May 2005, Evelyn Diaz operated an escort service that was advertised in multiple publications and on the Internet. The escort service sent individuals, including minors, on prostitution calls in and around Boston. Victor Diaz assisted in the operation by driving adults and a minor to whom he and Evelyn Diaz are related to prostitution calls. Evelyn Diaz pleaded guilty in January 2007 to two counts of transporting a minor to engage in prostitution and three counts of sex trafficking of children, in addition to the conspiracy charge. On April 27, 2007, she was sentenced to serve nine years in federal http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/May/08-crm-474.html http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/Press%20Releases/DMA%20Diaz%20PR_071106.pdf
CSEC2006
United States US
FBI and Human Trafficking Task Force in Los Angeles accused the defendants of crimes. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement/ U.S. Department of Labor were also involved. Nine defendants have been arrested thus far. One a fugitive until recently arrested on September 15th, 2008. Intervention and investigations began into the ring after one of the trafficking drivers contacted authorities in October 2006.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
Intercepted phone calls and the discovery of police bribes led to the demise of this trafficking ring. A wiretap of a cell phone used by Tae Hoon Kim, a Flushing-based middleman and transported, led to the discovery of the Korean owned brothels. Approximately 67 Korean women were taken into custody to be questioned on whether or not they knew they were being forced into prostitution.
Domestic Servitude2006
United States US
Paula Steltenkamp and Greg Coburn brought over a girl from the Philippines and forced her to work for them. The victim states they didn't abide by the contract she signed, which stated she would work for 40 hours a week for $200. The Victim states she wasn't paid the agreed amount, she was physically assaulted, denied access to a phone, isolated, and threatened with deportation.
CSEC2006
United States US
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hartford and Windsor Police Departments, and the Internal Revenue Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Genco and Andrew J. Kline of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. Shanaya Hicks and nine co-defendants were charged in a 64-count superceding indictment on August 8, 2006. Hicks pleaded guilty on March 14, 2007, to the following charges: two counts of sex trafficking of minors, two counts of sex trafficking of adult women (through force, fraud or coercion), and conspiracy. Eight other charged individuals, including co-defendant Brian Forbes, also pleaded guilty in the case. In June 2007, co-defendant Dennis Paris was convicted at trial for multiple charges including sex trafficking of minors, sex trafficking of adults (through force, fraud, and coercion), conspiracy, use of an interstate facility to promote prostitution, and money laundering. Co-defendant Forbes is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7, 2008, and co-defendant Paris is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2008.
Sex Trafficking2006
United States US
Three people were involved with alleged international human trafficking. Traffickers were accused of charging Korean women thousands of dollars to enter the US. Hundreds of women were coerced into becoming prostitutes to pay off their debts. Sometimes they would be giving as much as $18,000 to the traffickers.