Enslavement of African Americans is rising in the City of Brotherly Love and Sister Affection. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara Solow and Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Department of Justice Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Eastern District of Pennsylvania WOAR, Philadelphias only rape crisis center, provides free counseling and trauma therapy services to child, teen, and adult survivors of sexual violence, including survivors of sex trafficking. Allegedly, this defendant forced four young people, one a minor child, to sell their bodies for his financial gain. Lock PHILADELPHIA United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Artavius Horne, a/k/a Lo, 36, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 45 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert for sex trafficking three children for years. A lock ( PCA works in tandem with DHS to connect survivors with the appropriate services. According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Smith operated a prostitution business in Philadelphia between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011. Based on the results of that assessment, PCA will secure services for the child. Many are kidnapped from corners waiting for yellow school buses, enticed through social media to what they think is a fun night on the town, or taken to secluded spots with the promise of a way to supplement their meager wages. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Have a question about Government Services? Did you encounter any technical issues? Covenant House is a youth shelter in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Philadelphia Police Department Vice Unit, with assistance from the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office and the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. He deserves every minute of the 45 years that he received today., Artavius Horne made his living by sexually exploiting children, advertising underage girls for sex with strangers, said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division. These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Tinicum Township Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department, and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erica Kivitz. WebPhiladelphia Police are launching a special task force to battle the growing problem of Human Traffickers preying on children in Philadelphia, CBS has learned. A locked padlock During this time, Kendall also allegedly used his cell phone to record one of the minors performing oral sex on him and then sent the video to the minor victim. It may cause some to realize what some in their own circle have been hiding from them, often suffering in silence or shame. appreciated. Address: 600 Chestnut St., Suite 500B Philadelphia, PA 19106 Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL One person who is well aware of this is Ellyn Jo Waller, the first lady of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, with campuses in Mount Airy and Germantown. Leah Fletcher, Account Executive. WebSixteen children considered critically missing were rescued during a four-week operation that concluded this week, according to the US Marshals Service office in Philadelphia. Many of these at-risk youths are referred for services with PCAs CSEC therapist, who is specially trained in this area. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a nationalanti-trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. The Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation at Villanova University partners with organizations united against sex trafficking and CSE. So far the The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melanie Babb Wilmoth. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Commercial Sexual Exploitation Institute Why? ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. It has hosted many programs to raise local awareness, like the A Day in the Life hosted by Shes My Sister ministry and provides safe havens for some of those rescued from local enslavement. If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyMcSwain on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. In 2017, Horne was convicted of similar offenses in Bucks County, PA. Horne committed these heinous acts while on parole for doing the exact same thing, said U.S. Attorney McSwain. New Day consists of community case managers in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, the New Day Drop In Center on Kensington Ave., a Police Assisted Diversion Program, and New Day New Home, our transitional home for female identifying survivors ages 18+ located at a confidential address in Montgomery County. This is about helping raise awareness to eradicate human trafficking, Waller said. Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL Tweet Share Pin Email Tweet Share Pin Email Related Posts AACP Philadelphia Branch Update NAACP Philadelphia Branch Tweet Share Pin Email ABOVE PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Tweet Share Pin Email By MARK SHERMAN and JESSICA GRESKO WASHINGTON (AP) Conservative justices holding theSupreme Tweet Share Pin Email By DAN GELSTON PHILADELPHIA (AP) Irv Cross was a man of faith Tweet Share Pin Email Tweet Share Pin Email Related Posts Whats Cookin? They are not just the drug user, the wayward runaway teen, or the troubled foster child. Smith gave each of his recruits a cellular telephone, which he paid for, and then included that phone number in the Backpage advertisement. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Main Office: Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. They may be lured thinking that someone is helping them find a job. WebUnited States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that three men, Andre Michael Felts, 32, Kevin Michael Francis, 60, and Ryan Keel, 39, all of Philadelphia, PA, were charged by A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In a separate Indictment, Ossai is charged with the sex trafficking of a minor in late January 2020. Folks in need of WOAR services do not require insurance. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Andre Michael Felts, aka Dre and Plug, 32, and Kevin Michael Francis, aka Kev, 60, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to sex traffic a minor and four counts of sex trafficking a minor. WebCHILD SEX ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING CHILD USA works to create a safer world for children by reforming the statutes of limitation for child sex abuse, working to end child marriage, and the abuse and neglect of athletes. 215-861-8300. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Philadelphia Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking A Child, Eastern District of Pennsylvanias U.S. Attorneys Office Hosts Presentation on Autism-Based Discrimination in Schools, Camps, and Childcare Facilities, One Leader of a Violent Sex Trafficking Gang Sentenced to Life and a Consecutive Ten Years Imprisonment, and a Gang Associate Sentenced to 37 years Imprisonment, Chester County Doctor Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Operating Pill Mill Out of Main Line Pain Clinic. This means the demand for this is modern-day enslavement continues. Fax: 215-733-0876. Phone: 215-832-0900. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Ryan Keel, 39, was charged with conspiracy to sex traffic a minor. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Free counseling and trauma therapy services offered include individual and group sessions. A locked padlock Phone: 1-888-373-7888 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A locked padlock It will also educate parents and family members to notice the warning signs of children and adolescents who may be involved in the life, as many call it. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Rich Walls of North Philadelphia learned much from an all-male workshop held at Enon last year. Tipsters can remain anonymous, if they like.. An official website of the United States government. Official websites use .gov 2. He also kept the victims in apartments throughout Philadelphia, known as trap houses, where they were made to engage in commercial sex for the benefit of the defendant. According to public filings, Ossai trafficked one minor, took her to a lingerie store where he picked out lingerie for her, posted an advertisement of her on a website used to advertise sexual services for a fee, and harbored her in a hotel room in Lester, PA. As charged, Ossai drove the minor victim to a housing project in Philadelphia for her to engage in a commercial sex act, and he attempted to have sex with her himself. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 WebThis program is designed to improve the juvenile justice and dependency systems' response to child abuse, neglect, commercial sexual exploitation, and sex trafficking of minors and related cases. Sixteen children considered critically missing were rescued during a four-week operation that concluded this week, according to the US Marshals Service office in Philadelphia. In addition, PCA works closely with DHS to provide comprehensive assessments of children referred to DHS who are screened for concerns of being exploited. Readers will enter into an uncomfortable world that will challenge their sensibilities, sense of safety, and stereotypical notions about the topic. Main Office: The Philadelphia Juvenile Anti-Trafficking Coalition is the first of its kind focusing on and addressing the needs of child victims of human trafficking and vulnerable subpopulations that are overrepresented and underserved. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan. Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Sex Trafficking Children in Northeast Philadelphia. WebPhiladelphia Men Charged with Child Sex Trafficking. I am gratified that the defendants are all now off the streets and in custody pending trial on these charges, said U.S. Attorney McSwain. Felts was detained pending trial this afternoon, joining his co-defendants, who are also in federal custody. Three Philadelphia men were charged, by a federal grand jury, in an indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for their roles in a sex trafficking operation that exploited numerous minors from 2016 through 2017. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Metcalf and Brittany Jones. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 Dawns Place An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. If you, a family member or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking (sex or labor), or you suspect that human trafficking is taking place, resources are available: National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) WebPhiladelphia Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking A Child. Box 18869, Philadelphia, PA 19119 - Phone (215) 848-7864 - Fax (215) 848-7893 This ongoing series will address this and more. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. In September 2019, Horne was convicted at trial of three counts of sex trafficking minors by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, they also have other housing programs available to youth who complete their shelter program. PCA believes strongly that understanding and responding to the needs of commercially sexually exploited youth in Philadelphia is critical, and we are committed to providing every child victim of sex trafficking with the same comprehensive care and coordinated response as other referrals to our facility. We, as a society, have to begin facing up to it. They educate and provide technical assistance to legislators, policy decision makers, and other stakeholders in order to improve legal responses to CSE. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Philadelphia Man Charged With Forcible Sex Trafficking of Multiple Victims Including a Minor, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Two Teenage Girls, Fourth and Final Co-Defendant in Brutal West Philly Sex Trafficking Case Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison, Four Members and Associates of Reading Boarding House Sex Trafficking Gang The Sevens Convicted After Six-Week Trial in Allentown. To view a comprehensive listing of agencies across the Greater Philadelphia region servicing trafficking youth, please see the Social Services Directory. WebAn FBI operation focused on combatting child sex trafficking around the world resulted in the arrests of 15 suspected pimps and associates in the Philadelphia region, authorities The FBIs Philadelphia Field Division is investigating the case and received significant assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department. Earlier this month outgoing President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We will continue to work collectively to investigate these destructive crimes against the most vulnerable victims., Using physical threats to control another human being, to force them into sexual exploitation, is unconscionable, said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division. Managing Editor Teresa A. Emerson - [emailprotected] Address: 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124 A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Yet it is clear that this and other types of trafficking are not just limited to certain times of the year. Consequently, in order to rescue human trafficking victims, one must know how to identify them, the warning signs, and how to help them. WebTrafficking PCA believes strongly that understanding and responding to the needs of commercially sexually exploited youth in Philadelphia is critical, and we are committed to Common examples of identified child trafficking cases include: Commercial sex Stripping Pornography Forced begging Magazine crews Au pairs or nannies Restaurant work Hair and nail salons Agricultural work Drug sales and cultivation The crimes alleged in these Indictments will have a devastating and long-lasting impact on these minor victims, said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth and you never know WebHuman Trafficking Task Forces are a coalition of victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, community members, courts and other parties working to combat human During the week-long trial, the government proved that the defendant organized, operated and led a sex trafficking venture based in and around Northeast Philadelphia between 2013 and 2015, and in 2018. 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