Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Mitchell faces charges that could land him in prison for life, including two counts of human trafficking, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, racketeering, counts of prostitution, felonious assault and felony firearms. The specific charges are: • Two counts of Human Trafficking - Threats of Physical Harm Causing Injury (Involving Criminal Sexual Conduct), a felony punishable by life in prison; • One count of Criminal Sexual Conduct - First Degree (Personal Injury), a felony punishable by life in prison; • Two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct - First Degree (Relationship), a felony punishable by life in prison; • One count of Conducting Criminal Enterprises (Racketeering), a 20-year felony; • Two counts of Prostitution/Pandering, a 20-year felony; • Two counts of Prostitution - Accepting Earnings, a 20-year felony; • One count of Felonious Assault, a four-year felony; • One count of Felony Firearm - Second Offense, a 5-year felony; and, • One count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, a 5-year felony. A Michigan law banning human trafficking was strengthened in 2010 and went into effect in April 2011. The changes include adding trafficking to the list of offenses include under the state's racketeering law. It authorizes additional compensation for trafficking victims and stronger penalties.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Alarcon Allen Wiggins, 43, was arrested on October 12, 2011, along with nine other Baltimore residents, who are charged with one count of transportation for prostitution and one count of coercion and enticement. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in El Paso on October 5, 2011 alleges that since December 2009, the defendants, aided and abetted by one another, knowingly transported individuals in interstate commerce, as well as enticed individuals to travel in interstate commerce, to engage in prostitution. Information provided during the detention hearings in federal court in Baltimore revealed that the defendants, as directed by Wiggins, recruited and transported several females to El Paso and other locations in order to engage in prostitution. In addition, the defendants confiscated all of the proceeds from the prostitution activities as well all identification documents and personal communication devices, namely cell phones and laptop computers, in order to keep their victims from fleeing or seeking help. Other defendants arrested include: 20-year-old DeAngelo Perry Smith (aka “D-Lo“); 23-year-old Deyonta Thompson (aka “Wezz Fresh“); 18-year-old Marc Corey Williams (aka “DJ Yung Rock,” and “J-Rock“); 28-year-old Martes Milton Jackson (aka “Tuesday“); 25-year-old Shelby Nicole Smith (aka “Bebe“); 30-year-old Roxanne Michelle Mitchell (aka “Nakira,” “Foxy,” “Roxy,” “Mama,” and “Cherish“); 26-year-old Amanda Gayle Darbonne (aka “Kristale,” and “Kristal“); 24-year-old Holly N. Reemer (aka “Amira“); and, 22-year-old Brandi L. Minnich (aka “Natasha“). Wiggins has an extensive arrest record in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, records show. He's been convicted three times since 1994 of misdemeanor theft and twice of drug possession, including marijuana. His longest stint in jail was 90 days, court records show. As of November 17, 2011, seven of 10 members of the El Paso ring that authorities say forced women into prostitution will be re-arraigned after a grand jury returned a superseding indictment in the case. The accused ringleader, Alarcon Wiggins, 43, and nine others are charged with sex trafficking induced by force, fraud or coercion and conspiracy to transport for prostitution. One of them has already been re-arraigned and two others remain in Baltimore. Authorities say Wiggins, a self-proclaimed recording artist, used his ties to the music industry to entice women to move to El Paso and then forced them into prostitution. The indictment alleges the defendants took the women's earnings, documents and cell phones so they couldn't seek help.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
A 12 year old girls, was abducted from Washington , DC and taken to Atlantic City, N.J., to work as a prostitute. According to trafficker’s plea agreement, he took her there for a weekend where he had her work as a prostitute and taking all the money she earned. The girl had been reported missing on May 26, 2010. The girl was rescued on June 7, 2010, from a Laurel motel room by the task force after she called a relative when the trafficker was out. She told police that the trafficker had said they would have sex when he returned. The trafficker, who was arrested when he returned to the motel, initially claimed he thought the girl was 22 and denied having sex with her. He later admitted that he picked her up on the street in Washington and paid her for sex in the back seat of his car. He recruited her to work for him as a prostitute and then drove her to Atlantic City, where she performed multiple sex acts with adult males, according to his plea agreement. (US district judge) A federal judge in Baltimore has sentenced to a prison for transporting the girl across state lines to engage in prostitution. He was to serve 121 months in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release. The trafficker pleaded guilty in March. On his release from prison, he must also register as a sex offender where he lives, works and goes to school.
Sex Trafficking2011
Australia AU
He recruited Thai prostitutes and brought them to Australia on false pretences. The women went over to Australia knowing that they were going to be prostitutes and they agreed to come since they wanted to make money for their children in Thailand to give them a better life. He earned up to $1000 a day from the women and only gave them $20 for their expenses and use of a room. The women had to work whether they wanted to our not and do things that they did not feel comfortable doing, he would became verbally abusive towards them and threatened them that he was their visa sponsor and they could not leave. He deceived them about the amount of hours they would work and how much money they would earnHe pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking, it totally he received five years for human trafficking, with 22 months non-parole period. http://www.law.uq.edu.au/documents/humantraffic/case-reports/dobie.pdf
Sex Trafficking2011
Guatemala GT
An eight year old girl from El Salvador was sold into slavery by her parents. The men who purchased her brought her to Guatemala where she was forced to work in a brothel.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
The 27 year old trafficker was arrested in July 2011 on bribery of a law enforcement officer, procuring for prostitution a minor under 18 (2 counts), sex trafficking (2 counts), lewd and lascivious battery (3 counts) and unlawful sexual activity with a minor (2 counts). The 25 year old police officer was charged in July 2011 with sexual battery by a law enforcement officer, lewd battery and official misconduct. He resigned from his position as a law enforcement officer the same day as he was arrested.
Sex Trafficking2011
Japan JP
After having sex at a hotel with the girl, he allegedly hit her over a money problem. He was arrested for battery, and the cops wound up finding provocative and illegal images on his mobile phone and personal computer. They were able to identify one middle school girl and another eight girls from high school. He took shots of three of them while engaged in actual sex acts. This led to an additional citation of Child prostitution.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
The Homewood Police Department investigated the crime after a referral from DHR. The police found that the child in question had been forced by the two traffickers to engage in sexual activities with a 36 year old man. The mother and grandmother arranged for the man to meet the child in a motel room. The US Marshall Service Fugitive Task Force arrested the man charged with the molestation of the child in question. The two traffickers were also arrested by the Homewood Police Department. All three perpetrators were charged with human trafficking, sodomy, and sexual abuse of a child under 12. Sources: http://birmingham.myfoxal.com/news/crime/two-women-wanted-sodomy-prostitution-child/72404 http://www.myfoxal.com/story/14368591/another-suspect-arrested-in-homewood-human-trafficking-case?redirected=true
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
30-year-old Jerald Bland, aka “Moe Betta,” was charged by a federal grand jury with sex trafficking of two minors and one adult, as well as transporting one adult and one minor for the purposes of prostitution, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced on October 2, 2011 The five-count indictment returned by the grand jury today, alleges that beginning in March 2010 through June 2010, Bland used force, fraud, or coercion to cause two minors and one adult female to engage in commercial sex acts. Bland is also accused of transporting one minor and one adult female from Texas to Louisiana to engage in prostitution in violation of federal statutes.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Maria Rojas aka “Nancy” and Jose Luis Rojas entered their pleas to both conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens as well as the sex trafficking conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes on November 28, 2011. The two were charged with a conspiracy involving the recruitment of Mexican women and girls to travel to the United States with the false expectation of legitimate jobs in bars and restaurants. The indictment, returned Feb. 15, 2011, alleged that the conspirators further relied on the services of pimps to supply the women for use as prostitutes to maintain control of the women. Maria Rojas, 46, was the owner of La Costenita, formerly Playa Sola, as well as El Club Restaurante, formerly La Cueva Restaurante Bar, both located on Clinton Drive in Houston. Jose Luis Rojas, 38, operated La Costenita. Eight others were also charged in the indictment with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens. Javier Guevara Belmontes, 46, also owned, controlled and operated La Costenita and El Club Restaurante. Maday Martinez, 34, and Evelin Carolina Aguera, 37, worked as managers, while Claudia Perez Ramirez, Silvano Santos aka “Chivas,” Francisco Maradiaga Jimenez aka “Pancho,” and Olvan Ramirez Caceres worked at La Costenita as lookouts alerting police presence. The final defendant, Aleyda Juarez, passed out condoms and charged the females $15 for the condom as well as use of the rooms. Aguera, Santos, Perez Ramirez, Maradiaga Jimenez, Ramirez Caceres and Juarez have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. Their sentences for their roles in conspiracy to harboring illegal aliens has ranged from eight to 11 months and all will be deported upon completion of their sentences. Martinez has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendant, Belmontes, is scheduled for trial Feb. 27, 2012..
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
The arrest and conviction of Mikoloyck resulted from an undercover law enforcement sting operation called Operation Guardian Angel. "On Saturday, January 29 2009, Mikoloyck responded to an online advertisement that said, in part, 'While there mommas away these girls will play. My girlfriend is out of town her daughters are ready to play with you. Be the first for the little girls ...' (sic). Mikoloyck engaged in a series of e-mails with the undercover officer, who was posing as the pimp, in which he discussed the price for a 16-year-old girl. The next day, Mikoloyck engaged in another series of e-mails with the undercover officer, and further discussed the deal for the 16-year-old girl over the phone. The following day, Jan. 31, 2009, Mikoloyck engaged in another series of e-mail and telephone conversations with the undercover officer, and agreed to pay $100 to take the 16-year-old girl outside the residence for sex for half an hour. Mikoloyck drove from Overland Park to the agreed-upon meeting place, but when he wasn’t able to reach the undercover officer by phone, returned to Overland Park. After making contact with the undercover officer, he then drove back to the location. When Mikoloyck arrived at the house, he paid the undercover officer $100 and was arrested."
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Operation Guardian Angel was created and executed by the Human Trafficking Rescue Project, a joint task force from the Independence PD, the Kansas City MO PD, ICE, and FBI. On April 23, 2010, Doerr was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison. Specific sentencing info was not found. 7 men were arrested during the course of this 2-month sting operation. All of the perpetrators were charged with attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child and using the Internet and telephone to attempt to induce a child to engage in prostitution, and all seven defendants have been indicted and convicted in "the nation’s first-ever federal prosecution of the alleged customers of child prostitution under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act."
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Deputy U.S. Attorney Brad Shepard reported that the ring was controlled by Mexican brothers Noberto, Gregorio, and Jose Louis Hernandez-Castilla. The women were rotated weekly among the brothels generally set up in apartments in Indianapolis. It also is believed to have operated brothels in Fort Wayne and Elkhart, FBI Special Agent Michael Langeman said in a probable- cause affidavit. The brothers were known to have guns and use violence to intimidate others in the ring, Langeman said. An informant told investigators that he was fearful of Jose Louis Hernandez, who was known “to have connections everywhere,” the affidavit said. Shepard says the traffickers used business cards advertising car repairs and western wear to attract clients. Typically, the cost for services ranged from $40 to $50.
Sex Trafficking2011
Brazil BR
Investigations into the nightclub after several complaints that Paraguayan women were prostituting themselves there. “The investigation revealed that the women originally arrived in Brazil on 45 to 90-day visas, and returned to Paraguay briefly after their visas expired. They would then return to Brazil on new visas. The nightclub paid for the women’s travel back and forth, forcing them to recuperate the costs with their work as prostitutes. Five women who testified against the three operators of the ring said that they worked as prostitutes in order to send money to their families back in Paraguay.”
Sex Trafficking2011
Argentina AR
Police conducted "Operation Sentinel" and raided 5 brothels in La Plata and Florencio Varela. 4 brothel owners were arrested for intent to traffick women across borders. The brothel owners took the women's identification upon arrival to the brothel.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
The victim walked over to a Casino Hotel and saw a man dressed in what she thought was a police uniform and told him what had been happening to her. She said the man was not an officer, but was with the Taxicab Authority. However he took her inside and Metro Police were contacted.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Charles Ford, a Las Vegas man, was found guilty of repeatedly raping and forcing a Canadian tourist to work as a prostitute. Ford was convicted in April 2011 by a Clark County jury. During the trial, the victim testified she had been a prostitute as a teenager, had stopped for many years as an adult and had raised a family. She decided to go on vacation from her home in Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. While she was staying in Los Angeles she decided to earn money for herself as a prostitute. At that point, she met another prostitute along Sunset Boulevard, Annette Dennis. The two women struck up a conversation and the victim agreed to drive Dennis to Las Vegas. Then when they got to Las Vegas, Dennis' boyfriend, who was known as "T," introduced the Canadian woman to his friend, "Charlie Mac," the name used by Defendant Charles Ford. Prosecutors say that through threats and intimidation and with information gathered by Dennis, Ford coerced the Canadian woman into working as a prostitute for him, making about $2,500 for him over two nights. The victim said Ford gathered personal information about her, got access to her driver's license and her laptop computer, isolated her, monitored her phone calls and e-mails and sexually assaulted her from Jan. 1 to Jan. 3. Although the woman initially refused to "break" to Ford as her pimp, he told her he had information on her adult children and they would suffer the consequences if she didn't comply. Al Beas, a Metro vice detective who is an expert in the subculture of prostitution, told the jury about intimidation and psychological techniques pimps use to get a prostitute under their control.He also said it was easier for a pimp to get a woman who had previously been a prostitute under his control than a woman who had never sold sexual favors. He said a former prostitute was "almost like an addict being put back on drugs." The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Michelle Fleck, explained to the jury that those psychological techniques were the same ones used against the Canadian woman — shame, fear, humiliation and isolation.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project. The March. 30, 2011 superseding indictment contains an additional charge against Edward Bagley for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Cook is also charged with two additional counts of using an interstate facility in the commission of murder for hire, and with one count each of attempted tampering with a victim and attempted witness retaliation, all of which are related to an alleged attempt to kill FV between Sept. 28, 2010, and Dec. 9, 2010. Cook is also charged with tampering with another witness, who is identified as “JP” in the indictment. The superseding indictment also contains additional charges against Stokes for receiving child pornography over the Internet and for possessing child pornography. The Bagleys used the Internet and BDSM pornography to train and groom FV (while she was still a minor) to be a sex slave. Marilyn Bagley allegedly modeled “slave clothes” as part of recruiting FV to become Edward Bagley’s slave. Edward Bagley allegedly gave FV marijuana and ecstasy, showed her images of pornography and sadomasochism activities, and began sexually abusing her while she was still a minor. Edward Bagley began sexually torturing FV in February 2004, according to the indictment, when she turned 18 years old and he had her sign a sex slave contract, which he convinced FV legally bound her to him as his slave for the rest of her life. The indictment cites numerous allegations of a variety of sexual acts, torture, and mutilation over a five-year period. Marilyn Bagley posed in photographs taken by Edward Bagley, the indictment says, where she sexually abused FV. Marilyn Bagley allegedly told FV to “do as she was told” and refused to offer assistance when FV expressed fear of Edward Bagley. Marilyn Bagley benefited financially and by receiving something of value from her role in the sex trafficking scheme. If FV attempted to stop the activity or cried for help, the indictment says, Edward Bagley escalated the torture. Edward Bagley allegedly threatened to kill FV and demonstrated to her that he could do so by keeping numerous guns in the home. Edward Bagley shot animals that FV cared for in front of her, the indictment says, and bragged about the bodies he had already buried in the woods behind the trailer home. Edward Bagley also threatened to bury FV alive, the indictment says, and showed her a video demonstrating how he intended to do it. Edward Bagley had FV tattooed to mark her as his property, the indictment says, including a bar code on her neck, a tribal tattoo on her back to mark her as a slave, and the Chinese symbol for slave on her ankle. Between February 2004 and February 2009, the indictment says, Edward Bagley tortured FV on live webcasts on the Internet. Cook allegedly watched live video over the Internet of FV being sexually abused and tortured, and downloaded pictures of FV to his computer. Cook allegedly sent images to Edward Bagley of females in his residence that he beat, bound and tied up to share ideas of how to abuse FV. Cook allegedly used those torture methods on FV when he visited the Bagley residence. Cook gave Bagley a hard drive with sadomasochism and torture videos downloaded from the Internet, including videos demonstrating to Bagley how he could bury FV alive. Stokes allegedly traveled to the Bagleys’ residence and engaged in both sexually torturing FV and watching Edward Bagley torture FV. Stokes gave Bagley steaks, cigarettes, coats, clothing, lighters and cash. Stokes paid $1,000 for Bagley to transport FV to California in December 2006 for a photo shoot in which FV performed sexual acts. Stokes paid Bagley $300 for a torture session, and also gave him money to build a home-made device to sexually torture FV. In addition to the criminal conspiracy, each of the defendants is also charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and one count of using the Internet to facilitate the unlawful activity. Edward and Marilyn Bagley are also charged together with forced labor trafficking and document servitude. The federal indictment alleges that the Bagleys forced FV to work as a stripper and exotic dancer at adult entertainment clubs from June 2007 to February 2009. They allegedly earned approximately $112,200 from FV’s work. According to the indictment, Edward Bagley punished FV with torture and physical and sexual abuse for failing to be a top earner at the adult entertainment clubs where he had her dance and strip. Edward and Marilyn Bagley allegedly confiscated FV’s identification documents, including her state-issued identification card, birth certificate and Social Security card. Edward Bagley is also charged with one count each of using the Internet to entice a minor to engage in illicit sex, enticement to travel for illicit sexual activity, transportation for illicit sexual activity, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21 and being a drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition. Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
A two-day trial has resulted in the conviction of a child sex trafficker. A U.S. District Judge convicted the male with sex trafficking of a child under the age of 18. He was arrested March 30th by Lubbock Police for related charges. Evidence presented at the trafficker's trial showed that he knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained and maintained a minor female with knowledge that she was under the age of 18. Witnesses also testified that the trafficker would use the proceeds of the child prostitution to provide them with food, shelter, transportation and marijuana. The victims were 16 yrs old, and 18 yrs old. His sentencing date has not been set yet, the 25 year old could face life in prison and $250,000 fine.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Mi Sun Cho was convicted November 8, 2011 for her role in an international sex trafficking conspiracy. After a one-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood, Cho was found guilty of conspiring with others to induce or entice women to travel across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, and for personally transporting individuals across state lines for the same purpose. Cho is the last of 17 defendants to be convicted as part of this wide-ranging, international conspiracy. Two other defendants charged in the conspiracy remain fugitives. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “The conviction of Mi Sun Cho closes a chapter in the prosecution of those responsible for a vast, international sex trafficking ring that exploited countless women. This guilty verdict also sends a clear message to others engaging in similar conduct that they will be punished.” According to the superseding indictment and the evidence presented at trial: A network of brothels in the Koreatown section of Manhattan masqueraded as massage parlors and used various brokers and taxi drivers to provide a steady supply of women to engage in prostitution. Cho was a broker who supplied prostitutes from New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Korea to these brothels, which were operated by other defendants in the case. Brokers like Cho received anywhere from $200 to $500 each from both the brothel owners and the prostitutes for facilitating connections between them.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Craig Allen Rodgers Age: 34 Originally from California Rodgers, who has previous prostitution-related convictions, is accused of procuring customers via the Internet and traveling with his prostitutes to meet clients in hotel rooms in Charlotte, Covington, Ohio, Albuquerque, N.M. and Nashville, Tenn., the complaint said. A federal criminal complaint alleges that Craig Allen Rodgers transported the woman against her will and used force to make her engage in sexual activity with paying customers. According to court records, Rodgers is originally from California and has several previous prostitution-related convictions. In 2006, he pled guilty in Oklahoma to aiding and abetting in prostitution and using a computer to violate Oklahoma law.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
ICE special agents in Miami identified Jorge Velasquez and Jaime Velazquez-Zompantzi, 26 as responsible for forcing the two females in Florida into prostitution. ICE special agents also determined that the Velazquez brothers had held the female victim’s children captive in Mexico and prohibited the victims from contacting their children. In May 2010, ICE HSI special agents in Miami requested assistance from the ICE Attaché Mexico City special agents regarding this ongoing human trafficking investigation after the two female human trafficking victims from Mexico were identified in Florida. On May 12, 2010, ICE special agents presented the investigation to Secretary of Public Safety (SSP) Border Enforcement Security Task Force officers in Mexico for enforcement action, and ICE special agents assisted those officers with locating and identifying the organization’s leaders in Mexico. Subsequently, on June 6, 2010, Assistant Attorney General for Special Investigations (SIEDO) and SSP officers executed search warrants on a business and residence belonging to the Zompantzi family, an alleged human trafficking organization operating in Tenancingo, Tlaxcala, Mexico. SSP officers arrested Jaime Velazquez-Zompantzi, Jorge Velazquez-Zompantzi, Fausto Velazquez-Zompantzi, and Severina Zompantzi, all Mexican nationals, indicted in Mexico on federal charges to include trafficking of persons and organized crime. During the search of the Mexican business, SSP officers found four minors suspected of being the children of trafficked victims currently in the United States. Two of the minors were identified as the children of the two female human trafficking victims in Florida. In 2011, Mexican authorities successfully prosecuted Jorge Velasquez for his role in this commercial sex trafficking ring. Velasquez was sentenced in Mexico to 18 years and 3 months in prison. Mexico prosecuted Velasquez along with three other Mexican traffickers.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Local (Oak Creek, WI) police discovered the victim, a 14 year old girl, during an investigation into escort services. In or about May 2010 Booker picked up his 14 year old victim on West North Avenue in Milwaukee, then took nude photos of her. The photos were posted on www.backpage.com, advertising the girl as a 19 year old escort. The girl was then taken to a hotel where she engaged in sex with men, who paid Booker and another woman, Holly Arnold, age 23. The victim told a detective she was afraid to leave the hotel because she did not know where she was, had no money, and no way of going elsewhere.
Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
The trafficker is Sean Patrick, a 37-year-old pimp from Milwaukee. Patrick was charged with child sex trafficking on 10/26/2011 in federal court in Milwaukee. The charges pertain to the trafficking of three girls, whom he forced to work as prostitutes between 2006 and 2010. They were trafficked to Chicago and other locations not specified in the sources. Patrick often transported the girls in a van on which he had painted "Ho Hauler" and forced the girls to pose nude outside the van for his friends. The victims were forced to sell sex 5-7 nights per week and turn the money over to Patrick. The victims were subjected to physical violence if they failed to make enough money. Information regarding how the victims were recruited, their ages, or the length of time each was in bondage is not available from the sources.