CSEC2009
United States US
DeWayne Eugene Hopkins, 27, and Julia Young, 19, allegedly sold four females for sex over Craigslist.com, ages 24, two are 17, and 15. The pair were indicted with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children, even though all girls willingly participated in the activity. The pair are also facing charges of child pornography for posting pictures of the girls on craigslist.com, backpage.com, and cityvibe.com. Girls were lured in with the promises of employment and quick money, and were directed to recruit other teens to also work as escorts.
CSEC2009
United States US
Corey was charged with human trafficking Feb. 24th 2009 in Baltimore County District Court. April 27th he was also charged with two counts of human trafficking, one count of operating a prostitution business and numerous drug charges. Police conducted the raid on the Millersville apartment, and arrested Johnson but he was released in August 2009. He continued to distribute drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy) and N-Benzylpiperazine (BZP) until his federal arrest in September 2009. On September 24th 2009, an indictment alleged that Corey conspired with the three other men to run a prostitution business in his former Millersville, MD apartment. All defendants face 5 years in prison for prostitution conspiracy, 20 years for enticement, 20 years for conspiracy to distribute ecstasy and BZP. Corey, Harris and Johnson face life in prison for sex trafficking by force. Corey faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years in prison for distribution of child pornography and 20 years in prison for distribution of BZP. Richard Johnson pleaded guilty Dec. 3rd 2009. He admitted in a plea agreement to enticing girls and successfully recruiting two and sharing in the earnings. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 12th 2010 at 10:00am. The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, ICE, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Ohio police, and the US Army Criminal Investigation Command were involved in the case. The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force includes federal, state, and local law enforcement plus victim service providers and community services.
CSEC2009
United States US
Acting United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs announced that a federal grand jury on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, indicted Todd Carter, 39, and his son, Nicholas Harrison, 19, both from Milwaukee on multiple counts of sex trafficking of children, transporting children across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, and conspiracy to do so, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591, 2423(a), and 371. If convicted of the charged offenses, both men face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Each also face fines of $250,000 on each count. Acting United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs announced that a federal grand jury on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, indicted Todd Carter, 39, and his son, Nicholas Harrison, 19, both from Milwaukee on multiple counts of sex trafficking of children, transporting children across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, and conspiracy to do so, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591, 2423(a), and 371. If convicted of the charged offenses, both men face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Each also face fines of $250,000 on each count. Harrison was being held Thursday February 26th 2009, at the Milwaukee County Jail. A U.S. magistrate had approved his release on a $40,000 property bond but that order was stayed when federal prosecutors objected. An appeal on that ruling is pending. Carter was ordered held until trial, according to online court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned and enter a plea on Tuesday, while Harrison's arraignment and plea hearing is scheduled for three days later.
CSEC2009
United States US
Derrick Avery, also known as "Pimp Snooky", ran a prostitution ring across multiple state boundaries for many years, starting as early as in 1997. He would entice girls into becoming prostitutes by bringing them gifts and jewelry. Once trafficked, girls were forced to have sex with men and sometimes rob them. If girls returned with fewer than $500 in a night, they would be beaten with pool cues, shoes, pots, broom handles, and belts, along with other forms of violence. His prostitutes were known to be as young as 14 years old. Many girls were also forced to cook and clean for him, essentially becoming domestic servants as well. He worked most prominently in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Milwaukee, but his operation expanded over eight states according to a federal criminal complaint.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Avery recruited his prostitutes at bus stations and off the street, wooing them with pricey clothes and jewelry, according to a criminal complaint. One prostitute said Avery was "selling me my dreams," it said. The case is being investigated by the Criminal Division of the Internal Revenue Service, the FBI and the detectives from the Milwaukee Police Department and prosecuted by the U.S. attorney's office.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Charged with multiple accounts of sex trafficking and transporting children across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. 19-year-old son Nicholas Harrison agreed to plead guilty to one charge of sex trafficking of a child and testify against his father. In return for this testimony prosecutors dropped four related charges. Nicholas faces a prison sentence of 10 years to life and a $250,000 fine. The father, Todd Carter, faces similar charges.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
15 members of the Evans family were arrested in August 1999 for running a multi-million dollar prostitution ring. It was believed that it was running for more than 17 years in more than 24 states and also in Canada. The ringleader was Levorn Evans.
CSEC2009
United States US
Law enforcement received an anonymous email from a "john" suggesting that Warren may have been using juveniles. Police followed the lead to one of Warren's ads and initiated an undercover sting operation. The sting agent responded to the ad and met the 23 yr old at a Minneapolis hotel bar, where she said she could provide a 16 yr old for an additional fee. Police surveillance captured Warren driving the sisters to the hotel, where the three were subsequently arrested. Tye 23 yr old claims to have been prostituted since the age of 15, and that a heroin dependency kept her in the business. A large amount of heroin was discovered in Warren's car.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
An Eden Prairie resident helped Tatiana escape to a battered women shelter. She eventually got connected with Civil Society.
Bonded Labor2009
United States US
Abrorkhodja Askarkhodjaev, 30, a citizen of Uzbekistan living ina suburb of Kansas City is the alleged ringleader of a group of twelve who ensnared hundreds of illegal immigrants into labor trafficking in hotels, construction sites and other businesses, many of them in Kansas City and Branson. The conspiracy involved fraudulent labor leasing contracts in Missouri, Kansas, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New jersey, South Carolina and Wyoming. The criminal enterprise lured victims to the US under the guise of legitimate jobs and a better life, only to treat them as slaves under the threat of deportation. A US Attornet for Western Missouri said that the traffickers used false information to obtain false work visas for the foreign workers. Askarkhodjaev purportedly used Kansas City labor leasing company Giant Labor Solutions and other companies to obtain labor leasing contracts from clients in 14 states. Clients were told that all immigration and labor laws would be followed. The employees were alledgedly required to pay exorbitant rent to live in barely furnished apartments that "ensured the workers did not make enough money to repay their debt, buy a plane ticket home or pay their own living expenses in the US." The workers also had to pay for transportation to their jobs, uniform fees and other fees that often left them with paychecks that had negative earnings. They were threatened with physical harm, deportation or other legal problems if they did not comply. They also were not allowed to receive mail. Others indicted were: Nodir Yunuskov, 22, Rustamjon Shukurove, 21, Ilkham Fazilov, 44, Nodirbek Abdoollayev, 27, Alexandru Frumasache, 23, Viorel Simon, 27, Kristen Doughterty, 49, Andrew Cole, 53, Abdukakhar Azizkhodjaev, 49, Sandjar Agzamov, 27 and Jakhongir Kakhkharov, 29.
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
Mercedes Farquharson, 63, was arrested in Bulgaria in July after three years on the run. The woman was extradited to North Carolina facing multiple charges of forced labor and servitude. Farquharson kept three children under her control, forcing them to work on a farm in Monroe without breaks and sometimes with no sleep. She claimed to be a religious deity and convinced the biological mother to give her the girls. Farquharson adopted one of the children. News14 - Woman Charged with Enslaving Children Appears in Court - http://news14.com/content/local_news/charlotte/614045/woman-charged-with-enslaving-children-appears-in-court/ N&O - Woman Accused of Enslaving Girls Extradited to NC - http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/1669767.html
CSEC2009
United States US
According to the indictment and affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, from April to May 2007 the defendants coerced a minor girl to engage in sex for pay. The indictment further alleges that Royal: coerced two additional minors to engage in sex, for which he was paid; threatened to harm the girls and their families; struck the girls; and held one of the girls at gun point. On several occasions, Royal gave the girls illegal drugs before forcing them to engage in sex with him. Royal drove the girls to hotels in Gaithersburg, Maryland, or caused them to be transported from Maryland to the District of Columbia, to have them engage in sex. The indictment and affidavit further allege that the defendants provided the girls with cocaine, "dippers" or "ciga-wets" (cigarettes dipped in phencyclidine liquid known as PCP), marijuana, and alcohol before coercing them to engage in sex with customers, and sometimes sold cocaine to customers. The defendants gave the girls instructions on pricing for different sexual acts and instructed the girls to lie about their ages. The affidavit also alleges that Bentolila provided her residence and a vehicle to facilitate the sex acts of two of the girls.
Bonded Labor2009
United States US
Abrorkhodja Askarkhodjaev, 30, Nodir Yunusov, 22, Rustamjon Shukurov, 21, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Mission; Ilkham Fazilov, 44, Nodirbek Abdoollayev, 27, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Kansas City; Viorel Simon, 27, Alexandru Frumasache , 23, citizens of Moldova living in Kansas City, Kan.; Kristin Dougherty, 49, of Ellisville, Mo.; Andrew Cole, 53, of St. Charles, Mo.; Abdukakhar Azizkhodjaev, 49, a citizen of Uzbekistan living in Panama City, Fla.; and Sandjar Agzamov, 27, and Jakhongir Kakhkharov, 29, citizens of Uzbekistan who recently left the United States
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
The Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force began watching the Jian Kang Massage Center. They also set up a surveillance camera and used agents to act as massage patrons. The video showed a man driving women back and forth from the business to the owners Li and Wang’s apartment. Authorities were finally able to arrest owners Xiu Ju Li and Chun Ming Wang after an undercover investigator said a therapist performed sexual acts on him. The search warrant issued stated that Li and Wang where suspected of illegally coerced foreign women to the U.S. and trapped them into prostitution.
CSEC2009
United States US
DOJ Press Release - 12/24/09 ================= Nashville, Tennessee Woman Sentenced on Sex Trafficking Charges . http://memphis.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/me122409.htm . Nashville, TN Cristina Andres Perfecto pleaded guilty on Aug. 28, 2007, to two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and sex trafficking of a juvenile in the Western District of Tennessee, as well as one count of conspiracy in the Middle District of Tennessee. . Perfecto’s co-defendant, Juan Mendez, pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. Perfecto and Mendez each admitted to fraudulently luring two young girls, including a 13-year-old, from rural Mexico to Tennessee with the intent of forcing them into prostitution. . Both further admitted that Mendez, with Perfecto’s assistance, physically, verbally, and sexually abused the victims in order to coerce them into prostitution. . Nine other defendants had earlier pleaded guilty in this same case for crimes including: child sex trafficking, conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit money laundering, enticing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to commit prostitution, and violating the Mann Act.
Bonded Labor2009
United States US
Abrorkhodja Askarkhodjaev, 30, Nodir Yunusov, 22, Rustamjon Shukurov, 21, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Mission; Ilkham Fazilov, 44, Nodirbek Abdoollayev, 27, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Kansas City; Viorel Simon, 27, Alexandru Frumasache , 23, citizens of Moldova living in Kansas City, Kan.; Kristin Dougherty, 49, of Ellisville, Mo.; Andrew Cole, 53, of St. Charles, Mo.; Abdukakhar Azizkhodjaev, 49, a citizen of Uzbekistan living in Panama City, Fla.; and Sandjar Agzamov, 27, and Jakhongir Kakhkharov, 29, citizens of Uzbekistan who recently left the United States
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
The victim was forced to work for three monthe for a pay of only $100, passports were taken, forced to work 18 hour days 7 days a week with no time off. She was told she would have a jod as a nurse in the US. She was able to leave after three months.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
law enforcement thought they were going to close down a illegial hotel operation but found something very different instead.
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
According to Washington Post, Ms. Baoanan is suing her former employers for lack of pay and 126-hour workweeks. A judge in NY has ruled that diplomatic immunity will not protect the Bajas, since the maid served in a private function and not in a diplomatic function. The case is still proceeding through the courts. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/19/AR2009091901864.html
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
The madam was a senior citizen and the prostitute was just a kid. Vice cops raided a grimy midtown brothel called Episodes, where a 64-year-old hustler oversaw a stable of women - the youngest just 15 - giving "sex massages," police sources said. The W. 38th St. whorehouse was decidedly low-rent - mattresses on the floor of tiny rooms and a sign advertising $1 bottles of water, sources said. "I know things are tough, but $1 isn't going to break anyone," read the sign in the fourth-floor sex pad. Cloth butterflies and small "Phantom of the Opera" masks were the only decor in stark contrast to the majestic West End building where alleged madam Noreen Williams lived. Cops said Williams had been hustling prostitutes since at least 1997, which was news to her neighbors. "She was just a normal, polite old woman. She's always walking her two dogs. She doesn't dress flashy," said a stunned West End resident. When cops raided Episodes on Thursday afternoon, Williams was booking clients, and a 15-year-old hooker was getting ready to turn a trick in one of the back rooms, sources said. Williams told cops she had no idea the young Hispanic girl was only a high school student, sources said. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/08/15/2009-08-15_brothel_offered_teen_sex_cops_say_madam_64_ran_grimy_midtown_biz.html#ixzz0Que2LfQk
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
A Togolese woman accused of forcing girls from Africa to work in New Jersey hair braiding salons for no pay has been convicted of human trafficking and visa fraud. Prosecutors argued that Akouavi Kpade Afolabi, called "Sister" by the women she oversaw, helped bring at least 20 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 from the West African nations of Togo and Ghana on fraudulent visas to New Jersey starting in 2002. They said she manipulated the impoverished young women, who aspired to live better lives in America, and kept them in slavery-like conditions while stealing all their pay — even tips as meager as fifty cents. Afolabi's lawyer, Bukie Adetula, countered that his client was considered a benevolent mother figure and revered community leader — both in her native Togo and New Jersey. He said she was known for lending people money and aiding young women to escape their poverty-stricken homeland to learn a marketable skill in America. He spoke outside the Newark federal courtroom following a unanimous guilty verdict on all 22 counts, which was returned just hours after the jury began deliberations. During the month long trial, prosecutors outlined a scheme they say Afolabi and her ex-husband and son — who have pleaded guilty — used to keep the young women tightly controlled. They said the women were beaten, psychologically abused and, in some cases, sexually abused, while being kept from phoning home, contacting friends or family, or accessing their passports and other documents. Adetula said what the U.S. government called slave-like supervision was merely a West African custom of protecting young girls by making sure they were tightly supervised, especially in a foreign country where they didn't know the customs or the language. Afolabi, who alternated throughout the trial between western wear and traditional African dress, sat shackled at the ankles with her head bowed much of the time, listening through headphones to a simultaneous interpreter in Ewe, her native tongue. She wept often throughout the proceedings, especially during descriptions of her former husband's alleged sexual relations with several of the women, some of them underage. Has there been any intervention? How & by whom? The trafficker was arrested in 2007, brought to trial and found guilty in 2009, being kept in jail in the meantime. She is to be sentenced in January 2010 and faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. More information: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,566464,00.html
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Sept. 4 report from KATU news: http://www.katu.com/home/related/63679802.html On Sept. 4 a 15-year-old girl disclosed to Newberg-Dundee police officers, 44-year-old Newberg resident Darrin Vaughn Daily, had given her marijuana and alcohol and had sex with her. During the investigation, a search warrant was executed for the residence at 720 South River Street, Apt B, Newberg, and evidence was seized. During the investigation, detectives said they discovered that a 14-year-old girl also may have been a victim. During her interview, detectives said they learned Daily also engaged in sexual activity with her. The girl reported Daily had taken photographs during the sexual activity, which included occasions when she was tied up, occasions involving sexual intercourse with his dog, and occasions of group sex resulting from Daily posting a Craigslist advertisement inviting other adults to engage in sexual activity with the minor. A second search warrant was executed and Daily's computer was seized, as well as other media storage devices. The Newberg-Dundee Police Department Computer Forensics detectives analyzed the computer and located many photographs of the 14 year old engaged in sexual activity with multiple adults as well as images of the minor engaging in sexual intercourse with the dog. Images of a four year old being sexually abused also were found. Detectives were able to locate three adult males who responded to the Craigslist advertisement to engage in sexual activity with the 14 year old, as well as one adult female who engaged in sexual activity with one of the minor females. The three adult males arrested were: 43-year-old Patricio Moreno of Forest Grove, 34-year-old Robert Thompson of Portland and 41-year-old David Garcia of McMinnville. The adult female, Alisa Nice of McMinnville, has not been located for arrest at the time of this release. Detectives were able to locate and interview the four year old in the images found on Daily's computer. The four year old disclosed being sexually abused by Daily and is currently being cared for with the assistance of Juliette's House Child Abuse Assessment Center in McMinnville. Newberg-Dundee police credit their ability to analyze Daily's computer and retrieve the digital evidence in a timely manner with being able to locate, identify and apprehend those involved in the case. Darrin Vaughn Daily is being held in the Yamhill County Jail on $1 million security and is charged with: Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct (6 counts - Measure 11) Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (2 counts - Measure 11) Sexual Assault of an Animal (2 counts) Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) to a Minor (3 counts) Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the First Degree Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree Rape in the Third Degree (18 counts) Sodomy in the Third Degree (5 counts of oral-to-genital contact with a minor) Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (6 counts) Endangering the Welfare of a Minor (3 counts) Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree. Robert Dwain Thompson is being held in the Yamhill County Jail on $750,000 security and is charged with: Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct (3 counts - Measure 11) Rape in the Third Degree (3 counts) Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (5 counts). David Garcia was being held in the Yamhill County Jail on $100,000 security but has posted bond. He is charged with: Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (4 counts) Rape in the Third Degree (2 counts). Patricio Moreno is being held in the Yamhill County Jail on $15,000 security; he will be arraigned sometime Wednesday. He is charged with: Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (4 counts) Rape in the Third Degree (2 counts) Sodomy in the Third Degree (2 counts).
Domestic Servitude2009
United States US
The driver, Luis Antonio Mendoza, 26, of Fresno, Calif. The complaint alleges Mendoza told ICE agents he knew the illegal aliens were in the trailer. He further stated he was to transport the aliens to Eloy, Ariz., were they would be transferred to a different vehicle. According to the complaint, Mendoza said he thought there were only 15 people in the trailer and he expected to be paid $300 per person for transporting them. Material witnesses say they made arrangements in Nogales, Mexico, to be smuggled into the United States and were each to pay the smugglers up to $3,000, with Phoenix being their final destination.
Sex Trafficking2009
United States US
Police arrested two men at the scene on charges of kidnapping, rape, and possession of narcotics, says cbs3.com. Police took three women into custody for on suspicion of prostitution. The prostitution ring may be part of a much larger operation, say investigators.