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Sex Trafficking

Trump AG Pick Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations Trump AG Pick Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Trump AG Pick Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations Facing stiff opposition in the US Senate, embattled former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general. The 42-year-old Gaetz had been the subject of an investigation by the Justice Department involving allegations of sex trafficking and sex with a minor.  "I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday," Gaetz posted on social media early Thursday afternoon, Nov. 21. "I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many.  "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that…
Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events,' Feds Say Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events,' Feds Say
Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events,' Feds Say Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries preyed on aspiring models and coerced them into prostitution in order to satisfy his and others’ sexual desires, prosecutors alleged. The 80-year-old Jeffries – along with his life partner Matthew Smith and a third defendant, James Jacobson – are named in a 16-count sex trafficking indictment unsealed in Central Islip federal court on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Prosecutors said the trio relied on Jeffries’ wealth and status, along with a network of employees, contractors, and security professionals, to victimize dozens of men over a seven year peri…
Massage Parlor Owners Busted On Prostitution, Sex Trafficking Charges In Western Mass Massage Parlor Owners Busted On Prostitution, Sex Trafficking Charges In Western Mass
Massage Parlor Owners Busted On Prostitution, Sex Trafficking Charges In Western Mass A couple who ran a Hampden County massage parlor were using it as a brothel, police in Westfield announced on Thursday, Feb. 1.  Todd and Baushun Simonds, both of Holyoke, were arrested after police raided the Southampton Road Massage and Body Work at 282 Southampton Road in Westfield, Westfield police said.  Police had been investigating the couple for some time and had determined they were trafficking in women to perform sexual favors on customers for money, though, the workers were not being paid, police said. The only money they kept were the tips they received from their…
High-End Prostitution Network Serviced Mass's Elite, Elected Officials: Feds High-End Prostitution Network Serviced Mass's Elite, Elected Officials: Feds
High-End Prostitution Network Serviced Mass's Elite, Elected Officials: Feds Three people were arrested and charged with running a high-end prostitution network in Massachusetts and Virginia that catered to VIP customers and elected officials. It was so exclusive that potential "Johns" had to provide references to book appointments, federal authorities said.  Han Lee, age 41, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, James Lee, age 68, of Torrance, California, and Junmyung Lee, age 30, of Dedham, Massachusetts, were all charged with running the operation that serviced elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government…
Fairfield County Duo Nabbed For Sex Trafficking Of Minors, Police Say Fairfield County Duo Nabbed For Sex Trafficking Of Minors, Police Say
Fairfield County Duo Nabbed For Sex Trafficking Of Minors, Police Say A Fairfield  County man and woman have been arrested for the alleged sex trafficking of minors. The two, identified as Teresa Martinez, age 36 of Bridgeport, and Eugene Luini, age 60, of Stamford, were arrested by Norwalk Police on Monday, Dec. 26, said Norwalk Deputy Chief Terrence Blake. In January 2021, the Department of Children and Families received an anonymous tip regarding the sex trafficking of juveniles in Norwalk, Blake said. The Department of Children and Families notified the Special Victims Unit of the Norwalk Police Department and an investigation was&nbs…
Central Massachusetts Couple Accused Of Sex Trafficking Victim To Multiple States: Feds Central Massachusetts Couple Accused Of Sex Trafficking Victim To Multiple States: Feds
Central Massachusetts Couple Accused Of Sex Trafficking Victim To Multiple States: Feds A Worcester husband and wife potentially face life in prison after federal investigators said they forced a person into prostitution and trafficked them to multiple states for sex.  Kiersten Soto, 29, and Moises Soto, 30, were arrested on Friday, Dec. 16, after investigators said they "used force, fraud, and coercion to traffic a victim for commercial sex in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island" from February through May 2022, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Not much more is known about the allegations as the indictment is sealed.  The Sotos a…
CT Resident Sentenced For Recruiting, Transporting Teen Girl To Engage In Commercial Sex CT Resident Sentenced For Recruiting, Transporting Teen Girl To Engage In Commercial Sex
CT Resident Sentenced For Recruiting, Transporting Teen Girl To Engage In Commercial Sex A 24-year-old man has been sentenced after he admitted to bringing a 16-year-old girl to a Connecticut hotel to engage in commercial sex acts. Joel Lindsay, who last resided in East Hartford, was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 22, to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking of a minor on Oct. 15, 2021, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Lindsay conspired with an associate, Joseph Pina, to recruit and transport a 16-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts in October of 2019, the US Attorney's Offi…
‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of Westchester College Sex-Cult Leader Admits To Conspiracy ‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of Westchester College Sex-Cult Leader Admits To Conspiracy
‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of Westchester College Sex-Cult Leader Admits To Conspiracy A former Westchester County college student who fell under the spell of convicted sex-cult leader Larry Ray has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money for his illegal dealings. Isabella Pollok, age 31, a former student at Sarah Lawrence College, located near the border of Yonkers and Bronxville, who was described as Ray's "trusted lieutenant," pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 7 to one count related to Ray's twisted plot in Manhattan federal court. Ray, now age 62, will be sentenced in December on more than a dozen charges, including extortion, sex trafficking, and racketeering cons…
Western Mass Man Indicted For Sex Trafficking Minor Western Mass Man Indicted For Sex Trafficking Minor
Western Mass Man Indicted For Sex Trafficking Minor A man from Western Massachusetts is accused of prostituting a minor. Hampden County resident Carlos Casillas, age 48, of Springfield, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of sex trafficking a minor, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts. Investigators said Casillas caused a child under the age of 18 to engage in a commerical sex act in West Springfield in September 2021. He was arrested the following February on charges of aggravated rape of a child and enticing a child, according to prosecutors. If convicted of sex trafficking a minor, Casillas would face …
NY College Sex Cult Leader Found Guilty On All Charges NY College Sex Cult Leader Found Guilty On All Charges
NY College Sex Cult Leader Found Guilty On All Charges Larry Ray, the leader of a sex cult run out of his daughter's dorm room at a New York college located in Westchester County, will face life in prison after being found guilty by a jury of sexually exploiting and trafficking girls. Ray, now 62 years old following multiple delays in his trial and prosecution, was found guilty of 15 counts that include racketeering, sex trafficking, conspiracy, forced labor, extortion, tax evasion, and other crimes in relation to his scheme at Sarah Lawrence College, located near the border of Yonkers and Bronxville. Related story - DOJ Acciden…
CT Man Sentenced For Child Sex Trafficking CT Man Sentenced For Child Sex Trafficking
CT Man Sentenced For Child Sex Trafficking A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to years in federal prison for sex trafficking a teenage girl at Connecticut hotels, authorities announced. Hartford County resident Joseph Pina, of East Hartford, was sentenced to 96 months (eight years) in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for a sex trafficking offense involving a 16-year-old girl. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that in October 2019, Pina and associate Joel Lindsay, a citizen of Jamaica, recruited and transported the teenage girl to engage in commercial sex acts. Specifically, on Oct. 17, 2019, Pina, Lindsa…
Fugitive Wanted For Fatal Shooting In Westchester Apprehended After Shootout Fugitive Wanted For Fatal Shooting In Westchester Apprehended After Shootout
Fugitive Wanted For Fatal Shooting In Westchester Apprehended After Shootout A manhunt into the fatal shooting of a cab driver in Westchester led to the arrest of a wanted fugitive who was wanted in Connecticut after a shootout with police, authorities announced. Shortly before 3 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, a New Rochelle police officer on patrol found a man, later identified as city resident Andres Valenzuela, on the ground in the parking lot of Juliano’s Caterer’s on Main Street with two apparent gunshot wounds. New Rochelle Police Capt. J. Collins Coyne said that he was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his wounds. Earlier story - P…
CT Duo Admits To Child Sex Trafficking CT Duo Admits To Child Sex Trafficking
CT Duo Admits To Child Sex Trafficking Two Connecticut men have pleaded guilty in federal court to offenses related to the sex trafficking of a minor. Joel Lindsay, age 23, and Joseph Pina, age 24, both of East Hartford, made the plea on Friday, Oct. 15 in Hartford, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2019, Lindsay and Pina recruited, enticed, and transported a minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts.  Specifically, in October 2019, Lindsay, Pina, and another individual picked up the minor victim and took her t…