child trafficking philadelphia
It also alleges that Smith operated a sex trafficking enterprise at various times over a period of two years from July 2015 to July 2017, during which he used physical threats to force three different young adult victims to have sex for money. A Philadelphia man is accused of trafficking four victims, one of whom was a minor, in Bucks County and surrounding areas, according to federal authorities. Thats why there has to be an entire paradigm shift.The average girls who enters this is about 13.. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. WebSixteen children considered critically missing were rescued during a four-week operation that concluded this week, according to the US Marshals Service office in Philadelphia. Have a question about Government Services? Discovery Company. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Lock U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Philadelphia Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking A Child, Eastern District of Pennsylvanias U.S. Attorneys Office Hosts Presentation on Autism-Based Discrimination in Schools, Camps, and Childcare Facilities, One Leader of a Violent Sex Trafficking Gang Sentenced to Life and a Consecutive Ten Years Imprisonment, and a Gang Associate Sentenced to 37 years Imprisonment, Chester County Doctor Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Operating Pill Mill Out of Main Line Pain Clinic. An official website of the United States government. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Please contact WOAR via the 24-hour Philadelphia Sexual Violence hotline:215-985-3333. 215-861-8300. Justice At Work Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Lock EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA President Obama said there is a need to do more to fight against the exploitation of human beings for profit. Phone: 215-733-0878 WebThe Philadelphia Juvenile Anti-Trafficking Coalition is the first of its kind focusing on and addressing the needs of child victims of human trafficking and vulnerable subpopulations All Rights Reserved. He even transported them to other cities and states, determined to keep the money coming in at their expense. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. While PCA does not conduct every forensic interview of these child victims, we work closely with police and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to make sure that every child still has access to the full constellation of services including medical and mental health treatment. Address: 31 E. Armat Street Philadelphia PA 19144. WebTuesday, August 11, 2020. Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Special Agent in Charge Michel J. Driscoll of the FBIs Philadelphia Field Division made the announcement. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. It may cause some to realize what some in their own circle have been hiding from them, often suffering in silence or shame. Rich Walls of North Philadelphia learned much from an all-male workshop held at Enon last year. Dubbed Operation Safeguard, the initiative began on February 15 when a US Marshals Service task force took over 26 missing children cases at the request of other law enforcement agencies. The indictment alleges that Felts ran a prostitution ring that recruited and enticed young females, including minors, to engage in commercial sex acts; harbored the victims at various residences for that purpose; transported and provided the victims to males who purchased the commercial sex acts; and collected a portion of the proceeds. The church has a ministry that addresses trafficking in the Philadelphia area. It will also educate parents and family members to notice the warning signs of children and adolescents who may be involved in the life, as many call it. In 2017, Horne was convicted of similar offenses in Bucks County, PA. Horne committed these heinous acts while on parole for doing the exact same thing, said U.S. Attorney McSwain. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to create general awarenesstrainingand materials for law enforcement and others to increase detection of human trafficking, and to identify victims. 3. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years. WebThey will be trafficking women and young girls on major highways and airports, arranging for sexual rendezvous in Center City hotel rooms or unmarked vans on a tree-lined residential All three defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to sex traffic a minor, while Felts and Francis were also each charged with four counts of sex trafficking a minor. Prior to joining the FBI, I was employed as an Immigration human trafficking, violent crimes against children, and other federal violations. In addition, PCA works closely with DHS to provide comprehensive assessments of children referred to DHS who are screened for concerns of being exploited. Because this is the start of the prime season for human trafficking. A lock ( The seal of the F.B.I. WebIn January 2020, we convened the Philadelphia Juvenile Anti-Trafficking Coalition, gathering 50+ public and private agencies to collaborate on identifying gaps in services for trafficked hangs in the Flag Room at the bureau's headquarters in Washington. At least four of the recovered children were connected to child sex trafficking, the marshals service said on Thursday. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Lock Leah Fletcher, Account Executive. Main Office: Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. WebHuman Trafficking Task Forces are a coalition of victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, community members, courts and other parties working to combat human Managing Editor Teresa A. Emerson - [emailprotected] 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124, 2023 All rights reserved. A lock ( Media Contact EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA They are not just the drug user, the wayward runaway teen, or the troubled foster child. The toll-free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year in more than 200 languages. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Philadelphia Police Department Vice Unit, with assistance from the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office and the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. The children were cleaning blood and animal parts off the floor of meatpacking plants by night and going to school by day, the Labor Department investigators said. Three Philadelphia men were charged, by a federal grand jury, in an indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of He admitted that he had to examine himself as to whether he lusted after young women young enough to be his daughter. If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyWilliams on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. Address: 600 Chestnut St., Suite 500B Philadelphia, PA 19106 UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE RALEIGH, N.C. A Maxton man was sentenced today to 252 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for moving kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin from Mexico to Robeson County, North Carolina. This means the demand for this is modern-day enslavement continues. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Metcalf and Brittany Jones. Eight Croatian nationals charged with attempting to traffic children, outside the magistrates court in Ndola, Zambia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Horne created Internet advertisements for each of the victims on the website Backpage.com, and he transported them across state lines to New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., and Maryland for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts. The Philadelphia Police Department learned of the prostitution operation by surveying Backpage advertisements and conducted an undercover sting operation at the premises in June 2011. Smith would photograph each female in his home with his camera and, using his laptop computer, would create an Internet advertisement for each on a website known as Backpage.com. An official website of the United States government. Children cannot sell sex even in places where prostitution is legal. Eastern District of Pennsylvania 33 missing children found in anti-human trafficking operation in Southern California. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a nationalanti-trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. As many are gathering in front of large flat screen televisions during Super Bowl Sunday surrounded by trays of hors doeuvres, party platters and beer, an underground network will also be working hard. According to publicly filed court documents, Adams, whose self-professed nickname was Captain Save-A-Hoe, along with co-defendants Hampton-Devero and Kendall, trafficked two minors during approximately three weeks in January of 2020 from multiple locations in Philadelphia. Phone: 215-387-9500. Our resolve remains steadfast in finding other children in peril.. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. PCA also conducts comprehensive assessments for children who are at risk or prevent red flags of being commercially sexually exploited. Main Office: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Sex Trafficking Children in Northeast Philadelphia. Many girls and women, boys and men are forced or coerced into this lifestyle. This series will assist local residents in being part of the network that can direct victims to safety and healing. Those who so victimize vulnerable kids do untold physical and emotional harm. An indictment is an accusation. Media Contact you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: CHILD USA, 3508 MARKET STREET, Philadelphia, PA, 19104. Furthermore, travelers who frequent turnpike rest stops, ride public transportation or stay in hotels can quickly recognize when a human trafficking victim may be approaching them for assistance. WebAdding a category of perpetrator to include: an individual 18 years of age or older who engages a child in severe forms of trafficking in persons or sex trafficking, as those terms are defined under section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Official websites use .gov Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 Official websites use .gov Readers will enter into an uncomfortable world that will challenge their sensibilities, sense of safety, and stereotypical notions about the topic. Smith was charged locally and was later charged in a federal indictment. Working alongside the international community, we have seen significant increases in trafficking prosecution and conviction, and we have made great strides in supporting victims.. So, the Philadelphia Sunday Sun is beginning a series about human trafficking. Lock ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The Philadelphia Sunday SUN - P.O. Now that there is more transparency, we have to be more honest, Walls said. A Northeast Philadelphia hotel owner was ordered to pay $24 million to eight sex trafficking victims. The Indictment alleges that for about seven days at the end of September 2019, Smith knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, maintained a minor for the purposes of forcing that minor to engage in commercial sex acts in Philadelphia. WebHuman Trafficking | Philadelphia | Battle4Children Charities You're not a victim for sharing your story. WOARs Sex Trafficking Advocacy and Response Team also assists with crisis support, sex trafficking assessment, prevention/education, and advocacy. If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyMcSwain on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. Text the letters "Befree" or the numbers 233733 to reach the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. The Indictment alleges that Felts ran a prostitution ring that recruited and enticed young girls, including one who was only fifteen years old, to engage in commercial sex acts; harbored the victims at various residences for that purpose; transported and provided the victims to males who purchased the commercial sex acts; and collected a portion of the proceeds. We will continue to work collectively to investigate these destructive crimes against the most vulnerable victims., Using physical threats to control another human being, to force them into sexual exploitation, is unconscionable, said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division. Email. A locked padlock Have a question about Government Services? Eastern District of Pennsylvania During this time, Kendall also allegedly used his cell phone to record one of the minors performing oral sex on him and then sent the video to the minor victim. WebThe children were cleaning blood and animal parts off the floor of meatpacking plants by night and going to school by day, the Labor Department investigators said. New Day is a multi-faceted program designed to serve survivors of commercial sexual exploitation as well as sex and labor trafficking. Nationalities Service Center A locked padlock WebCSEC or Child Sex Trafficking Sex trafficking affects children, too. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. For more information please call the New Day Hotline at 267-838-5866. On December 8, 2021, Jeremiah Eli Lowery pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute PCA conducts forensic interviews of the younger victims, and our partners in the Human Trafficking Task Force conduct the interviews for older teens. Many are kidnapped from corners waiting for yellow school buses, enticed through social media to what they think is a fun night on the town, or taken to secluded spots with the promise of a way to supplement their meager wages. WebYoung women and girls are the most at-risk of trafficking, although boys are also trafficked and are less likely to ask for help. Common examples of identified child trafficking cases include: Commercial sex Stripping Pornography Forced begging Magazine crews Au pairs or nannies Restaurant work Hair and nail salons Agricultural work Drug sales and cultivation The Salvation Armys New Day to Stop Trafficking Program Though local statistics are difficult to come by, the one thing that experts agree on is that girls and young women are its primary victims. Folks in need of WOAR services do not require insurance. To view a comprehensive listing of agencies across the Greater Philadelphia region servicing trafficking youth, please see the Social Services Directory. 215-861-8300. Phone: 215-832-0900. The dates would take place at the home that Smith leased and the females gave 100 percent of their cash earnings to Smith. Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment on Count One, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment on Count Two, a $500,000 fine, a lifetime period of supervised release and a $200 special assessment. Further, Keel and Felts allegedly had explicit discussions via Facebook Messenger about the commercial sex acts occurring at the residences. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Sex Trafficking Children in Northeast Philadelphia, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Two Teenage Girls, Fourth and Final Co-Defendant in Brutal West Philly Sex Trafficking Case Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison, Four Members and Associates of Reading Boarding House Sex Trafficking Gang The Sevens Convicted After Six-Week Trial in Allentown, Philadelphia Man Sentenced To 45 Years For Sex Trafficking Children In Northeast Philadelphia. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara Solow and Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Department of Justice Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). The New Day Hotline is also available for 24/7 support to survivors and technical assistance to other professionals. The FBI will never stop working to find and help trafficked victims, to protect them from further abuse and keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. He also kept the victims in apartments throughout Philadelphia, known as trap houses, where they were made to engage in commercial sex for the benefit of the defendant. They may be lured thinking that someone is helping them find a job. We know of 22 locations in the state where this is taking place. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Those in the community must also engage in self-examination to ascertain if one is playing a role in the proliferation of this crime against humanity. A subsequent forensic examination of Smiths laptop computer revealed two sexually explicit images of Minor 1, both of which were taken prior to her 18th birthday. Why? Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Did you encounter any technical issues? If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. CHERRY HILL, N.J. - Officials announced Tuesday th arrest of three people for allegedly trafficking a missing child for prostitution. An official website of the United States government. Allegedly, this defendant forced four young people, one a minor child, to sell their bodies for his financial gain. Blue Campaigns educational awareness objectives consists of two foundational elements, prevention of human trafficking and protection of exploited persons. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Three Philadelphia Men Detained on Charges of Child Sex Trafficking, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Two Teenage Girls, Fourth and Final Co-Defendant in Brutal West Philly Sex Trafficking Case Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison, Four Members and Associates of Reading Boarding House Sex Trafficking Gang The Sevens Convicted After Six-Week Trial in Allentown, Three Philadelphia Men Detained On Charges of Child Sex Trafficking. 215-861-8300. The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 After the workshop he, like the other men present, needed to change how they looked at girls and women as sex objects first and as their spiritual sister secondarily. 6:45 PM EDT, Sat March 20, 2021. 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