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 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. |
 Oregon Former House speaker arrested in prostitution sting Portland Police have accused a former speaker of the Oregon House and current lobbyist in Salem of soliciting sex from an undercover officer. Democrat Dave Hunt lives in Milwaukie and represented northern Clackamas County in the Legislature for a decade. From 2009 to 2011, he served as speaker of the House, and he previously served one term as House majority leader. Wyoming Former State Senator, Three Others Arrested in Prostitution Sting Former Wyoming Senator John Hastert and three other men were arrested in a prostitution sting. Hastert represented House District 39 from 2003 to 2006 and Senate District 13 from 2007 to 2018. Each man was charged with one count of soliciting an act of prostitution, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, and a $750 fine. Virginia Arlington lawyer charged with sex trafficking minors, producing child porn He met some of the girls on a “sugar daddy” website and a dating app and pretended to be an 18 or 19-year-old teenager. Ohio Summit County human trafficking sting results in 10 arrests, including a teacher The individuals were arrested and charged for engaging in prostitution. Authorities said they answered an online advertisement offering explicit sexual services in exchange for a cash payment. Marilyn Manson Sued for Rape, Battery, and Sex Trafficking by Actress Ex Esmé BiancoThe actress Esmé Bianco, best known for her role as Ros on Game of Thrones, filed suit against Marilyn Manson and his former manager Tony Cuilla. She claimed Manson raped and tortured her and violated U.S. human trafficking laws by luring her from London to L.A. on the pretense of working on a music video. Bianco, 38, was in a relationship with Manson, 52, for three years. She is one of several women whose accusations of sex abuse led the Special Victims Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to open an investigation of the singer in February.  Massage parlor trafficking is an insidious form of trafficking that is incredibly organized and difficult to eradicate across the nation. Wisconsin Democrat received rental income from a massage parlor that advertised on illicit websites Financial disclosures from Ron Kind show he earned between $15,001 and $50,000 from a building he rented in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 2018 and 2019. One of the tenants at Kind’s property, Asian Sunny Massage, previously known as Impression Spa, reportedly advertised on several illicit websites that direct prospective clients to places where they can illegally buy sexual services. Pennsylvania Massage parlor owner seeks a new trial on human trafficking, prostitution charges The woman owned and operated four Tokyo Massage Parlors, where state prosecutors allege prostitution was occurring. She and three others were arrested in March 2019 in a raid by state and local police. Utah Salt Lake County massage parlor owner charged with exploiting prostitution, prostitution, and money laundering Jian Rong Long, 48, the owner of two Salt Lake County massage parlors, was charged with prostitution after a nearly 18-month investigation. In court documents, law enforcement officials say a male reported an incident in Sept. 2019 at Health Massage, a West Valley City business.  We cannot arrest potential victims and then expect their cooperation in criminal cases. These arrests also limit survivors’ options; these victims often cannot obtain housing, livable wages, and other basic needs with arrests and convictions on their records. Utah Woman arrested in American Fork massage parlor sting A woman working at a massage parlor in American Fork has been arrested and accused of prostitution. Police said it was evident the women working at the business were also living there.  This year, Collective Liberty continues to focus on the unique struggles of Native communities in the U.S. by co-leading a workshop during the Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) with the amazing Kathleen Gately of the Wampanoag, to discuss the importance of understanding traditions and differences when supporting indigenous victims of trafficking. If you’re interested in learning more, register here. To support the indigenous community in Mexico, check out our blog and donate.  JOIN US >> |
