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

[abigail1]

I feel sick reading this. just sick.

[kkuchenb]

I know. Me too. It's hard to imagine depths of depravity that humans are capable of.

[GeorgiamomforObama]

Sick that's all i can say!!

I have two o my own and I can't even wrap my mind around anything happening to them.

I pray those kids get help and those pigs get what they deserve!!

[gcallaghan]

Not far from the house where I grew up a couple of brothers were tried and convicted of pimping young girls. Their family moved away almost immediately and I saw one of the brothers on the street maybe 7 years later, or so. We hadn't ever talked before then and there still was no reason to. Prison life clearly took its toll on the guy: missing teeth, broken features, facial scars and an air of absolute despair. I felt sorry for him for about a second and went on my way .

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

MSNBC had several shows on this in the middle of the night last night. I couldn't sleep after watching it and found it very sad that local police departments didn't take the abduction of High School Girls seriously, and instead classified them as run-aways. One father of an adbucted girl knew where his daughter was being held, but couldn't get the Toledo police to help him get her. He went into the house where she was being held and only ended up being beaten on the front yard of this house for 30+ minutes while the neighbors called the police. The daughter got away, and the father lived, but was prelimary charged with B& E. Another Florida police department didn't even do a rape kit or interview with one abducted, r.a.p.e.d. and d.r.u.g.g.e.d. girl b/c her mother insisted on being in the room. I finally got to sleep thinking about how maybe after Obama got elected (God willing) that more of our resources would be allocated towards breaking up these prostitution rings and ending the "s.e.x. s.l.a.v.e.r.y." that is happening in our very own country. Maybe the winds are changing;-)

[macintoshsauce]

600 less pedophiles off the street. These numbers are sickening aren't they?

[badnewsinagoodway]

actually, is more like 73 pimps and 518 adult prostitutes.

[karela]

OMG, how sick do men have to be to want to have sex with children who are coerced? When did our society get so sick? I think maybe it's time to start busting the johns for this stuff too. Adult and voluntary I don't agree with but it's also not the same as kids. There is also an enormous sex slave operation in this country often run on the basis of immigrant women who are slaves. Enough! I'm glad to see the FBI making some headway on this. It's way past time. Nothing is too much to do to people who force children into this trade. They should never get out if they go to jail, but I'd rather give them a hemlock cocktail.

[BlueZoo]

Our society has been sick for way over a hundred years. It's just that now we open up the windows and air this garbage. At the turn of the 20th century, fathers abused their children without fear of being found out. We've evolved enough to give information to our children so they know this is not something we tolerate as a society. Education is the answer and woe to those who believe small children should not be taught about this sort of repugnant behavior!

[thegirlnextdoor]

Oh dear! Stolen childhoods. What next for these poor kids?

[nurseattorney]

Most people would think that these kids would receive all kinds of ongoing, long term counseling and support now that they have been rescued. But child victims of sex abuse are rarely even evaluated -much less treated-for mental health problems. States, which are responsible for overseeing the provision of mental health services to poor, neglected, or abused children do not have the resources to provide such treatment.
The children who are able to be reunited with family may receive those services, but a lot of these victims probably are runaways or "throwaways" - kicked out of their homes or just abandoned by parents who didn't want to be bothered anymore. They will end up in foster care, with little if any treatment for the horrors they have experienced.

[bayside]

And we are supposed to believe that FBI knew nothing about this ring for 8 long years but sure is highly suspect we have a rash of convictions and cleaning up right before election in many many areas just in case Obama gets in.. Highly suspect.

[walleymr]

"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."

[moderate1]

Yes you are correct. Literally everything that has ever happened, anywhere, at any time in history, is a conspiracy to deceive liberals.

[1will]

Good job

[jenrose]

While Im more than elated that these pedofiles and criminals are off the street and these poor children who knows what they have endured? Why is this just before the election?
Did they just wake up?? FBI director up for new appointments??

[Creampuff]

Please put all of those bastards UNDER the jail!

[Golfer59]

Where is Mark Foley??

[Daw8it]

No matter what state you are in, take Nov.4th off because there will be long voting lines !!!

[ctman47]

Good job to the FBI. Thanks

[bpowell1]

There is a special place in hell for everyone who had something to do with this child pornography ring. For the pimps, the people who lured them in, but most of all for the tricks that tricked off one these little kids. That is so disgusting and I hope that they are next to be arrested and their names posted in all of the local papers and online as well. We need to flush these monsters out of the dark.

[Majus]

It wasn't a porn ring; it was a prostitution ring which is much, much worse.

Posting names isn't good enough punishment.