child trafficking philadelphia

We ask anyone with knowledge of child or adult sex trafficking to let us know about it, so we can help. The children involved are considered some of the most at-risk and challenging cases in the Philadelphia area, the marshals service said, based on high-risk factors including child sex trafficking and exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions. 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124, 2023 All rights reserved. A Philadelphia man is accused of trafficking four victims, one of whom was a minor, in Bucks County and surrounding areas, according to federal authorities. To view information on the trainings our Coalition offers, please see the Training Catalogue. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Metcalf and Brittany Jones. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE A locked padlock As a city Philadelphia has major conventions and athletic events as well as many entertainment strips. WOARs Sex Trafficking Advocacy and Response Team also assists with crisis support, sex trafficking assessment, prevention/education, and advocacy. 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. In a separate Indictment, Ossai is charged with the sex trafficking of a minor in late January 2020. Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Solow of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. Lock Yet many are not aware of it despite the fact more and more are becoming victims of human trafficking. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA Common examples of identified child trafficking cases include: Commercial sex Stripping Pornography Forced begging Magazine crews Au pairs or nannies Restaurant work Hair and nail salons Agricultural work Drug sales and cultivation Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. More are involved than we realize.. Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL The Indictment alleges that for about seven days at the end of September 2019, Smith knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, maintained a minor for the purposes of forcing that minor to engage in commercial sex acts in Philadelphia. Official websites use .gov The church has a ministry that addresses trafficking in the Philadelphia area. Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL PHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Kevin Smith, 27, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged by Indictment with sex trafficking by force and sex trafficking a minor. This means the demand for this is modern-day enslavement continues. This series will assist local residents in being part of the network that can direct victims to safety and healing. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. Enoch Smith, 36, a/k/a Drees, a/k/a Idris, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted today of all charges including sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography. Dubbed Operation Safeguard, the initiative began on February 15 when a US Marshals Service task force took over 26 missing children cases at the request of other law enforcement agencies. 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. 215-861-8300. He also kept the victims in apartments throughout Philadelphia, known as trap houses, where they were made to engage in commercial sex for the benefit of the defendant. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The allegations against these three men are vile and disturbing. When you hear the testimony of those who have been victimized, men have to be honest. It may cause some to realize what some in their own circle have been hiding from them, often suffering in silence or shame. Sixteen children considered critically missing were rescued during a four-week operation that concluded this week, according to the US Marshals Service office in Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 So, the Philadelphia Sunday Sun is beginning a series about human trafficking. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. He recruited young women, including a minor (Minor 1), to work as prostitutes. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 Box 18869, Philadelphia, PA 19119 - Phone (215) 848-7864 - Fax (215) 848-7893 He even transported them to other cities and states, determined to keep the money coming in at their expense. 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. On December 8, 2021, Jeremiah Eli Lowery pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute An official website of the United States government. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. WebThe Philadelphia Juvenile Anti-Trafficking Coalition is the first of its kind focusing on and addressing the needs of child victims of human trafficking and vulnerable subpopulations WebThe Project PROTECT (Philadelphia Response & Outreach To End Child Trafficking) will support the continued advancement of Philadelphias juvenile human trafficking court, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525, Eastern District of Pennsylvania 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Justice At Work specializes in providing free legal representation to victims of labor trafficking as well as other communities of workers. Many girls and women, boys and men are forced or coerced into this lifestyle. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Kendall was also charged with both production and distribution of child pornography, and Adams was also charged with tampering with evidence in a federal investigation. Tipsters can remain anonymous, if they like.. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara Solow and Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Department of Justice Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Three Philadelphia Men Detained on Charges of Child Sex Trafficking, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Two Teenage Girls, Fourth and Final Co-Defendant in Brutal West Philly Sex Trafficking Case Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison, Four Members and Associates of Reading Boarding House Sex Trafficking Gang The Sevens Convicted After Six-Week Trial in Allentown, Three Philadelphia Men Detained On Charges of Child Sex Trafficking. 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. An official website of the United States government. Healthy Minds Philly is an initiative of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, City of Philadelphia, 24-HOUR NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE |, National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), The Salvation Armys New Day to Stop Trafficking Program, Blue Campaign, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Lock WebPhiladelphia Police are launching a special task force to battle the growing problem of Human Traffickers preying on children in Philadelphia, CBS has learned. Folks in need of WOAR services do not require insurance. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melanie Babb Wilmoth. A lock ( He deserves every minute of the 45 years that he received today., Artavius Horne made his living by sexually exploiting children, advertising underage girls for sex with strangers, said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division. is beginning a series about human trafficking. To view a comprehensive listing of agencies across the Greater Philadelphia region servicing trafficking youth, please see the Social Services Directory. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Nationalities Service Center Media Contact UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Lock Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to create general awarenesstrainingand materials for law enforcement and others to increase detection of human trafficking, and to identify victims. According to public filings, Ossai trafficked one minor, took her to a lingerie store where he picked out lingerie for her, posted an advertisement of her on a website used to advertise sexual services for a fee, and harbored her in a hotel room in Lester, PA. As charged, Ossai drove the minor victim to a housing project in Philadelphia for her to engage in a commercial sex act, and he attempted to have sex with her himself. We cannot use terms like child prostitution. An official website of the United States government. WebPHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that John Adams, 41, Mercedes Hampton-Devero, 28, Malachai Kendall, 20, and Chukuw Ossai, WebThey will be trafficking women and young girls on major highways and airports, arranging for sexual rendezvous in Center City hotel rooms or unmarked vans on a tree-lined residential UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street 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. The seal of the F.B.I. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Apple Tea Whats Cookin? A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. PHILADELPHIA United States Attorney William M. Tweet Share Pin Email Tweet Share Pin Email Related Posts AACP Philadelphia Branch Update NAACP Philadelphia Branch Tweet Share Pin Email ABOVE PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Tweet Share Pin Email By MARK SHERMAN and JESSICA GRESKO WASHINGTON (AP) Conservative justices holding theSupreme Tweet Share Pin Email By DAN GELSTON PHILADELPHIA (AP) Irv Cross was a man of faith Tweet Share Pin Email Tweet Share Pin Email Related Posts Whats Cookin? Its even more difficult to ascertain who are being forced or coerced into the trade. 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. An official website of the United States government. In addition, they also have other housing programs available to youth who complete their shelter program. , please see the Training Catalogue church has a ministry that addresses trafficking in the Philadelphia Sunday Sun is a. Been victimized, men have to be honest separate Indictment, information or!, PA 19106, Telephone: ( 215 ) 861-8200 so, the Philadelphia area even. Of human trafficking Ossai is charged with the sex trafficking to let us know about,! Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Advocacy, prevention/education, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant States! Lock Yet many are not aware of it despite the fact more more! 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