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

[atila]

When the economy goes down these crimes start to raise,in the 70's third world asian countries like Cambodia or Vietnam and Thailand confronted this sad reality,in the 80's after the Berlin Wall Fall,countries like Russia,Ucrania and several more were the target of these maffias,and then in the 90's they spread their tentacles to places like India and Latin America...­I cannot separate this horrible crime from the economy situation right now in US,especially in the rural areas.....

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

I watched this last night about a girl who was abducted by the "father" of a classmate who had befriended her at her Florida High School. She was drugged and then repeatedly r.a.p.e.d by numerous men until her family finally tracked her down and rescued her on their own. The local police didn't want to classify her as abducted, but only as a run-away. They wouldn't do a r.a.p.e kit on her or interview her after she was found since her mother insisted on being in the room. This is inexcusable that this is happening to anyone here in this country. If you watch this, you will realize that this could just happen to anyone.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27098993/

[atila]

you must think that this kind of despicable acts just happen in the third world but the maffias are everywhere­...i feel so sorry for those kids...

[MsMadame]

Poor children!

[t mout]

Where are the protest signs? Shouldn’t the people who so strongly believe a child has the right to life also believe that they have the right to a have a safe environment. And isn’t it worth taking a stand for the protection of a child’s mental and emotional state of being, as well. The sound of silence. Two wrongs definitely don’t make a right.

Who threw that first stone?

[carriellbee]

The right-to-lifers lose interest the moment the child is born. After the blessed event, they wash their hands.

[Agent420]

The DEATH PENALTY for child traffickers.

[atila]

i agree...

[Medius]

It is the only way to stop the vicious cycle.

[miatch]

Do you think Jerry Lee Lewis was wrong to marry his 13 year old cousin? I kinda do, but I wouldn't push the death penalty on him.

Just wondering where others draw the line.

[Mort]

Yes! Two laws, underage and cousin. I don't care who a person is or how talented they are. They can't be allowed to abuse children.

[Yermammy]

Geez... NOW what are rethugs going to do for fun? Trickle down economics isn't working, folks. This is sick and tells you things are getting bad.

[jmpurser]

There are some things that aren't about party politics and which really shouldn't be used for them by any one in any case.

[zizyphus]

Read "The Franklin Cover-up" by Republican Senator John DeCamp. If you are outraged by this news item, wait until you read this book. I wish it was a work of fiction, but sadly, it is all true. DeCamp was appointed by the Nebraska legislature to investigate the claims of children in Omaha that they had been trafficked at high-level Republican private parties. It involved Lawrence King, who was manager of the Franklin Savings and Loan. Just read it. Everyone. You need to know.

[Medius]

Can we spare a few million dollars from the $10 billion dollars a month we spend in Iraq to save these children and to provide services for therapy and programs to provide some normalcy in their lives? Also to prosecute these monsters who prey on innocent children? Can we please just spare a few millions. please?

[strandwolf]

Nice timing, FBI! Drug raids have also been featured prominently of late. Gee, I wonder if there's an election on the horizon? Got to try to put on a show for the taxpayers. I abhore exploitation, but cannot help but be cynical about the police, knowing of their past illegal behavior and incompetence.

[rockyersocksoff]

Wanna help?

www.protect.org

[JimBozo]

Regarding the Franklin child prostitution ring (Nebraska, 1988), from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bonacci

Alleged high-level Republican (White House) involvement.

Surprise, surprise.

[TAIsabel]

Please, this is not the right platform for politics nor is there any need to blame Republicans for this horrific act. Come on now, this is of no help to anyone. Get back on the subject, it is horrible enough, no need to add fantasy to this nightmare.

[zizyphus]

Sorry, but the Franklin scandal was no fantasy. Please read the book, "The Franklin Cover-up" by Senator John DeCamp. This scandal was very quickly swept under the rug because of the White House connections, which lead up to today's White House and the mysterious male prostitute­-turned-jo­urnalist Jeff Gannon.

[SwingVoteNYC]

..It is a nightmare but if there is any information that is similar out there.....­...nothing wrong with spreading facts.

[whit4brains]

There is a new book coming out about the Franklin case. Creepy.

[whit4brains]

I just want to send my thanks to the FBI workers who worked on this case.

These type of stories are just so sad. Only 10 out of the 47 children had been reported missing. I wonder what some of their home lives had been like before they had to endure this horror.

There are monsters among us. What causes people to be so heartless?

[jhw22]

Of the ones not reported, my guess is that they are children who were taken from other countries and smuggled across the border. If so, my great anxiety about that is how we can ever find their homes. One of the great tragedies of human trafficking from country to country is that if a child is taken young enough, he or she may not be able to tell us his or her name, what country he or she is from, who they are. It's a nightmare stacked in top of a nightmare.

I also worry about the adult prostitutes who were arrested -- how many of them were abducted at some point and forced into this? To be arrested gets them away from the captor, but I hope they are quickly able to tell their stories and get help.

I am so relieved when I read stories like this, but then I am saddened again to know there are more out there.

There are many organizations that help any way they can. FreetheSlaves.com, HumanTrafficking.org... there's a lot we do not know is going on in our neighborhoods.

Jennifer

[whognu]

I work in children's advocacy and, unfortunately, this is the tip of a very ugly iceberg in America. We simply MUST do more to protect our children from physical and sexual abuse. We are failing our most vulnerable.

[AurigaRa]

Anyone remember Johnny Gosch, the newspaper boy kidnapped in Des Moines Iowa in 1982?

Wonder if this is all a pre emptive effort to diffuse the long term involvement of the WH in child sex rings that could perhaps come to light after Jan 2009.

Do some research. These are not nice people folks

[heal57]

huh?

[Joeblue]

Read the book ," Franklin Coverup".

[TAIsabel]

As my daughter was growing up I was constantly criticized by her father, my family and friends for being almost obssesive with her safety. For many years she called me "Hitler" because of how strict and protective I am. Now, she is an adult, she is grateful and is my best friend ( I still check in on her!).

When she became a teenager, I sat her down and told her the following: "I am not your friend, you do not have to like me nor do you have to love me. I am your mother and my job is to keep you safe, even if you get angry at me". Curfews were carved in stone and parties were scrutinized before permission was given (not often given!).

Parents, do not be afraid to protect your children and /or to say no. My mother always said : "It is better that they cry and not you". Creeps like these hunt for vulnerable children and bank on parents not being watchful or teaching their children how to be aware.

[heal57]

I was the exact same way with my son; even as a teen he was not allowed out on his own at night. I never had any problems with drugs, alcohol or anything else with him.
God help these children. People responsible for child prostitution should never come out of prison.