06/18/2024: HT News Bulletin


We monitor and fact-check media coverage of human trafficking and share the top cases with you from each week. A broad view of what is happening across the country can be translated into action, allowing us to collectively change the system and the public narrative. 

Arkansas Van Buren man arrested for trafficking used physical violence and threats to coerce women into producing sexual abuse material on OnlyFans. He controlled all the profits and violently beat victims if they refused to participate.
California San Jose man arrested for trafficking an underage girl reported missing in East Palo Alto. The victim, found in the trunk of a car told authorities she was held against her will and forced to engage in commercial sex acts in exchange for money.
California 18-year-old man arrested for sex trafficking two girls, ages 13 and 16 years old along West Avenue, an area known for prostitution activity.
Florida Man arrested for trafficking in Miami Beach, traveled between Chicago and Miami forcing numerous women into commercial sex and drug dealing for his financial gain.
Florida 30-year-old man from Delray Beach arrested for human trafficking and committing a sex act on a victim under the age of 18 with a mental defect or incapacity.
Georgia An ongoing multi-agency human trafficking operation led to the recovery of 2 trafficking victims and the arrest of 2 individuals for trafficking persons for sexual servitude.
Kansas 21-year-old man charged with sex trafficking 2 children and transporting them with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Maryland  33-year-old Baltimore woman and her organization used drugs to coerce women into engaging in commercial sex acts for financial gain in hotels and motels throughout Maryland. She has been charged with 135 counts connected to an alleged sex trafficking ring. 
Michigan 31-year-old Detroit man arrested for sexually assaulting and trafficking at least two victims for prostitution in Madison Heights.
New Jersey Two men and one woman arrested for trafficking in a Linden motel where they were found with two female victims, ages 15 and 17, who had been forced to engage in commercial sex acts in exchange for money.
North Carolina A man charged with raping and trafficking a 16-year-old girl he held in sexual servitude now faces dozens of additional charges connected to multiple victims. Further investigation revealed he possessed and distributed CSAM involving children ranging from ages 8 to 16 years old. 
Pennsylvania Former substitute teacher arrested for trafficking minors and sexual abuse, used social media to meet 4 minors and exploit them for personal sexual gratification and to produce CSAM. 
South Carolina 3 men arrested in connection with a human trafficking operation in which they lured in underage girls on false employment promises, drugged them, and then forced them to engage in commercial sex acts in exchange for money.
Texas 3 arrested in connection to the human trafficking and death of an 18-year-old girl in Dallas. The victim was lured into a prostitution trap and then pushed from a moving car. Her death led to a New Texas law, the Julia Eells Act, requiring driver’s education to include human trafficking prevention.


Alabama Inmates filed a 214-page response to a motion to dismiss their lawsuit accusing state prison of using “slave labor.” Inmates claim they were coerced into labor through threats and physical restraint, arguing that state officials and employers benefited from this forced labor in violation of the trafficking law.
Massachusetts Owner of a local pizza chain convicted of forced labor. 7 employees to work long hours, with no days off, for little to no pay under threat of deportation and physical and mental abuse.
Wyoming Two former residents at a ranch for troubled teens in Park County, who sued over claims of forced labor and trafficking dropped their lawsuit after reaching a settlement.


California Investigation into a Newbury Park massage business resulted in the arrest of 2 women financially benefiting from their employees performing commercial sex acts on customers.
Florida Tampa woman arrested for luring women from Venezuela and Colombia and then forcing them to prostitution out of massage parlors to repay their debt.
Indiana Franklin PD executed search warrants at 3 local massage parlors suspected of “questionable business practices.” No arrests or charges against employees or the businesses mentioned. 
Texas Recent Texas legislation allowed for the first emergency closure of a massage parlor in Houston due to suspected human trafficking. While specific details were not released, a TDLR inspection presented “several indicators” of human trafficking at the establishment. 


Illinois Investigation into illicit activity at a Montgomery massage parlor led to potential victim arrest for prostitution.
Louisiana Two employees arrested on prostitution-related charges after a warrant executed at a massage parlor in Opelousas revealed evidence indicating illicit sexual activities were occurring at the establishment.
New York Suffolk County Police arrest 2 women during a massage parlor raid in Selden in response to numerous community complaints.
New York Two potential victims were arrested at a foot spa in Suffolk County in response to community complaints. This is the second time police have investigated the business this year. 
New York New Windsor PD and NY State Police conducted an undercover investigation into IMBs resulting in the arrest of 2 potential victims from 2 separate establishments.


California Man sentenced to 10 years for sex trafficking a 16-year-old girl utilizing hotel rooms and street solicitation. The victim was recovered and hospitalized after being physically assaulted and thrown from a moving car during an escape attempt.
Colorado Convicted human trafficker sentenced to 448 years in prison, the longest sentence ever given to a human trafficker in the U.S. He sexually exploited 4 adult women and 2 children in Denver, preying on the victims’ vulnerabilities and using physical violence to exert control.
Georgia A second man has been sentenced for trafficking a 16-year-old female out of a hotel in Tucker. The victim had been missing from the Cedartown area for about 6 weeks when she was recovered by law enforcement. 
Georgia 2 gang members convicted and sentenced to prison for sex trafficking a 16-year-old female victim reported missing from Albany.
Massachusetts Boston man convicted of sex trafficking after responding to undercover online ads selling sexual acts with girls ages 12 and 14 years old.
Ohio 35-year-old woman arrested for helping to run a sprawling human and drug trafficking ring pleaded guilty to several charges and will spend at least 28 years in prison.
Oregon Man arrested in undercover trafficking sting sentenced to 80 months in prison.
Texas 23-year-old man sentenced to 365 months in prison for recruiting teenage girls and forcing them to engage in sex acts with clients for money in cars and hotels around the Bissonnet area of Houston.
Texas Man pled guilty and sentenced to 40 years for human trafficking and possession of child sexual abuse material after authorities found multiple images of children engaged in sexual acts on his phone. A woman involved in the case faces similar charges after sending explicit photos of her child to the man and other sexual partners.


Colorado 3 sex buyers from across the country were arrested following a Larimer County undercover operation that used online forums to target child sex predators. 
Florida 13 sex buyers traveling to meet or solicit minors for sex acts were arrested as a result of a 3-day undercover child sex crimes sting operation in Leon County.
Missouri Firefighter with Central County Fire and Rescue was arrested after attempting to arrange a meet-up for sex with an undercover officer posing as a sex worker. 
Nevada 5 men were arrested and 10 were cited for solicitation of prostitution as part of an operation targeting sex buyers.Ohio Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force lands two arrests following two sting operations targeting individuals attempting to buy sex online.
Texas “Dear John” operation results in the arrest of 5 men for attempting to engage in prostitution.
Washington DC 35-year-old man arrested for traveling to DC from Maryland to engage in a sexual act with a 6-year-old child in an undercover operation. The individual contacted an undercover agent posing as the father of a 6-year-old girl and arranged to meet with the fictitious child. He was arrested upon arrival at the decided meetup location. 
Missouri. Former deputy for Washington County Sheriff’s Office was arrested for engaging in prostitution and trading drugs for sexual services.59-year-old man admits to producing CSAM involving at least 8 victims. One of his victims was 6-years-old when the abuse began and another was age 11. FBI agents found approximately 200 videos of CSAM that he had produced ranging in length from seconds to nearly 2 hours.
 
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