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Subscribe to RSSFBI Operation Cross Country has rescued 79 children, victims of child prostitution and arrested 104 pimps nationwide.
A three-day sweep by police agencies across the country has led to the removal of 79 teenagers from a life of prostitution and the arrest of more than a hundred pimps, the FBI reported on Tuesday.
Hundreds of FBI agents and thousands of state and local law-enforcement officers targeted the Internet as well as such places as truck stops, casinos and "tracks" where prostitutes are known to walk the street in the crackdown.
The teenagers -- 77 girls and two boys -- ranged in age from 13 to 17. They are being held in custody until they could be placed with child welfare organizations, Reuters reported.
The FBI said 104 suspected pimps were arrested during sting operations in 57 U.S. cities including Atlanta, Sacramento, and Toledo, Ohio.
It was the sixth nationwide sweep -- called Operation Cross Country -- organized as part of the FBI’s Innocence Lost National Initiative to address the growing problem of child sex trafficking in the United States.
Information gleaned from those arrested often uncovers organized prostitution rings, the FBI said.
"It is clear that child prostitution and sex trafficking do not just occur somewhere else on the other side of the world," Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a partner in the effort, said in a news release. "These insidious crimes are occurring in American cities and the victims are American kids."
The average age of a child targeted for prostitution in the United States is between 11 and 14 years old, FBI assistant director Kevin L. Perkins told the Senate Judiciary Committee in March.
Police: Mother forced daughter into prostitution
The youngest victim ever recovered through Innocence Lost was 9, FBI spokesman Jason Pack told msnbc.com.
Since 2003, Innocence Lost task forces and work groups have taken more than 2,200 children off the streets, leading to 1,017 convictions, the FBI said.
Perhaps the highest profile case was the 2005 "Precious Cargo" investigation that targeted pimps involved in sex trafficking of children and female adults at trucks stops in Harrisburg, Pa. More than 150 victims were identified, 45 of whom had been identified as being exploited as children. In all, 18 people were indicted on federal crimes in that investigation. The ring leaders, Terrance Williams, aka "Sleazy T," and Eric Kays, aka "International Ross," were both sent to prison for more than 35 years.
People can report suspected sexual exploitation of children at cybertipline.com, or call 1-800-843-5678.
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It's a start anyway. Does noone else see any links between news stories?? We should all go out to Hooters to celebrate this win. (sarcasm)
Yes. Two days ago there was a story requesting the publics' help identifying a young boy and so many twerps here passed it of as irrelevant.
Gosh, I wonder if D.C. was included on the list of stings.
And, I wonder why a similar program to conduct stings on the Sanctuary Cities for Illegal Aliens (Immigrants) and drug smugglers has not been conducted.
I think they should have scouted the females for at least a week and written down the license plate numbers of every single john, along with pictures and proof. Then arrested the pimps, prostitutes, and johns all together.
79 prostitutes taken off the streets in 50 states over 3 days by hundreds of FBI agents and thousands of state and local law enforcement officials. They'd be better off just giving $100,000 to each teenage prostitute they see under the condition that they go back to school in another state.
You missed the mark on that one. What ever they spent was worth it!
??are they are planning a Secrect Service Convention
lol... Mr.P...too funny. Now all they have to do is get the other 249,921 teen prostitutes still roaming around. At least it looks good to the uninormed masses... ::rolls eyes::
its an election year boys and girls
Really, 3 days and all they could net nationwide was 104 suspected pimps and 79 teenagers...if they spent three hours in some of our cities they could double those results. I wonder how many agents were engaged in this action and if they required any state or local assistance?
Maybe name the johns in the public media to put an end to the demand side of the pimps economy.
@ wizard
I didn't even consider that angle...Fewer teen male and female protitutes on the streets, does reduce the chances the Politicians will get caught with one...smart...
@ Mr.Phea LMAO...
Your showing the effects of the DREAM Act. Whore 101.
I saw the story about that boy as well. How scary and sad!! I hope that they are able to find him. The thing that crossed my mind was that by putting his face on the internet they may have ended his life. Since he would be of no further use to his captors why would they keep him. It is just horrifying.
j70141 in Colorado, they should also post the name of the Johns and charge them with pedophilia and put them on the sex offender's lists.
It's called the oldest known profession for a reason. They can spend all the money in the world and it won't change or eliminate prostitution. It's a complete waste of money and resources. It's the same old rerun. There have always been and there will always be prostitutes.
Also, what is the difference between a prostitute and a porno actress? They both get payed to have sex. I think it's the dumbest law ever. We are supposed to be the land of the free right? You can have sex all the time, anytime, but when money exchanges hands it's a crime? Once again if it was legal and regulated this would not be a problem. This whole comment excludes underage people of course. That is a whole different catagory.
We are all hookers in one aspect or another. We get paid, be it dinner a movie or just getting in my wallet to get money for a new pair of shoes.
@we all
It goes much deeper than that (pun intended)...though our Job Desciption may not include, bending over and taking it up the back side...it sure does seem to be what we get a paycheck for...(more often than not
I can't believe that you would say that rescuing children (yes, 13-17 year olds are still children) from this life is a waste of money and resources. How can you compare money to the life of a child?
Many of these kids were forced into this lifestyle. They are not "choosing" this profession. They are intimidated by pimps and have no other choice. Those that are "choosing" it by themselves feel that they have no other hope and are in survival mode...whatever they have to do to eat. Do you think that these kids are happy and we should just leave them alone because they "chose" this?
If prostitution were "legal and regulated" as you state, it still would not be legal for those under 18 who do not have the ability to choose for themselves! Their brains have not even fully developed to be able to make those choices clearly! And if you think that it should be legal for children, then I hope that your heart will convict you of the sickness that is within.
Oh, right. The FBI "rescued" them. To a life of hopelessness, joblessness, and despair in today's economics. Thanks, FBI.
Rather than making prostitution a crime, make it a job like any other. Where there are things you can't do to the women (beat them or pay them in drugs, for instance). Or instead of criminalizing it, make it a church run charity again, for people who can't find jobs (heck, they could be more like escorts or hired dates than true prostitutes). Originally, prostitutes were priestesses of Ishtar. They do what they have to at night, but are forgiven and have a safe place to sleep. This beats being pimped and controlled.
Disapointed, when we can't see the difference between watching porn with adult players and a 13yr old hooker, then our civilization is doomed.
Prostitution will never completely be elimnated. The 104 pimps should be prosecuted to the fullest extend the law allows, taken off the streets, locked up and force to room with "Bubba" while they're inside.
Geesh and Janine,
please read the last 2 sentences of my comment you nitwits.
"This whole comment excludes underage people of course. That is a whole different catagory"
Dumb azzes. You are both complete morons, and I'm serious, if you got that I think underage prostitution is ok out of my comment.
Oh right, the "fully developed" argument. In Mexico, you know what the Quincenara (my spelling is horrible) celebration really means? It's because in Mexico, unlike there, the legal age is 15. In some countries of Islam it's a low as 12. At about that point, however, I have some doubts , but NOT at 15. If you're old enough to think about boys, you're old enough to know what you want. I was 18+ before I pursued women, and I've regretted the inexperience ever since. They call 13-17 year olds "children" under this argument, but it's bunk. An 11-year old is still a child. Thirteen is not still a child (it has a "teen" prefix for a reason, they're teens at that age) but just barely, and seventeen? Give me a break. At 15-16 some teens have finished developing, but they have to wait two years under some laws (there is no universal age of consent, set at 18, that's a myth. But most states with lower age don't go below about 15) in order to do anything.
So yes, I do think we should leave them to this choice. For it's a far better one than getting left to die on the streets because "it might be improper" to turn tricks.
What the HELL, Bob? Most prostitutes are victims rather than criminals (prostitution is a crime, but this doesn't mean they are hurting anyone, so what's with this fullest extent business). To suggest they get locked up with some serial rapist... what is wrong with you?
Dissapointed - They don't understand that if it was legal then it would be a hell of a lot easier to find under age girls. Since no "bunny ranch" would hire an underage girl. And that walking the streets would still be illegal. So all they would have to to do is surf the web and check id's on suspected underage girls. But in reality alot of people don't like personal freedoms, they rather have the government tell them what to do or how they can spend their money.
The pimps need to get life for this. there are enough older girls out there they have contributed to their demise. They get them hooked on crack or meth and then they own them.
By your logic, we would be justified spending the entire law enforcement budget to save teenage prostitutes. I do not subscribe to that theory.
Arrest the Johns and charge them with sex crimes against children. According to the Georgia study of sex purchasers most know and don't care that the prostitutes are underage.
Jesus Christ, Thomas, you are a sick bastard! Stop thinking with your dick! Yes, I know you wish it was legal to pork some preteen but it ain't - tough luck! OF COURSE the pimps should get butt slammed daily in prison for destroying these young women's lives! They WILL be scarred, you can bet your life savings on that! Shame on you, you disgusting creep! I hope to high heaven you don't have any young female relatives!
This is not just breaking a minor law like Prostitution. This involves Kidnapping for RAPE. Sometimes over state lines. Each of the 104 Pimps should get consecutive life sentences for each act. And for each girl or boy they have been Pimping. Throw every charge possible at them. At state and Federal levels. Then once convicted put the Faces and names of each one on the front page of every media outlet.
To many youth glorify the Pimps. Make them out to be what they really are. Sick con men child rapists.
Lets see what road shall I take..
A. Getting raped from the high cost of education and student loan debt.or,
B. Getting raped by a filthy pig pimp and his gang.
welcome to NAZIMERICA. im put $20,000 bets the 90% of the FBI and law enforcement involved in this case banged these prostitutes before arresting them. crooks. goverment and polticans can use women all they like but dont let the public do prostitution. dictators. no wonder we have so much crime in america aka nazimercia. cuz they literally do nothing about killers and rapist but go after non violent stuff like this or drugs so they can proudly lead the entire world in jail population. we have more then 25% of the worlds prison population. good waste all the tax money. then cry when they lay law enfocement off. hope karma comes and they will have to let go some FBI agents.
Thomas- big difference between fooling around with your (also teenaged) boyfriend, and being sold by a pimp. I'm not against legalizing prostitution for adults, but anyone who buys an obviously underaged girl or boy needs to have an important part of their anatomy removed.
My god, a lot of postings on this site are so negative! I sure hope some of you people never get into some kind of trouble..your all a bunch of feckin morons..I spit on all you jaded losers! Those kids were between ages 11-14 and probably had bad family lives at home and was probably due to our shetty GOP congress starving this country out. It takes huge resources to coordinate that kind of sting and some of you dont even want police, teachers, and firefighters on the street..Its amazing when we see america's dumbest on these sites..A real slice of todays american'a. I can see why this country is in the toilet..you Lib's and Dems better get your act together bcz these conservastives will have us eating eachother..thats a fact!
I can't say that I believe prostitution of any kind will ever be elimminated no matter what action is taken. I think that even if it were legalized, there would still be "illegal prostitution". There will still be people who would not qualify to be hired as a prostitute because of stds or other medical reasons or age. They would be in business for those who would not qualify as johns due to inability to afford the legal ones, there own medical ailments, age or many other reasons that could be thought of. If it were legalized, it would be expected to have conditions put on it. However, I do believe that legalizing it and setting those conditions such as regular check ups would lower things like the transfer of disease or etc., etc. The sad fact is there will always be horrific crime.
I think what I would have liked to have seen here is what happend after they took these young prostitutes off the streets. Was there a rehabilitation process? Was there any kind of counseling? Was there some kind of guidance in the "right" direction for them? I'm not 100 percent sure on this but my guess is that these kids could use some help and these are the kids we have access to right now. It's this moment that counts.
yeah i understand if it was kids. 13, 14 is way to young for this, pimps should not allow girls that young into this buisness. but lets not be a hyrprocrites. majoriy of prosititutes are in thier 20s and 30s and prostitution sweeps happen all the time. and not all pimps take atvantage of the women, only a few do. and lets not be a hyrprocrite once again, almost every cop uses prostitutes. if its so wrong then why do you do it? so many cops use prosititutes and drugs but yet shady cops arrest ppl for doing the same and then excuses. oh pimps are taking atvantage, keep all the money. if its wrong then why do you do it? not all pimps do that. a pimp is there for the girls safty, without a pimp, a prostitute will be taking atvantage of. also most men tip the prosititute. its a job like porn, strippers or even wifes. wife take cares of the kids, house and man while man works.
I didn't know you were supposed to put people you "rescued" in handcuffs...
M ost of this is bull, there are too many agencies that these "kids' can turn to. churches, police, etc, most of them choose to be out there, don't get confused that they are victims. bull
Establish a special task force across America that looks for these ads, bait the pimps arrest them and rescue the exploited teens.
J yeah exactually- they are all victims, (mmm) They look so afraid and ashamed walking up and down the street shaking their asses asking if somebody needs a date. Uh? Why don't they ask someone to take them to safety, BULL BULL
I would like to know how many, if any, were arrested in Nevada, where prostitution is legal and regulated? It seems to me if prostitution were legal and regulated, you would have less underage prostitutes. Easier to catch the illegal ones, and both 'johns' and pimps would think twice about using underage girls when there is a safe, legal alternative.
Seewhat I mean-I was alluding more to the fact that despite the fact that it has the best intentions, the judicial system still treats these young girls like criminals.
You can't seriously be suggesting an 11 year old chooses to be out on the streets selling himself/herself? That's insane.
IO like to see all the pimps on line . It will make my day.
And the mother pimping her on baby should get life.
Send her to sheriff Joe
Not to worry about the FBI's bragging about removing 79 teen prostitutes from the streets. We all know it's only a very temporary situation. Just the cost of doing business.
the article fails to mention all the pimps arrested were registered Republicans
79 kids out of harms way. I am glad! I wish them well.
Now for the other 100,000............I hope I am wrong, but fear that I am not!!!!!!!!!!
@ Disappointed and Ashamed...We are all prostitutes then, or the johns. We all pay for it one way or another...a diner and a movie...paying the bills....being in a relationship where people buy things for their other half. We take someone out and then have sex after, didn't someone pay for it?
@mark
These people don't vote.
@Colorado
No Johns... Why because a lot of rich people would go down. The truth is these girls will not see any prison time. Will the pimps? Its depends on how much money they got.
It would seem that some people did not really read the article... these are exploited children and young teenagers. Law enforcement was able to nail some the those who exploit innocent children and maybe even the organized crime that is behind it. It is money, effort and time well spent when children are rescued from exploitation and slavery at the hands of disgusting slime that call themselves men.
Sandusky found out what happens when you abuse children and those who exploit these children in this case deserve no less than serious jail time.
I think some of you missed the point big time here. These are underage girls. Regardless of how the body develops in the USA they are underage by our laws (yes I think in some cases of other crimes you can argue that the teenager knew what they did and be tougher on them). I don't give a rats @ss what those people living in stone age middle east do (though I do agree its wrong and shouldn't happen). I'm glad to see this happened, and I hope they continue and crack down on this even more. Hopefully catching more next time. This is worthwhile, not like some crap they waste tons of money on i.e. marijuana drug busts. The pimps who are trafficking these girls should be locked up for a long time (in a work you dawn to dusk boot camp style prison) if it is their first offense and no other major priors, you get one chance. All second time offenders or those with other major priors can be shot for all I care. Trafficking underage girls is wrong and no doubt those they had sex with (forced in almost all situations) probably a good number were pedophiles. Putting these girls in this situation purposely is just as bad as those who violate them and they deserve the same punishment.
As far as legalizing it, I can agree; for adults though (18 or 21 ehh, not sure, leave up to state) - never for underage though. Been around for thousands of years and won't be leaving anytime soon. Make a heavily controlled and licensed environment and go with it. I don't like it and wouldn't want anyone I know to be part of it but at least it should, and likely would, help put a big dent in operations like these. Then you can pick off the violators much easier and give them the appropriate punishments. Another case where the all out ban has caused it to morph into something even worse.
It is time
So I guess all the prostitutes were Democrats............makes sense the Republicans created jobs for the unemployed Democrats.
That was just a stupid post so I had to answer with a stupid yet much more funny response.
Try going up to a prosititute and say: "Give me something I can use. I'll give you $5/hr to clean my house."
As I said freedom is at risk!
Freedom is at risk? So you think that criminals putting children out on the streets to be raped by adults is a right? This should be allowed to happen?
I agree that adult prostitution should be legal, even though I have no desire to make such a transaction myself, but what happens between consenting adults is their own business. But we're talking about minors here, children. You want to be free to pay for the opportunity to rape a child? SICK! Who are you, Rush Limbaugh (you know, the man that regularly makes trips to the Dominican Republic to rape child prostitutes)?
VirginiaDemocrat78 - How did you turn this story of children being victimized, into your hatred of Rush Limbaugh? If you really want to see sexual deviancy, go to youtube and search for Larry Sinclair. Find out which one of your democrat idols was having sex with this man, while smoking crack. I'll give you a clue, it rimes with Obama.
Virginia Democrat...how many illegal's coming across the border are abused and put out on the street...yet, I see no anger at the administration to stop that from happening...why?
I was with VirginiaDemocrat up to the "Who are you" part. That's where you went from common sense citizenship to partisan ass-hattery. It's a shame that you ruined what had been a very good post.
JM - your implied accusation about the president was even lower than what you just accused Virginian of doing.
no implication here....obama and holder are trying to get some GOOD press.
more pandering than the pimps that control these lost children.
Our government is in the business of APPEARING to be fixing something.
Upset, he didn't acuse the president of anything. Read what he wrote again.
I know what Jim 365 means. This country was born on freedom, and the pursuit of happiness, but after we started to decay in to a "secure" nation...or @!$%# it police state, silent warfare, T.V changing our brain's subliminal thought from Beta to Alpha "WHICH IS BAD", Reality t.v making people look at THE @!$%#ING IDIOT BOX AND NOT SEE THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY. We live in a failed society, we are born and instantly a bible, and a t.v is given to us, and we don't ask...I do...here take my some of my knowledge, and trade a blinds man joy for the true pain of reality
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10995 allows the government to seize and control the communication media.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10997 allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuel sand minerals.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10998 allows the government to seize all means of transportation, including personal cars, trucks or vehicles of any kind and total control over all highways, seaports, and waterways.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 10999 allows the government to take over all food resources and farms.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11000 allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11001 allows the government to take over all health, education and welfare functions.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11002 designates the Postmaster General to operate a national registration of all persons.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11003 allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11004 allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11005 allows the government to take over railroads, inland waterways and public storage facilities.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11051 specifies the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Planning and gives authorization to put all Executive Orders into effect in times of increased international tensions and economic or financial crisis.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11310 grants authority to the Department of Justice to enforce the plans set out in Executive Orders, to institute industrial support, to establish judicial and legislative liaison, to control all aliens, to operate penal and correctional institutions, and to advise and assist the President.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11049 assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies, consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over a fifteen year period.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11921 allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to develop plans to establish control over the mechanisms of production and distribution, of energy sources, wages, salaries, credit and the flow of money in U.S.financial institution in any undefined national emergency. It also provides that when a state of emergency is declared by the President, Congress cannot review the action for six months.
Our time is short and our future can not be bought...but you are free to choose a life to live, or one that's left to lose.
Give it up Sandro. People are way to dumb to see this until it actually happens
So, essentially what they have done here is to put into place a systematic set of secret laws that totally cancels out every single facet of life that will turn America into AmeriKKa in an instant at any time they so choose. This nations gov. along with the wealthiest of the wealthy fully intends to take over and rule the entire world. The plan is in place and all they are waiting for now is the most convenient opportunity to strike. I've been saying it for yrs now and it's time is upon us. America is done and over with. AmeriKKa is on our door steps and the monster has begun the countdown to kicking in our doors with one huge synchronized felled swoop. WE ARE DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your head is about to explode!!
were all of them kids even? 17? lets be real. 17? does everything have to be 18 and over? of course no 13-14 year old girl should be involved in this and cops should of stopped that BUT cops arrest prostitutes 18+ all the time. its getting ridiuclous now. espcially the goverment, potlicans and cops are the biggest customers of prosititutes and drugs cuz they know they are above the law. we have more ppl in jail then any1 else in the world. wasting millions of tax dollars on this while ignoring murder and rape and violent crimes. karma will come back when they get laid off. should of thouht about that before wasting it all on this stuff. there is no freedom. its even illegal to pee on the street.
rc, does it hurt your head, being so stupid? I have to believe that being so intensely stupid has to be painful. You have my pity.
Were they picked up with the help of the SS?......
How do you mean, Jim?
Why not name the pimps?
The pimps are all black and the press doesnt want to report that. They look like Obamas son.
laguna,
What an incredibly stupid thing to say.
It sounded racist, but laguna was actually correct. There was a news article in one of the cities listed on what I suspect was the very same story, and every single picture shown was a black male.
For being 6% of the overall population, they sure do make up a huge portion of the pimps.
But funny as hell.....
The pimps may have been black, but since we are talking about having sex with underaged girls and boys we know that the Johns were 97% white males.
Right wing senator fights prostitution while going into men's room at train station to pick up a sex partner. Did i miss something there? lol Gotta love the Moral majority lol
Lamario, it's more PC to say that 97% of the Johns were white than to say that all of the Pimps are black.
For being 6% of the overall population, they sure do make up a huge portion of the pimps.
Actually, blacks make up 13% of the U.S. population. But given that some of these girls are white (see the above photo), I'll bet that some of those pimps are white. Sorry to disappoint those of you who love to stereotype blacks to boost your low self-esteem and your false belief in white racial superiority...actually, I'm not sorry I disappointed you.
Because They're probably all Black
Black MALES make up 6%. And it isn't racist if it is true. I already stated that I had seen the pictures posted in the paper, and they were definately black.
As for the comment about the perpetraters being 97% white, now THAT was racist if I ever heard it. Especially since it had no proof. But since it talks about whites, that's okay then.
j70141
Have you ever seen the show called 'to catch a predator'? If not watch it and see for yourself who 97% of the pedos are. There is your "proof". As for your proof, why should we believe what you claim you have seen in the paper. I also don't believe that they posted the pictures of 104 pimps in your paper.
Just look up the atricle on msn about to catch a predator.
Just like the illegal drug business can't exist without scum druggies, the prostitution business can't exist without azz-ole buyers.
Think about it. People that hire kids for sex ARE pedophiles.
Exactly!! No demand, no supply!
Arizona you are right.... I love to see the citizenry get more involved... The FBI and other law enforcement agency can't do it all... Parenting, reporting suspected abuse, diligence in prosecution combined will "win" this. And let this be a warning to those who favor legalization of drugs... It just opens the "Pandora's Lid" a little further and further sends any semblance of morality down the tubes.
"No demand, no supply" You people just will never get it. Like the war on drugs, this will always be a battle that will last forever. You think this is a new phenomenon? Like drugs it's been here since the beginning of time and won't go away wit arresting Johns or drug addicts. I am not condoning child slavery by any means, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking this will change anything except getting a few people in jail, for awhile anyway. How many of the woman will end ip right back on the street since we have cut most programs designed to help them. If we are going to have any impact in the long run it will have to start with stable families and the type of help we will not see from those who think social/family programs are a waste of time and money.
I'm afraid JR is correct.... Prostitution is said to be the world's second oldest profession, and it won't be eradicated any time soon..... Mao ZeDong came the closest of any leader to 'almost' wipe out prostitution.... It was nearly extinct while he was 'The Chairman' ... Of course he also eradicated 20+ million others in this task, but who's counting.....
Yeah, sure. And trying to enforce your semblance of morality is killing thousands of people and ruing many lives more.
Anytime you outlaw human nature you create a criminal element that will fill the void for the demand of said behaviors. Just as with drug prohibition, making prostitution illegal just creates a black market for sex workers. Of course, no one advocates for child prostitution. That's abhorrent for sure. But, to think one day you will eradicate prostitution, as with drug use and demand, you are living in a dream world. It would be a better world if people faced reality and our legislators passed common sense laws that would benefit everyone.
No, the illegal drug business cannot exist without pro-war on drugs morons pushing for laws against drugs which make the underground market extremely profitable. You are comparing apples and oranges, it is none of your damn business what adults put in their own bodies.
A mere century ago, 12 or 13 was marrying age. Laws change but human nature does not.
This is NOT about pedophilia as all the girls were past puberty. The men who pick up
these girls are a lot of things, but they are NOT pedophiles.
============================
JEM, your comment has totally caught me off guard and I don't know how to respond.
Ineptia
Hard to deny FACTS.
Yes, 12-13 was marrying age. And in the caveman days she'd already have babies. We are living in the modern age, and we're supposed to have progressed beyond letting animal instincts rule us. Mind over matter.
You did catch the line in the article where they said the youngest girl ever recovered was nine, right? I was 'precocious' (had my first period at the age of seven). Does that mean that if sonmeone had raped me at that time it would not have been pedophilia because I'd hit puberty? Thank the Goddess that is not a law, otherwise child molesters would be shoveling hormone pills into toddlers to induce menarche so they'd be free from prosecution!
Now, I will agree that a 16, 17 year old prostitute can look just as developed as an 18 year old adult, but I seriously can't see a thirteen year old being mistaken for an adult by a rational, thinking human being who can see her unclothed. And the article said children--boys and girls--were targeted between the ages of 11 and 14. I have a 10 year old son soon to turn 11 and trust me, there is NO WAY you will mistake him for an 18 year old male prostitute!!!!
You have to be completely delusional to think that this will ever be "won". How many thousands of years we've existed and despite all sorts of sometimes draconian measures (check Islamic countries), this continues to exist.
There's NO WAY this can be won. Did you read the story a few days ago about a cop running a prostitution ring?
You know how the kids would be off the streets? Brothels that are regularly inspected and licensed. I actually feel weird suggesting that, but as a rational, logical person, I can't come to any other conclusion because what we're doing now is not working. 70 kids in 50 states? What's that a joke? Did they just catch one batch of kids working the early morning shift in....New York?
JEM sounds like he is a Pedophile. Who else would directly or indirectly make excuses for this. JEM - because a child is going through puberty, this is Okay? You filthy freak. These are children. Anyone that has teenagers knows this. People like JEM make me sick. He is lucky that he wasn't included in this Law Enforcement Sting...We'll be seeing JEM on "To Catch a Predator.
you may find this shocking but sex feels good, shhhh dont tell anybody
Jerry Sandusky is screaming fom his cell " Hey what about all those johns having sex with underage kids"? {sarcasm off}
If the child they are having sex with is under the legal age then they are a pedophile. Just because the girl has entered puberty does not make her any less of a child and then how do they define boys of the same ages. I agree the johns should have their names made public, why are they being protected.
Arrest the Johns and publish their names and pictures. They need to be registered as sex offenders.
With so many issues to address. Ok first one, someone said if they are under 18, that they can not make choices for themselves. Well Mrs. Brain, let me clue you in on brain development, the frontal cortex of the brain does not completely develop until age 25. Next all these guys are not sex offenders, reminds me of being out downtown club hopin' with the boy's, as one of my buddies pick up this girl and brought her outside, something told me she wasn't 18 yet she looked 18, it was how she spoke, so I inquired, guess what-(what the hell is a 14yr old) doing out, where are her parents? Why the hell was she dressed in a mini skirt and a shirt showing her breasts---had I not inquired my friend could have went to jail. Having said that, many times the men do not know. From a psychological stand point there is a difference between a sex predator-(looking for a victim) and a dumb choice. The problem with this country is we all want to blame someone else for our failures, instead of looking in the mirror. The problem with children is their parents failure to raise them correctly, then passing blame to another for their failure. The police reported they were forced into this, another excuse for the parents to use, for being failures-had they not run away, they would not be doing anything but being a Teen-----why would they run away? When you look at a problem you must take all sides into consideration, but most of you won't because your not educated and believe only what the media says. The first place to start is at home, then come fix our world.
"I agree the johns should have their names made public, why are they being protected."
They aren't just being protected, they're being ELECTED!
Yes, "rescued" to be tossed in cages. We're such heroes.
Irregardless of physical/psychosocial development/abilities, the law generally says that under 18 is considered below legal age of consent. Some states do have 16 or 17 listed, however, it is generally understood via unwritten social contract (in the US) that adult=18. Also, there are exceptions--mentally disabled individuals like my youngest son, who is 9 years old and autistic, may never develop those decision-making skills.
I agree with that and some kids can look very grown up-- my oldest son is in 4th grade in school and he has classmates taller than me! Which is why 'johns' aren't punished/fined heavily unless the other individual is CLEARLY unable to consent/below the age of consent. Whoever paid to 'rent' the 9 year old CLEARLY knew she was underage.
You are assuming that they are all runaways. While a good many of them probably are, there ARE stories of kids going over to a friends' house to visit, friend has older sibling who has a friend who is in the trade, and they deliberately target the child, kidnapping the child, holding them captive and raping, beating, hurting them until they agree to whatever the 'pimp' wants them to do just to get some water, or a bite to eat, or medicine for a painful bruise. From personal experience, I know--when you are being hurt, very badly, you will do ANYTHING to make the pain stop--how much worse then, for a child? We teach our kids from birth hat they are to listen to authority figures. Don't be rude to adult. Be polite and respectful. Listen to your elders.
And the adult takes advantage of that and these children wind up in sexual slavery. That is what this is, this is not prostitution, this is CHILD SEXUAL SLAVERY.
And I'll point out here that your knee-jerk assumption that they were 'runaways' and this is attributable to a parent(s) 'failure to raise them correctly' means you yourself are not taking all sides into consideration. Some of these children pulled off the streets no doubt are runaways, but they could also have been kidnapped or sold, stolen, trafficked, etc. from many different situations.
I don't know if you heard about this--there was a case in CA at the beginning of April where a sixteen year old girl was waiting at a train station when a guy pulled up in a truck and asked her for directions When she stepped close to help him, he threw her in the back of his truck, drove away, and held her captive for 24 hours, during which time he raped her three times, finally dumping her out of the truck in the middle of the highway. She reported the rape, did a rape kit, the DNA matched to a guy named Frank Rackley Sr, a career criminal who had a RAP sheet spanning 20 years, including two prior charges for raping a prostitute in separate incidents.
She repeatedly told the court she was afraid of her attacker and didn't want to testify--she is a minority foster child with no parents, a ward of the state, and he is 30-something 220 pound tattooed skinhead--she identified him to police by the giant swastika tattooed across his chest and stomach, along with various tattoos in other places. She said she was afraid if he was convicted his skinhead buddies would come after her after the trial. When time came for him to come to trial, she didn't show up, the court put out a warrant for her arrest and put her in juvenile detention until the trial to make sure she testified DESPITE a CA law that says a rape victim is not required to testify against her attacker.
Her lawyer raised a fuss. She was subjected to required strip searches while in juvie, she was accidentally tazed while guards were breaking up a fight between two others, sprained an ankle in an unexplained incident. She begged the judge to let her out, she would testify if they let her out, offered to wear a monitoring bracelet, but the judge refused even after an incident in which she was accidentally released from Juvie--she went right back to the group home she'd been living in when it all happened, and despite this show of good faith she was sent back to juvie.
Her lawyer tried to get the ACLU and other civil rights organizations involved, but this was also just as the Martin/Zimmerman fiasco was exploding and more attention was being given to that issue than this one. Citizens were outraged that she, a victim, would be treated as a criminal and had to talk to the judge from the courtroom cage reserved for violent felons and started a letter-writing/petition campaign, saying she should be placed in witness protection.
A couple of womens' rights organizations in Sacramento took up the cause and the judge finally relented and released her with an ankle monitoring bracelet, saying that the state couldn't afford o put her in witness protection. Last I heard the trial was set to start Apr 23, but I haven't been able to find out anything else on how the case ended or where she is at the moment.
Thank you for the reply. Although I find the whole ordeal depressing, I'm not surprised. We live in a world of no accountability. If there's a problem, it's swept under the rug, and those who do so crown themselves as heroes making the world a better place as with the situation in this article or the one you brought up. The victim's well-being is secondary. They'll be marched handcuffed to a cage the same way dirt is swept under a rug. The whole thing is disgusting.
@Emanuel.... "Winning" is a loose term... we can all agree that this is a fight. The winning the fight is in the fighting. We don't give in to scum just because they "keep coming". Why lock your door, Why wear a seat belt... Children from zero on up depend on the adults... it doesn't matter there "evolution" and better "hand eye coordination" in video games... this is an adult world with real problems and im not "disillusioned" to the task, but it is a task that we need to undertake. They depend upon us sir....
Uhmmm.... any correlation to the story of the FBI and ICE asking help finding the teen recently?
And who believes slavery has been abolished. It's just changed form.
You're right about that slavery is still all over the world. It's just hidden away today. Like the old saying, "out of sight, out of mind." It's heartbreaking how they treat these kids & women, they deserve a better chance at life.
I was just about to ask the same thing... I feel like they could be related, hopefully they found that boy too.
I agree XDm9mm. Pathetic number there has to be more than 78 in any large city.
I totally agree, this is just "window dressing" to give the impression that some within our government are actually using moral judgement and trying to make a difference. I would hazzard a guess that any large city would have more than dozens of the slave houses like the one raided in Houston last year. It was run and operated by people from China. For enough money, the police can be bought off as history has shown us. Mexico is the way it now because of the corrupt politicians on both sides of the border.
Wonder how many more will be in the round ups next week? My guess is zero, except 1 by accident. Cops go their headline for the year. Maybe there will be some arrest for impersonating a donut.
Basically what I'm saying, we have an encouraging story like this but no follow up. Will there be any further round ups and how many of those pimps are back on the streets selling the same or other kids?
I live in the South Florida area. Go downtown in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale or even West Palm and you'll see dozens of teenage runaways and/or hookers.
The numbers they did are pathetic and tell me that the whole thing was just to make the papers and/or newscast.....
Would you rather they not have done anything because the scope of the problem is so large?
Or would you rather they not have done anything because the cost of this enforcement action made it too expensive in comparison to the results?
the got a whole 3 in chicago..wouldn't want to much heat on rahm..he's still tap dancing about 15 murder weekends...oh and just to prove he's a good mayor he's gettin $ hand-over-fist to build new train stations.
publish both pimps and ho's photos. the kids maybe be missing from other parts of the USA. Maybe they forgot that they could be missing
Bet if one of those 3 were your child, you would be thankful....or would you?
I am just sooo glad that these were found..There are sooo many more to find..I just can barely stand it,that our kids, or any kids or people are forced into these things..No one has the right to do this to people..Let's keep our ears and eyes open and we can turn more in.
America is now as uncontrolled as the 3rd world countries we proclaim to rescue. When will America's elected officials rescue America? No jobs, no principles, schools are substandard, medical care based only on profit, illegal immigrants have homes and access to all of the benefits of a taxpayer but war veterans are homeless and cannot get jobs.
Keep on watching television and living the life of the reality actors, keep on avoiding your rights to vote the useless politicians out and keep on avoiding to participate in your local government affairs...then accept the consequences of such decisions.
Joe,
Your grammar is a prime example of what a substandard school system produces.
Well written post Joe.
Amen, VirginiaDemocrat78. A substandard school system provides a substandard education. And, it's only getting worse: it also produces imbeciles like Laguna and stc1993.
Your grammar is a prime example of what a substandard school system produces.
sanctimonious vir-dirt bag from demo 78
Babs Anthony Amen,
both of you are Whiny libtards it is obvious by how you go on attack denigrating grammar not
substance
vote nobama
only a smug jerk would point out grammar when Joe is right about our pathetic "leaders"
Unfortunately this is nothing new... world's oldest profession, and certainly kids have been part of that equation since day one.
Sad.
All they are doing is driving up the price by reducing supply. When the earnings go up, it makes it a more attractive alternative for other desperate or vulnerable women and eventually there will be just as many prostitutes on the streets. It's not criminal problem, it's an economic problem.
If you truly want to help improve these women's lives, you would give them a better alternative. If legalizing and regulating prostitution would provide these women a better life, shouldn't it at least be considered? It would be far from an ideal solution, but it would make the "oldest profession" that much safer for everyone involved.
On the other hand, if your goal was to stamp out this practice on moral or religious grounds, you should push for harsher penalties for Johns. Decreasing demand will decrease supply.
Scubasteve - they weren't "women" - they were children. Or did you miss that part of the article? Some of them too young to legally work part time at McDonald's!
Ages 13 to 17..... Seriously? You think this was a career choice of a 13 year old? These are runaways who have been used and abused by the pimps. They had no choice and needed to be rescued, not given alternate career paths.
Child prostitution should be totally eradicated and the penalty should be so harsh one would be crazy to indulge such criminal behavior.
But with that said, prostitution in general should be legal for consenting adults. Just like with drug use, you can never eradicate these behaviors. Never.
I'll admit, I was tired and commented based on the headline, happens to the best of us. After actually reading the article, I withdraw my comment.
No Worries Scubasteve..it does happen to all of us eventually. Way to "own up" Scubasteve.
79 prostitutes and 104 pimps. Were some of these prostitutes timeshares between two or more pimps?
I am totally serious when I say the pimps need to be castrated immediately as should all pedophiles since this is the same crime, only worse. These children are now scarred for life and will probably never be able to have a "normal " relationship or to trust someone. Everyone involved with this terrible activity should be trimmed in the nether regions of their scrotum. Should I ever have the chance to influence such an outcome, I will not hesitate as it would be a public service to humanity. This would include the johns and the pimps. Remove the demand, and the supply will go away. Does John need a trim today?
Don't just castrate the pimps. Execute them with a giant drill with the poor little girls watching.
Interesting.. so you want to use these abused girls and let them be traumatized even more by witnessing a gruesome murder? I am sure that will help them sleep at night! Good solution, Spartan-501.
Larry.... a coulpe of quick questions; Why do you assume all the pimps are male? And why do you assume all pedophiles are male?
One more thing. How can something be the same crime, only worse?
Just curious.
I don't think there's anything particularly traumatizing about seeing your evil tormentor killed, but I'm no psychologist, so don't take my word for it. If it's traumatizing, perform the same execution behind closed doors. Human trafficking is classified as a crime against humanity and there's no question that perpetrators deserve to be executed painfully and messily.
XD:
You are so right! There are a lot of women pimps! Young girls will feel safer and more willing if it's a female vs. a male. A couple months ago I was leaving a friends apartment in NW Houston (the biggest city for sex slavery), only two miles from my own apartment. As I was walking in the parking lot, a woman yelled to me and my friend "Girls! Do you have boyfriends? Come over here". We said "Yes, we do" and kept walking to my car. The woman said "Too bad, guys, they were cute. See if you can persuade them?". Three guys got out of a car and started walking toward us. We ran to my car, where they gathered around it. I thought I was going to have to run them over! They moved out of the way when they realized I wasn't going to stop and just wait there.
I'm almost positive that's what she was....there are also three "massage parlors" that are conveniently open all night a couple miles away. One of them got busted as a sex slave front recently. :/ I need to move.
The Secret Service is probing this case. to interview these teens.
One at a time.
Pimps will be out on bail in about 12 hours. While the guy who got caught with an ounce of weed will be kept in general pop for about another 6 months.
GO GO GO JUSTICE SYSTEM!!!!
I doubt you would get 6 months for an ounce, but I get your point.
kj, go to FL anything over 20 grams is a felony (a little less than 3/4 oz.). Third offense for less than an oz. in GA is a felony.
That's the only two I know but i'm sure there is more.
How about the Justice Department get busy on HOLDER?
Wow. 79 teenagers in 57 cities. What a joke!
Aw, C'mon! This is our Justice Department getting good press from the bought and paid for news media.
Where's the effort on FAST AND FURIOUS???????? huh? I can't hear you mr. holder...
Saving ONE is good.
That taxpayers are going to pay for the incarceration of these pimps of children is cruel and unusual punishment. Firing squads are a more appropriate disposition of these cases.
The best way to protect children from prostitution is to make prostitution legal for adults and make it legal for runaway children to find work doing something other than prostitution. If you are 12, and you have run away, what else are you going to do for money?
You obviously don't understand sex trafficking! Legalizing prostitution will do NOTHING to help.
............and their Pimps will just find another batch to replace them !!!
Nice try FBI, trying to justify your existence !!!
Wow, stupid comment. Not that the FBI is an awesome, perfect organization, but at least they rescued 79 kids. They arrested many of the pimps too.
After the last FBI sex scandal, this is kind of like the Fox securing the Chickens for a better life! LOL
Say, which "FBI sex scandal" are you referring to?
Going after the suppliers is great but we have to go after those who demand the services. Johns should get castrated, then quickly prostitution would evaporate.
There you go. Castrate Congress, nearly every politician, Wall St. bankers, most wealthy execs...
Start at the top and work your way down. Overpopulation no longer a problem.
It does no good to go after Johns. No matter where you go unless it is somewhere in Bum F**K Alaska Population 16 because there are always 10 more to take the place of the one you pull off the streets. You cannot legislate human behavior or urges but you can make it illegal to supply prostitutes in training Age 16 and under. It makes more sense to attack the supply side. Besides, The idea here is to stop sex slavery of our youth, children who are from broken families, orphans, youth that have experienced the worst our society has to offer. I really do not mind if someone Age 18 and up choose to become prostitutes because they are old enough to understand the ramifications of their actions but I really do mind someone who makes money of the missery of our children. The children are our future. I really do not want to see a nation of whores and pimps under 17. This action is an attempt to break the cycle but you have to do it on a daily basis or it becomes an effort in futility. I say keep up with this course of action for a year or two. Keep the pressure up and zero in on the low life pimps especially who enslave these young girls and boys. This problem has to be stopped. It is a worse problem than the drug problem alone plus it also creates a larger problem when they are bundled together and the two problems do walk sise by side with each other. As law abiding citizens it is our duty to ensure safe streets for all. All we seem to do is shut our eyes to these problems. To stop these problems everyone of us has to become involved in the efforts of law enforcement. When you see a crime being committed call your local police dept and report it. If you get no where with that then call your selectmen, the police chief, the mayor, local and state public officials. Be the most annoyant SOB in your community and keep it up until you personally see results. We need to stop shutting our eyes and use the legal system the way it is supposed to be used.
Hey city boy!
You got something against small towns?
According to the government there are "millions" of them in the United States.
Yet this will be the first and last "underage prostitution" bust this year I bet.
Fumbling Bumbling Idiots = FBI
Their track record speaks for themselves. They are more interested in making sensational busts depending on whatever topic the news and society focus's on, to make themselves look good. Then they go back to their office with their head up their asses while 99% of crime continues and our country degrades into a corrupt, immoral, greedy, two party monopoly cesspit.
Not really. Given adequate resources, the FBI is a pretty crafty bunch. Meanwhile, you're nothing, and will always be nothing.
What good has the FBI done in the last ten years? Besides facilitating their own terrorist plots to bust.
Care to give some examples?
I didn't think so.
I mean it's not like Identity Theft, White collar crime, foreign espionage, corruption in state governments and police departments, HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER.
They have got real good at reading our emails though I bet.
I have been told that the FBI has been given solid leads and information about rampant crimes, corruption and abuses within the judicial and medicaid system in NY, and it appears they haven't followed up on those leads, nor done a thing about it for years.
"the removal of 79 teenagers from a life of prostitution"...- are they passing out college degrees on the way out of the police station?
The operative word being "teenagers", therefore a "life of prostitution" has more to do with criminal coercion, rather than personal volition. Understand? Meanwhile, how many "13-17" year-olds have "college degrees"?
The key to what the "state" is trying to do, is make sure our young people physiologically are never able to feel self reliant, it is very important the little people are funneled into the work force and are the best little hard workers as possible. We cant have the kids thinking they make money with out having to bust there ass working a "job".
College degree or not, its really about what you do to make your money and how much money you make doing it.
FBI, Thank You.
Did the FBI take these girls over to the secret service to become part of their team, we all know how much the secret service likes this type of girl.