It was all part of a coordinated undercover operation in the Chicago area and nationwide, conducted by local and state police officers, working with the FBI.
The three-day operation in the Chicago area led to the arrests of six pimps and 39 adults charged with various sex crimes.
But the three underage girls -- all of whom were driven to the hotels by someone else -- were different, authorities said. The three were taken in as victims and are now in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
Greg Wing, FBI supervisor of Crimes Against Children in Chicago, said finding the three underage girls locally -- and 69 children nationally in all -- was an imperative part of what authorities dubbed Operation Cross Country.
Similar arrests were made in 40 cities across the country with 884 people facing charges including 99 pimps.
"There's no work that's more important than protecting our children," Wing said. "We're definitely trying to focus on those victims."
Wing said in many cases children are forced into prostitution. Some even begin to develop "Stockholm Syndrome" and fall in love or protect their pimps.
When young girls are found in these operations, specialists who deal with victims also come on the scene to help with the young people, he said.
"We try to get them help. Try to get them out of their lifestyle and bring others to justice," Wing said.
Prostitutes are interviewed as the FBI tries to develop intelligence, largely targeting pimps and rooting out underage prostitution networks across geographical areas.
"We found they travel between states and different cities and the suburbs," Wing said of pimps.
The three-day enforcement in the Chicago area used nearly 100 police officers with about one dozen FBI agents and aimed to target rings that used children as prostitutes, FBI spokesman Ross Rice said
"It's just a phenomenon we've been seeing, where minor children are being forced into or are allowed to engage in prostitution activities," Rice said.
It was the same law enforcement effort last year that helped expand an ongoing investigation in Chicago into a prostitution network that involved using intimidation and violence to keep girls as young as 14 working as prostitutes, Wing said.
That case, charged in federal court earlier this year, accuses alleged pimp Datqunn Sawyer of running a child prostitution ring on the West Side out of his home and his mother's home since 2009.
The prostitutes arrested over the weekend were largely found through online and print ads for escort services.
While most ads offer disclaimers that they don't engage in illegal behavior, even ads for "high-end" escorts are overt. One lists prices of $400-$800 an hour for women who are shown partially nude. One solicitation for an escort service that runs a service out of Chicago features a topless "model," advertises her as young and says she can be hired for $400 an hour.
"She is young but she knows all arts of seduction and lovemaking at its best. In her company, the night never sees its dawn."
RELATED STORIES FBI, police target prostitution rings with undercover operation
http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/2877730,CST-NWS-prostitutes09.article
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from New York Times
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Arrests Made In Child Sex Trade
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sixty-nine prostitutes ages 12 to 17 have been found in the last three days as part of a nationwide crackdown on the sexual exploitation of children, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Monday.
An F.B.I. spokesman, Jason Pack, said 99 pimp suspects were arrested in 40 cities across 30 states and the District of Columbia, while 785 other adults were arrested on a variety of state and local charges.
The largest group of child prostitutes, 24, was found in and around Seattle.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/us/09brf-ARRESTSMADEI_BRF.html?ref=us&pagewanted=print
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from ICE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 29 charged with sex trafficking juveniles
November 2010
Imagine being stripped of everything you know, transported between states and forced to have sex with strangers. No, this isn't a nightmare; these are details from a recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation. Four girls - some younger than 14 years old - were forced into a life of prostitution by a Somali-run Human Trafficking Organization.
Human trafficking is dark, dirty and secretive. The victims are often voiceless, scared and hidden in plain sight. ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) investigate many federal crimes, but human trafficking - especially that of children - is one of the most egregious. Lives are compromised. Productive futures are destroyed.
Today, ICE, with counterparts from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Secret Service, the St. Paul Police Department, the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the arrest of more than 20 individuals associated with the trafficking ring. These individuals transported girls across state lines and forced them to have sex in exchange for small amounts of marijuana and liquor. Allegedly, they also filmed the sexual acts and transmitted them via cell phones for others to view.
Charges in this case stem from an initial investigation conducted by ICE's Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the St. Paul Police Department. The two agencies had reason to believe that a Somali gang was forcing young girls into prostitution. Working off a tip, the investigation led the agencies to Tennessee where a possible victim - a runaway from Minnesota - was located. Agents confirmed that the victim was one of four underage girls being transported across state lines for prostitution.
ICE and other law enforcement agencies need your assistance to end human trafficking. If you notice suspicious activity, call ICE's Tip Line, 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
Learn more about ICE's role in human trafficking.
Learn more about the DHS' Blue Campaign against human trafficking.
View the news release.
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1011/101108washingtondc.htm
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ICE helps FBI rescue 4 juveniles from prostitution in Tampa Bay during Operation Cross Country
November 2010
TAMPA, Fla. - As members of the Clearwater Area Human Trafficking Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and officers in Tampa assisted the FBI locally to rescue four juveniles and arrest 35 adults over the past 72 hours during Operation Cross Country V, a three-day national enforcement action as part of the FBI's Innocence Lost National Initiative.
The operation included enforcement actions in 40 cities throughout the nation and led to the recovery of 69 children who were being victimized through prostitution. Additionally, nearly 884 others, including 99 pimps, were arrested on state and local charges.
The four local children who were rescued resided in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Other participating agencies in the operation included the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Clearwater Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
To date, the FBI's 39 Innocence Lost Task Forces and Working Groups have recovered over 1,200 children from the streets. The investigations and subsequent 625 convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including multiple 25-years-to-life sentences and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.
In the spring of 2003, the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Department of Justice's CEOS and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), formed the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address the growing problem of children forced into prostitution. This program brings state and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers all from around the country to NCMEC, where the groups are trained together. In addition, CEOS has reinforced the training by assigning prosecutors to help bring cases in those cities plagued by child prostitution.
ICE's participation in the Clearwater Area Human Trafficking Task Force is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 . This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1011/101108tampa.htm
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29 charged with sex trafficking juveniles
November 2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Local, state and federal law enforcement officers in Nashville, Tenn., Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., on Monday began arresting 29 individuals who were listed in a federal indictment which was unsealed listing various charges, including sex trafficking juveniles and conspiring to sex traffic juveniles, obstruction of justice, perjury, auto theft and credit card fraud. The 24-count indictment was announced at a press conference in Nashville by Jerry E. Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, and John Morton, Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Also appearing at the news conference were the following law enforcement leaders in this investigation: Sarah Beth Pulliam, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), U.S. Secret Service, Nashville Field Office; Amy Hess, SAC, FBI Memphis Field Office; Mark Gwyn, Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI); Ken Reed, Assistant Chief, St. Paul Police Department; and Chief Steve Anderson of the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department.
The indictment results from an investigation that began in 2008 and alleges that the defendants are involved in or are associates of the following gangs which are connected to one another: the Somali Outlaws, the Somali Mafia, and the Lady Outlaws.
"Human traffickers abuse innocent people, undermine our public safety, and often use their illicit proceeds to fund sophisticated criminal organizations," said ICE Director Morton. "ICE is committed to bringing these criminals to justice and rescuing their victims from a life in the shadows. We will continue to fight the battle to end human trafficking both here in the United States and around the globe."
"Trafficking children for sex is intolerable and the Department of Justice will aggressively enforce trafficking and other laws to eliminate these types of deplorable acts," said U.S. Attorney Martin. "As shown here today, law enforcement agencies at every level will come together to bring the full force of justice to bear on individuals who choose to profit by victimizing innocent children."
The indictment alleges that between 2000 and 2010, members and associates of the gangs transported underage Somali and African-American females from the Minneapolis area to Nashville for the purpose of having the females engage in sex acts for money and other items of value. The indictment alleges the defendants used some girls for sex trafficking who were 13 years old and younger. The indictment also alleges that an 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted. Sex trafficking offenses carry a penalty of not less than 15 years to life in prison.
The indictment further charges that members and associates of the gangs conspired to obstruct the investigation and committed perjury during the course of testimony before the federal grand jury investigating the case. The indictment also alleges that members and associates of these gangs stole a motor vehicle and used it to engage in credit card fraud, which amounted to a $231,000 loss to one credit card company in about a one-year period.
"Today's arrests demonstrate the importance of cooperation between state, local and federal law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of organized crime," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Hess. "Criminal organizations are not limited by physical boundaries or state lines. The crimes of human trafficking, especially for the sex trade, and identity theft reach across our nation and directly, sometimes permanently, impact the lives of victims and their families. The FBI will continue to focus on the disruption and dismantlement of these organizations and bring them to justice."
TBI Director Gwyn said, "This case is proof of how critical criminal intelligence support and analytical support is to an investigation. The information sharing and dedication by law enforcement agencies in this case is a testament to the lengths agencies will go to protect children." Those charged in the indictment are identified as:
- Abdifitah Jama Adan, aka "Shorty," aka "Faleebo," aka "Kuzzo," 28;
- Abdullahi Sade Afyare, aka "Forehead,"19;
- Ahmad Abnulnasir Ahmad, aka "Fabulous,"23;
- Yahya Jamal Ahmed, 23;
- Abdikarim Osman Ali, aka "Homer," aka "Big Abdi," 22;
- Musse Ahmed Ali, aka "Fat Boy," 23;
- Hassan Ahmed Dahir, aka "Mohamed Ali Hussein," 21;
- Fadumo Mohamed Farah, aka "Naana Naana," aka "Gangster Boo," aka "Barnie," 25;
- Idris Ibrahim Fahra, aka "Chi Town," 22;
- Yasin Ahmed Farah, 19;
- Abdullahi Hashi, aka "Kamal," 24;
- Fatah Haji Hashi, aka "Jerry," aka "Jr," 23;
- Abdirahman Abdirazak Hersi, aka "Biggie," 20;
- Muhiyadin Hassan Hussein, aka "CD," 22;
- Dahir Nor Ibrahim, aka "Dahir Lucky," 38;
- Abdifatah Bashir Jama, aka "Cash Money," aka "Ohio," 23;
- Andrew Kayachith, aka "AK," 20;
- Abdigadir Ahmed Khalif, aka "Awali," 24;
- Bashir Yasin Mohamud, aka "Br," 26;
- Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed, 22;
- Fuad Faisal Nur, aka "Hanjule," 24;
- Abdifatah Sharif Omar, aka "British," aka "Pinky," 25;
- Liban Sharif Omar, aka "Sunderra," 21;
- Mohamed Sharif Omar, aka "Moe D," aka "Mojo," 26;
- Hamdi Ali Osman, aka "Big Hamdi," aka "Boss Lady," 22;
- Haji Osman Salad, aka "Hollywood," 20;
- Bibi Ahmed Said, 19;
- Ahmed Aweys Sheik, aka "Rear Hammer," aka "Abdul," 24; and
- Yassin Abdirahman Yusuf, aka "Junior," aka "Black Cat Junior," 21.
This case was investigated by the ICE Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Paul Police Department, the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Van Vincent, of the Middle District of Tennessee, is prosecuting this case.
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1011/101108nashville.htm
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From the FBI
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Sixty-Nine Children Rescued During Operation Cross Country V
November 8, 2010
Washington, D.C.
Over the past 72 hours, the FBI, its local and state law enforcement partners, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concluded Operation Cross Country V, a three-day national enforcement action as part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative. The operation included enforcement actions in 40 cities across 34 FBI divisions around the country and led to the recovery of 69 children who were being victimized through prostitution. Additionally, nearly 885 others, including 99 pimps, were arrested on state and local charges.
“Child prostitution continues to be a significant problem in our country, as evidenced by the number of children rescued through the continued efforts of our crimes against children task forces,” said Shawn Henry, executive assistant director of the FBI's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “There is no work more important than protecting America's children and freeing them from the cycle of victimization. Through our strategic partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies, we are able to make a difference.”
Task Force operations usually begin as local actions, targeting such places as truck stops, casinos, street “tracks,” and Internet websites, based on intelligence gathered by officers working in their respective jurisdictions. Initial arrests are often violations of local and state laws relating to prostitution or solicitation. Information gleaned from those arrested often uncovers organized efforts to prostitute women and children across many states. FBI agents further develop this information in partnership with U.S. Attorney's Offices and the U.S. Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and file federal charges where appropriate.
To date, the 39 Innocence Lost Task Forces and Working Groups have recovered over 1,200 children from the streets. The investigations and subsequent 625 convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including multiple 25-years-to-life sentences and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.
In the spring of 2003, the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Department of Justice's CEOS and NCMEC, formed the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address the growing problem of children forced into prostitution.
“The leadership of the FBI and the Justice Department in attacking domestic child trafficking and prostitution is historic,” said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “Once again, Operation Cross Country has awakened the nation to the fact that today, American children are being marketed and sold for sex in American cities. These kids are victims. This is 21st century slavery. We are proud to be a part of this extraordinary partnership to rescue children, save lives, and bring the pimps and operators to justice.”
This program brings state and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers all from around the country to NCMEC, where the groups are trained together. In addition, CEOS has reinforced the training by assigning prosecutors to help bring cases in those cities plagued by child prostitution.
The FBI thanks the over 2,100 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers representing 186 separate agencies who participated in Operation Cross Country and ongoing enforcement efforts.
The charges announced today are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
For more information on Operation Cross Country and the Innocence Lost National Initiative, visit www.fbi.gov, www.justice.gov, or www.ncmec.org.
http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/occv_110810 |
