6.24.19

East Hartford Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Minor

ALEXANDER PEDRAZA, 28, of East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for sex trafficking of a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Pedraza promoted the prostitution of a 16-year-old girl by advertising the victim’s prostitution services and soliciting clients on Backpage.com. In March 2017, he harbored the victim in motel rooms he rented in Hartford, Windsor and East Windsor, where clients met the victim and paid for sex acts. Pedraza also had sexual contact with the victim.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/east-hartford-man-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-sex-trafficking-minor

6.25.19

Portsmouth man accused of sex trafficking 17-year-old girl

Tuesday, 29-year-old Timothy Williams pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking a minor.

The case started in February with a call to the National Human Trafficking Hotline about a 17-year-old who was possibly being trafficked, according to records.

Records state the tipster said the teenage girl was facing severe physical abuse and was moving around to different hotels.

https://wtkr.com/2019/06/25/portsmouth-man-accused-of-sex-trafficking-a-minor/

'Living through hell': The invisible truth of sex trafficking in Central Pennsylvania

Born in Williamsport and shuffled from home to home throughout the county, Lynaugh Bobst made it through her entire childhood as a victim of sex trafficking.

“I showed every marker for severe abuse and the services weren’t there,” Bobst said. “If we can break down the stigma, people are going to be more comfortable talking about their experiences … then we can get services and we can get the resources to fund those services and then people can heal – we deserve to heal.”

Sex trafficking is a $150 billion industry that grew from a measly $34 billion in just about 10 years. It reaches across the globe and Lycoming County is no exception.

https://www.northcentralpa.com/life/living-through-hell-the-invisible-truth-of-sex-trafficking-in/article_fdd5e6fc-9770-11e9-b280-1f35976903a7.html

Stolen trucks believed to be used for human trafficking, smuggling, Liberty County officials say

Investigators said there has been a spike in truck thefts since December 2018 and seven of the most recent trucks that were recovered seemed to be altered for transporting people.

The windows were blacked out, the back seats and rear paneling were removed and investigators found clothing and food in at least one of the seven trucks.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/stolen-trucks-believed-to-be-used-for-human-trafficking-smuggling-liberty-county-officials-say

6.26.19

Minnesota man charged with attempted sex trafficking after Homeland Security sting

Terrance Nordwall of Faribault agreed to pay $200 each for teen girls, feds say

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/minnesota-teen-prosttitution-terrance-nordwall-homeland-security-sting-20190626

Convicted human trafficker caught with stolen IDs, credit cards in Hill Country Village

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — A man already on federal probation for human trafficking is in deeper trouble after getting caught with stolen driver licenses, credit cards and mail.

Hill Country Village police say they stopped a suspicious vehicle on South Tower in early morning hours of April 30th because it had been driving around with no tail lights.

Inside the car, police said Wednesday the driver, Alfredo Garcia Jr., was found with several driver licenses, credit cards and over 100 pieces of mail — none of which belonged to him.

https://www.ktsa.com/convicted-human-trafficker-caught-with-stolen-ids-credit-cards-in-hill-country-village/

Insider: Was Tom Cruise aware of an alleged kidnapping & human trafficking ring inside the Church of Scientology?

Us Weekly reported that an anonymous woman sued Miscavige and the Church of Scientology on June 18, alleging kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, false imprisonment, libel, slander, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Sources have since told the tabloid that Cruise, 57, a famous follower of the controversial religion, is incredibly involved in the sect and would know of any crimes transpiring inside of it.

https://www.crimeonline.com/2019/06/26/insider-was-tom-cruise-aware-of-an-alleged-kidnapping-human-trafficking-ring-inside-the-church-of-scientology/

6.27.19

3 men charged with running sex, drug trafficking ring out of ABQ motel

16 human trafficking survivors were staying in the rooms.

The documents state that the motel’s manager, Kamal Bhula, orchestrated the drug and human trafficking ring, and his employees, convicted felons Jonathan Craft and Willie Horton served as "lookouts," "security" and “enforcers."

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/3-men-charged-with-running-sex-drug-trafficking-ring-out-of-abq-motel/5405561/

rel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Horton

Springfield man charged in sex trafficking ring in federal court

SPRINGFIELD – A city man accused of coercing multiple women into prostitution, keeping their earnings and beating them was charged with sex trafficking today in federal court.

William Coleman, 48, was charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and nine counts of sex trafficking in U.S. District Court in Springfield.

https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/06/springfield-man-charged-in-sex-trafficking-ring-in-federal-court.html

North Korea Threatens US After State Department Exposes Sex Trafficking Details

The State Department’s human trafficking report released on June 20 ranks North Korea as a “Tier 3” country along with China and various African and Middle Eastern nations. Tier 3 is the category the State Department says warrants the most concern.

https://dailycaller.com/2019/06/27/north-korea-sex-trafficking/