Three Child Prostitution Rings Busted

As part of the ongoing "Innocence Lost" project, the FBI has charged 31 people and arrested 19 in three states on charges including the transportation of minors to engage in prostitution, attempting to coerce and entice minors to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking in children, kidnapping, witness tampering, possession and distribution of child pornography, illegal firearms possession, narcotic offenses, money laundering and tax evasion.

Indictments and criminal complaints were unsealed in four U.S. Districts (the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of Michigan, and the District of Hawaii) charging 31 individuals, of which 12 remain at large.

More than 30 child victims were identified, bringing the overall total of child victims identified to more than 200 since the Innocence Lost initiative began in 2003. Items seized included residential properties, vehicles, U.S. currency, electronics, jewelry, and child pornography images.

"Our society has no place for those who prey on children and no tolerance for child prostitution or sex trafficking," said Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. "The Justice Department and our partners in the law enforcement community are committed to stopping this terrible practice and protecting our children. Through successful initiatives like Innocence Lost, we will continue to pursue aggressively sex traffickers, child prostitution rings, and the despicable individuals who stand behind them."

Children Victimized Twice

"The FBI and its partners cannot restore the innocence lost from those children who are lured into childhood prostitution," said FBI Assistant Director Swecker. "These children are victimized twice; first by the handler who exploits them and secondly by the individual who solicits them. To combat these heinous crimes, we have channeled our resources through nationwide task forces to identify and disrupt criminal enterprises and predators engaged in the recruitment, exploitation, and transportation of juveniles for the purpose of prostitution."

"This is a crime of hidden victims," said John Rabun, Vice President of NCMEC. "Many think child trafficking is only a problem in foreign countries, but nothing can be further from the truth. Thanks to the FBI's leadership, more victims are being uncovered and more perpetrators arrested."

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Child Pornography
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