FBI Working Group Declares Children Not for Sale

NEWARK—Today, Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward of the FBI’s Newark Division announced the successful conclusion of the New Jersey portion of “Operation Cross Country V,” the latest phase of an FBI-led initiative that began in 2008, in which dozens of law enforcement officers from the FBI, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), and the Newark, Secaucus, and Union City Police Departments arrested 16 individuals and recovered two juveniles during this two-day nationwide takedown of child prostitution. Additionally, law enforcement has been able to establish interstate links between the criminal activities in the New Jersey area and elsewhere.

History

FBI investigation and analysis has determined that at least 25 percent of adults who are or were once prostitutes were enticed into it as juveniles. In June of 2003, the FBI, in conjunction with the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), launched the Innocence Lost National Initiative. Their combined efforts were aimed at addressing the growing problem of domestic sex trafficking of children in the United States. Operation Cross Country (OCC) is a national law enforcement operation targeting child prostitution venues such as street tracks, Internet advertisements for prostitution services, truck stops, motels, and casinos. In the seven years since its inception, the initiative has resulted in the development of 39 dedicated task forces and working groups throughout the U.S. involving local, state, and federal law enforcement officials working to rescue victims of child exploitation. Through the Innocence Lost Initiative, more than 1,200 child victims have been recovered, more than $3.1 million has been seized, and 625 individuals have been convicted nationwide.

Why New Jersey?

Because of the level of commercial and tourism travel through New Jersey, there appears to be a significant amount of child trafficking and child prostitution in or through the state. Runaways are frequently drawn to the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area in an attempt to obtain employment in the fashion or movie industry. The Atlantic City area is targeted by criminals who exploit children because of the frequency and amount of tourism to resorts and casinos there. For these reasons and in support of the Innocence Lost National Initiative, the Newark Division of the FBI has initiated two local working groups targeting child prostitution. One group targets the facilitation of child prostitution in Essex, Union, and Hudson Counties, and the other group targets the facilitation of child prostitution in the Atlantic City resort and casino area.

Also, the sexual exploitation of children has become more prevalent among violent street gangs and organized criminal enterprises since 2005 because it is easier to facilitate than narcotics and weapons trafficking. Gang members, including the Crips, Bloods, MS-13, and Latin Kings, all of which are present in New Jersey, are known to travel to various states to promote their prostitutes. As a result, they are able to take advantage of lucrative prostitution markets, elude law enforcement, and separate the prostitutes from family members. Due to the young age, mental and emotional vulnerability, and naivety of children, it is relatively easy for pimps to obtain total control of children in a short period of time.

The Use of Technology

As technology has advanced, so have the recruitment methods of sex traffickers. Online advertisements, e-mail, and social networking sites allow them to reach a larger target audience. Since the Internet can provide anonymity, pimps, prostitutes, and clients utilize it to advertise and communicate with each other. Social networking sites also allow pimps to network with other pimps across the country and the world.

The New Jersey Takedown

Operation Cross Country V began Thursday evening in the Newark area and resulted in the arrest of eight adults (six prostitutes and two pimps) and the recovery of two juveniles. The subjects were taken into custody by the Newark Police Department. On Friday evening, eight more adults were arrested: two adult prostitutes taken into custody by the Newark Police Department, and five adult prostitutes and one adult driver taken into custody by the Secaucus Police Department. No juveniles were recovered on Friday. In total, 16 adults were arrested and two juveniles were recovered in this latest phase of Operation Cross Country. All of the participating agencies (Newark, Secaucus, Union City, NJSP, and the FBI) were involved in the surveillance and subsequent arrests on both nights of the operation.

“The crime of child prostitution is among the most disturbing and heinous offenses law enforcement can investigate," said Michael B. Ward, Special Agent In Charge of the FBI’s Newark division. "In this world, children are bartered and sold like products on a store shelf with no regard to their well-being or the physical and mental damage done to them. Their vulnerabilities are exploited, and they are subjected to a constant demand to make money for their handlers. By working together to dismantle child prostitution rings, law enforcement agencies work to bring these children back to safety. I commend and thank the Newark, Union City, and Secaucus Police Departments, as well as the New Jersey State Police, their for commitment to addressing this problem.”

Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent New Jersey State Police, added, “The crime of child prostitution erodes the fiber of our society. We welcome the opportunity to partner with local, county, and federal law enforcement agencies to rid our society of this despicable crime.”

Aftercare

Generally speaking, law enforcement nationwide works directly with Child Protective Services (CPS) to place children recovered from child prostitution. In New Jersey, that contact is the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). If the child is a runaway to be returned home, DYFS will evaluate that home to be sure the environment is safe for the child. If the child is to be returned to another state, the FBI’s Office of Victim Assistance will reach out to CPS for that state. If the child is unable to be returned home, that child becomes a ward of the state and is placed into foster care. But upon intake, the FBI’s Office of Victim Assistance ensures that basic needs are met, such as food, clothing, and medical attention.

Those arrested are being held in local custody and charged at the state level. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is ongoing.