The Denver Division of the FBI would like to announce that as a part of its National Innocence Lost Initiative, the FBI Denver Rocky Mountain Innocence Lost Task Force, Denver Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Springs Police Department, Greeley Police Department, and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office partnered to target domestic minor sex trafficking during the 2015 National Western Stock Show. In the week preceding the event and through the course of the show, law enforcement recovered six minors from commercial sexual exploitation and arrested two traffickers.

The FBI has previously noted that large events with a national draw bring an influx of people and money into the city. “Major events, such as the National Western Stock Show, bring many positives to our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle. “Unfortunately, these events can also attract those who attempt to capitalize through criminal activity, including juvenile sex trafficking. This will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will continue to use any such event as an opportunity to identify and rescue trafficked minors, prosecute those who exploit these children, and increase the public’s awareness of commercial sexual exploitation involving children.”

Investigating child sex trafficking is a year-round process. In 2014, the FBI Denver’s Innocence Lost Task Force and Colorado law enforcement recovered ninety-four minors from commercially sexually exploitative environments. This marked an increase of 54 percent from 2013 when 61 minors were recovered. For more information, the FBI Denver’s Innocence Lost Task Force points of contact are Sgt. Dan Steele (Denver Police Department), desk telephone (303) 313-6802, cellular telephone (720) 641-1221; and Special Agent Rick Wright (FBI), desk telephone (303) 313-6808, cellular telephone (303) 472-0417. Feel free to contact them with any questions.