Nationwide Sweep Busts Child Sex Rings
Posted on July 9, 2008
Filed Under Child Abuse, Criminal Law, Felonies, Law, Los Angeles, News, Sex Offenders |
In a nationwide crackdown on child sex trafficking, at least 21 children were recovered and 345 people arrested, 290 of them adult prostitutes. Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento were among the 16 major metropolitan areas targeted in the recent 5-day sweep conducted by the FBI, Department of Justice and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A similar sweep five years ago rescued 433 children and led to the conviction of 308 defendants for prostitution, child prostitution, child pornography and conducting sex trade operations.
Dubbed “Operation Cross Country,” the recently completed operation sought to expose child prostitution rings and rescue children being sold as sex slaves. Exposure of sex trade operations is problematic because their fluidity, explained Dave Dustin of the FBI. Criminal organizations move between states frequently to prevent detection. “These girls and boys sometimes are traded and going back and forth,” said Dustin.
Teenage girls are particularly vulnerable, said Second Chance director Mary Schmidbauer. Second Chance supports the victims of prostitution. ”One of the reasons that prostitution is as insidious as it is, girls are right at the age where they are seeking independence, becoming women. Someone comes along and treats them like an adult. (Prostitution) feeds on any insecurity that a teenage girls has.”
Children caught in the sex trade — child prostitutes and sex slaves — are generally so manipulated by or fearful of the adults who control them that they don’t realize law enforcement officers could help them. While many never have an opportunity to seek help, those who do may hide or flee from police believing that they are criminals.
In California, solicitation for prostitution is a misdemeanor; but pandering (also called pimping) is a felony charge. Both prostitute and “John” are aggressively prosecuted. However, children forced into prostitution are considered victims, not criminals. If you are arrested for prostitution or a sex crime, an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you.
-LegalPro
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