UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL I am gratified that the defendants are all now off the streets and in custody pending trial on these charges, said U.S. Attorney McSwain. President Obama said there is a need to do more to fight against the exploitation of human beings for profit. 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 U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Philadelphia Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking A Child, Eastern District of Pennsylvanias U.S. Attorneys Office Hosts Presentation on Autism-Based Discrimination in Schools, Camps, and Childcare Facilities, One Leader of a Violent Sex Trafficking Gang Sentenced to Life and a Consecutive Ten Years Imprisonment, and a Gang Associate Sentenced to 37 years Imprisonment, Chester County Doctor Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Operating Pill Mill Out of Main Line Pain Clinic. Philadelphia Children's Alliance. To view information on the trainings our Coalition offers, please see the Training Catalogue. 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. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Have a question about Government Services? A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Text the letters "Befree" or the numbers 233733 to reach the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. Andre Michael Felts, aka Dre and Plug, 32, and Kevin Michael Francis, aka Kev, 60, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to sex traffic a minor and four counts of sex trafficking a minor. After a few days they are trafficking them. So far the Thats why there has to be an entire paradigm shift.The average girls who enters this is about 13.. More are involved than we realize.. We get calls from as far away as Pittsburgh where girls have been taken. Have a question about Government Services? 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Lock Address: Nationalities Service Center 1216 Arch Street, 4th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 Official websites use .gov An official website of the United States government. Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL When DHS or police identify a child that exhibits red flags, they send that child to PCA for a full assessment. A Warner Bros. Furthermore, travelers who frequent turnpike rest stops, ride public transportation or stay in hotels can quickly recognize when a human trafficking victim may be approaching them for assistance. 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. 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.. Consequently, in order to rescue human trafficking victims, one must know how to identify them, the warning signs, and how to help them. 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. 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. 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 CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Address: 990 Spring Garden Street, Suite 300,Philadelphia, PA 19123 WebHuman Trafficking | Philadelphia | Battle4Children Charities You're not a victim for sharing your story. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Blue Campaign, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Based on the results of that assessment, PCA will secure services for the child. Main Office: The minor was rescued from Ossais vehicle after he was pulled over in Tinicum Township. Media Contact A locked padlock 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. 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. WebPhiladelphia Men Charged with Child Sex Trafficking. WebIf you are victim of human trafficking and need help or suspect that someone else is a victim: Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Those who so victimize vulnerable kids do untold physical and emotional harm. At least Phone: 215-832-0900. Nationalities Service Center Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL As many are gathering in front of large flat screen televisions during Super Bowl Sunday surrounded by trays of hors doeuvres, party platters and beer, an underground network will also be working hard. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Kelly Sagastume, Program Manager, Project PROTECT, ksagastume@sccalaw.org, Dana Bernhaut, Child Policy Associate, dbernhaut@sccalaw.org. 215-861-8300. Have a question about Government Services? 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. 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 Philadelphia Police Department learned of the prostitution operation by surveying Backpage advertisements and conducted an undercover sting operation at the premises in June 2011. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Philadelphia Man Charged With Forcible Sex Trafficking of Multiple Victims Including a Minor, 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. In September 2019, Horne was convicted at trial of three counts of sex trafficking minors by force, fraud or coercion. The children were cleaning blood and animal parts off the floor of meatpacking plants by night and going to school by day, the Labor Department investigators said. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA As part of the scheme, the defendant recruited, enticed and maintained three minor children, one of whom was as young as 13 years old, to engage in commercial sexual encounters. 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. 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. The toll-free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year in more than 200 languages. Its even more difficult to ascertain who are being forced or coerced into the trade. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Delaware County District Attorneys Office, the Bensalem Police Department, the Media Borough Police Department, the Tinicum Township Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department. 6:45 PM EDT, Sat March 20, 2021. A lock ( We will continue to work collectively to investigate these destructive crimes against the most vulnerable victims., Using physical threats to control another human being, to force them into sexual exploitation, is unconscionable, said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The defendants allegedly used their cell phones to post advertisements of the victims on a website which is known to be used for advertising sexual services for a fee, directed the minors to participate in commercial sex acts, and took a portion of the proceeds on each occasion. He even transported them to other cities and states, determined to keep the money coming in at their expense. PCA conducts forensic interviews and offers therapeutic services specializing in understanding the needs and experiences of trafficking survivors. Its a hard statistic, but 1 in 6 children reported missing in the U.S. are likely victims of child sex trafficking, one of WebTuesday, August 11, 2020. The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. 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. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We, as a society, have to begin facing up to it. 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