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The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations. Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Special Agent in Charge Michel J. Driscoll of the FBIs Philadelphia Field Division made the announcement. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. Why? He even transported them to other cities and states, determined to keep the money coming in at their expense. You can also TEXT HELP to BeFree (233733). Blue Campaign, U.S. Department of Homeland Security UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124, 2023 All rights reserved. The FBIs Philadelphia Field Division is investigating the case and received significant assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. The dates would take place at the home that Smith leased and the females gave 100 percent of their cash earnings to Smith. Apr 1, 2016 Local Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. Have a question about Government Services? Though local statistics are difficult to come by, the one thing that experts agree on is that girls and young women are its primary victims. Have a question about Government Services? Three Philadelphia men were charged, by a federal grand jury, in an indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for their roles in a sex trafficking operation that exploited numerous minors from 2016 through 2017. WebCHILD SEX ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING CHILD USA works to create a safer world for children by reforming the statutes of limitation for child sex abuse, working to end child marriage, and the abuse and neglect of athletes. When the minors were rescued and Adams learned he was under investigation by the FBI, he allegedly wiped his cell phone clean of all incriminating evidence. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. They provide direct care to juvenile victims of trafficking experiencing homelessness. Their legal aide also includes guidance for survivors interacting with law enforcement, assistance with obtaining legal status, and other referrals to immigrant social services. WebSixteen children considered critically missing were rescued during a four-week operation that concluded this week, according to the US Marshals Service office in Philadelphia. Main Office: The Philadelphia Police Department learned of the prostitution operation by surveying Backpage advertisements and conducted an undercover sting operation at the premises in June 2011. Eastern District of Pennsylvania Free counseling and trauma therapy services offered include individual and group sessions. The Indictment alleges that Felts ran a prostitution ring that recruited and enticed young girls, including one who was only fifteen years old, to engage in commercial sex acts; harbored the victims at various residences for that purpose; transported and provided the victims to males who purchased the commercial sex acts; and collected a portion of the proceeds. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Call the hotline if you are a victim or want to help someone you think is a victim: 1-888-373-7888. WebPhiladelphia Men Charged with Child Sex Trafficking. They educate and provide technical assistance to legislators, policy decision makers, and other stakeholders in order to improve legal responses to CSE. WebHuman Trafficking Task Forces are a coalition of victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, community members, courts and other parties working to combat human The New Day Hotline is also available for 24/7 support to survivors and technical assistance to other professionals. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. PHILADELPHIA United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Artavius Horne, a/k/a Lo, 36, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 45 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert for sex trafficking three children for years. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melanie Babb Wilmoth. The church has a ministry that addresses trafficking in the Philadelphia area. WebAn FBI operation focused on combatting child sex trafficking around the world resulted in the arrests of 15 suspected pimps and associates in the Philadelphia region, authorities Felts was detained pending trial this afternoon, joining his co-defendants, who are also in federal custody. The indictment alleges that Felts ran a prostitution ring that recruited and enticed young females, including minors, to engage in commercial sex acts; harbored the victims at various residences for that purpose; transported and provided the victims to males who purchased the commercial sex acts; and collected a portion of the proceeds. The FBI's Philadelphia Division said that 15 pimps and associates were arrested in the area as part of the takedown, which included participation from the Philadelphia Police Department, suburban police departments and prosecutors' offices and the Pennsylvania State Police. Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street Finally, what is the paradigm shift that must occur in society to finally obliterate human trafficking? WebYoung women and girls are the most at-risk of trafficking, although boys are also trafficked and are less likely to ask for help. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS In 2017, Horne was convicted of similar offenses in Bucks County, PA. Horne committed these heinous acts while on parole for doing the exact same thing, said U.S. Attorney McSwain. Yet it is clear that this and other types of trafficking are not just limited to certain times of the year. Discovery Company. In September 2019, Horne was convicted at trial of three counts of sex trafficking minors by force, fraud or coercion. An official website of the United States government. Also according to court documents, Adams and Kendall each coerced the minors into having sex with them on multiple occasions, and Hampton-Devero instructed one of the minor victims to record commercial sex acts on her cell phone for Devero to post online to attract more sex buyers. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. WebPHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that John Adams, 41, Mercedes Hampton-Devero, 28, Malachai Kendall, 20, and Chukuw Ossai, We cannot use terms like child prostitution. Smith would photograph each female in his home with his camera and, using his laptop computer, would create an Internet advertisement for each on a website known as Backpage.com. Eastern District of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL WebIn January 2020, we convened the Philadelphia Juvenile Anti-Trafficking Coalition, gathering 50+ public and private agencies to collaborate on identifying gaps in services for trafficked These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Tinicum Township Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department, and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erica Kivitz. Rich Walls of North Philadelphia learned much from an all-male workshop held at Enon last year. He admitted that he had to examine himself as to whether he lusted after young women young enough to be his daughter. The Project PROTECT (Philadelphia Response & Outreach To End Child Trafficking) will support the continued advancement of Philadelphias juvenile human trafficking court, Working to Restore Adolescent Power (WRAP Court), and related programs serving child victims of human trafficking. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. He has no regard for the law -- or even basic human decency -- as evidenced by his willingness to sell the bodies of children for sex to benefit himself. WebTuesday, August 11, 2020. Please contact WOAR via the 24-hour Philadelphia Sexual Violence hotline:215-985-3333. Enoch Smith, 36, a/k/a Drees, a/k/a Idris, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted today of all charges including sex PCA also conducts comprehensive assessments for children who are at risk or prevent red flags of being commercially sexually exploited. Phone: 1-888-373-7888 Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Have a question about Government Services? If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyWilliams on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 The minor was rescued from Ossais vehicle after he was pulled over in Tinicum Township. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Main Office: Kevin Smith allegedly did just that to three young women and a child. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a nationalanti-trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of lifetime imprisonment. Deputy US marshals assigned to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force led the operation along with personnel from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, Bucks County Children Youth Services, the Philadelphia Police Departments Human Trafficking Unit, and the FBI. If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyMcSwain on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. Nationalities Service Center Those who so victimize vulnerable kids do untold physical and emotional harm. Have a question about Government Services? Phone: 215-387-9500. The FBI will never stop working to find and help trafficked victims, to protect them from further abuse and keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.. A subsequent forensic examination of Smiths laptop computer revealed two sexually explicit images of Minor 1, both of which were taken prior to her 18th birthday. 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