FBI Arrests 600 People, Rescues 47 Children In Massive US Child Prostitution Rings

WASHINGTON — More than 600 adults have been arrested and 47 children rescued in a three-day roundup targeting people who force children into prostitution.

The FBI said the roundup by federal, state and local law enforcement occurred in 29 cities, adding that the raids dismantled 12 large-scale prostitution operations run through call services, truck stops, casinos and Web sites.

At a news conference announcing the results of Operation Cross Country II, FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the arrests were made possible by intelligence gathered during a similar series of raids in June.

"Sex trafficking of children remains one of our most violent and unconscionable crimes in this country," Pistole said.

The 47 rescued children ranged in age from 13 to 17, and all but one are female. Of these, Pistole said, 10 had been reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

A total of 642 people were arrested. The FBI says they include 73 pimps and 518 adult prostitutes.

The operation was part of a larger, five-year initiative that has led to the recovery of 575 children and the dismantling of 36 criminal operations since June 2003.

Child prostitution has taken on a new urgency in recent years with the growth of online networks where pimps advertise the youngsters to clients. The FBI generally gets involved in child prostitution cases that cross state lines.

A University of Pennsylvania study estimated that nearly 300,000 children in the United States are at risk of being sexually exploited for commercial purposes.

"Make no mistake, the minors who were interdicted as a part of this operation are victims of the most extreme form of sex trafficking," said acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich.

"It sadly remains the case even now in 2008 that there remain instances of children in the United States manipulated into prostitution by pimps willing to make a fast buck based on the most vulnerable among us," he said.

Comments

[Hare]

All I know after being in this planet for too long is that "non abused" people are not ready emotionally to be adults until their early twenties around 23-24. At 17-18 their bodies may be develop but they think very different of what they would six years later. A lot of child prostitutes have been abused since young so they can be forty and emotionally still be children. As far as "regular" men being the customers and culprits of the rampant child prostitution, unfortunately it is true, they are your brother, father, uncle, grandfather, beloved son etc. The only way to change it is by changing the idea that it is acceptable to engage in this physical act with "mess up" teens. In other words the culture needs to change and view women and children as human beings and realize that it is the men you love and respect the ones with the deviant behavior and teach your sons well.

[Slapmewhenitsover]

I think saving 47 children is a great thing to do. I also think that throwing 73 pimps in jail rids the streets of some of the worst humans alive. However, I wish they would explain why they arrested 518 adult prostitutes.

I am sure there must be link, but I think they ought to make their reasons for this action known to the public.

Like it or not, prostitutes are abused by several sectors of society, and I hope law enforcment did not just exploit them because they were readily available to boost the numbers for good press.

[Sintari]

I thought the exact same thing. I’m willing to bet that many of these adult prostitutes now being prosecuted were once the same child prostitutes now being saved. At least with prostitution, this country needs to rethink that boundary between exploited victim and hardened criminal. Turning 18 doesn’t automatically make someone who has spent their life being exploited suddenly culpable for a crime.

[sammdphd]

I'm sure if you polled all of them, they would say they are conservative!

[happytrails]

Yep,they sure don't want no stinkin' g'mint interferin' wit their bidniss. You betcha!

[armyman72]

These people will get out of jail early, so they can lock up the real problem, Pot Smokers. And we wonder why things are as they are......

[Blue in NH]

Wow, this is turning into a really, really bad week for the GOP.

[ellawensmom]

I've worked with abused and neglected children in the past, and one thing that astonished me, (though why it should, I don't know) is how many evil things happen to kids in this country, and how little we really seem to know about it. These rings are not always some horrible strangers, frequently they involve the childrens' parents. I've worked with kids who were pimped out by their own moms and dads. (Make no mistake, it's not just men who do this.) It disgusts me that the people who should protect their children more ferociously than anyone else are often the ones who victimize their kids the most.

[ResistanceisFutile]

Death penalty? Yes!

[ebanks84]

Our society is stricken with an illness that has infested a large majority of the people for a long time and it spreads far and wide into our government as well. I hope further investigations will finally get to the source of this perversion and catch all the people involved. I'm sure this is bigger than we can imagine.

[longislandlol]

It is High Noon in America - and after the dismal 8 years----this is what the theocracy brought to the American landscape!! Time for a Change----towards decency---found in a thing called ethics-----

[ebanks84]

The CHANGE is happening and is just beginning.

[kassandrasduplex]

I remember a day when Americans had good, lifetime employment and strong families. There were problems, and they were found in the poorest parts of the cities and back country, but they were rare and the exception. Now America is a third world nation. The greatest wealth disparity of the industrialized world is American, healthcare rated 37 worldwide just above Communist Cuba, homeless burned and beaten to death on our streets, a Press Freedom Index of 36 as though we are some totalitarian dictatorship , and so on. We have become the embarrassment of the First World.

[piper1233]

Let this be a reminder to all Americans that the Feds are an important, Vital part of our Law Inforcement community that are sometimes overlooked and maligned. Kudos to the Feds.

[vippy]

18 should be the legal age to drink. If you raised your children correctly, they will be responsible.
They can die in a war but they can't drink is just unfathomable to me. I grew up and we were allowed
to have alcohol at XMAS and special occasions, moderate, senseable. My parents kept a full bar
at home. I remember when I was 16 I would take a tiny sip from each bottle curious about the taste a different taste every night.
Other than the sweet BOLS like Banana, etc. I did not like any. I am old now and unless in social
gatherings do not drink and then no more than perhaps 2 bottles of wine coolers which is an absolute
max. It just goes to show that given the opportunity a good head will prevent abuse. Calories alone
would deter me.

[vippy]

I suspected as much when I see the many posters of children and young adults disappearing.
I remember we had a college student here and she went for a morning jog and was never to be seen again. Someone had to come and force her into a car and off they went. The rich can afford snuff
games, the rest settle for this. Those old books about the horrible, horrible sex crimes from the middle
ages are not fiction. People have not changed. But why I ask are there so many men out there that
pay for this?

[NamelessGenXer]

600 "Good Chr!stians", no doubt.

[NHARRISON]

That is a very unfair comment - you should be ashamed of yourself.

[Blue in NH]

Unfair? I don't think so. Christians have shown themselves to be total hypocrits.

[Dynamohum]

I see nothing wrong with the comment. Genxer may quite possibly be 100% correct. So bugger off.

[JeanPaulSatire]

And you, NHARRISON, should explain yourself: WHY is it unfair?

The Christian right are the self-anointed arbiters of morality in this country, yet too many of them know all about immorality from personal, on-going experience.

[ndem]

I had no idea up to 300,000 children in the US were at risk of sex trafficking...this is horrifying...and internet porn is making it worse...we have to stop these sites, these people...there is hardly any childhood left in the US anymore