For more information please call the New Day Hotline at 267-838-5866. Address: Nationalities Service Center 1216 Arch Street, 4th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 Leah Fletcher, Account Executive. A locked padlock Healthy Minds Philly is an initiative of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, City of Philadelphia, 24-HOUR NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE |, National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), The Salvation Armys New Day to Stop Trafficking Program, Blue Campaign, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He even transported them to other cities and states, determined to keep the money coming in at their expense. appreciated. You can also TEXT HELP to BeFree (233733). An official website of the United States government. Covenant House is a youth shelter in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. In addition, they also have other housing programs available to youth who complete their shelter program. He said this is the time to shine the light on both the consequences and root causes of human trafficking. PCA conducts forensic interviews of the younger victims, and our partners in the Human Trafficking Task Force conduct the interviews for older teens. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness are also at Many of these at-risk youths are referred for services with PCAs CSEC therapist, who is specially trained in this area. Have a question about Government Services? Eastern District of Pennsylvania The actual statistics for human trafficking victims from neighborhoods like North, West or South Philadelphia or Northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods like Germantown and Mount Airy is difficult to track. WebThe children were cleaning blood and animal parts off the floor of meatpacking plants by night and going to school by day, the Labor Department investigators said. Many girls and women, boys and men are forced or coerced into this lifestyle. Kendall was also charged with both production and distribution of child pornography, and Adams was also charged with tampering with evidence in a federal investigation. The Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation at Villanova University partners with organizations united against sex trafficking and CSE. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE PCA conducts forensic interviews and offers therapeutic services specializing in understanding the needs and experiences of trafficking survivors. Online Tip Reporting. Yet many are not aware of it despite the fact more and more are becoming victims of human trafficking. PHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Kevin Smith, 27, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged by Indictment with sex trafficking by force and sex trafficking a minor. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. Trained Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates and supervisory staff provide assistance to victims in crisis through safety planning, emotional support and/or immediate connections to emergency services through our network of trained service provider and law enforcement partners. Yet it is clear that this and other types of trafficking are not just limited to certain times of the year. Dawns Place offers a year-long residential program to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation or sex trafficking. 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. All three defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to sex traffic a minor, while Felts and Francis were also each charged with four counts of sex trafficking a minor. 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 The FBI will never stop working to find and help trafficked victims, to protect them from further abuse and keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.. At least Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Fax: 215-733-0876. A lock ( Kelly Sagastume, Program Manager, Project PROTECT, ksagastume@sccalaw.org, Dana Bernhaut, Child Policy Associate, dbernhaut@sccalaw.org. The fraud is they are selling love, said Hugh Organ, associate director of the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition. is beginning a series about human trafficking. At least four of the recovered children were connected to child sex trafficking, the marshals service said on Thursday. Tipsters can remain anonymous, if they like.. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. They pay their airfare, hotel room and everything else. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Media Contact An official website of the United States government. WebIn January 2020, we convened the Philadelphia Juvenile Anti-Trafficking Coalition, gathering 50+ public and private agencies to collaborate on identifying gaps in services for trafficked The minor was rescued from Ossais vehicle after he was pulled over in Tinicum Township. A lock ( U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Community Engagement, Three Philadelphia Men Detained on Charges of Child Sex Trafficking, 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, Three Philadelphia Men Detained On Charges of Child Sex Trafficking. The FBI's Philadelphia Division said that 15 pimps and associates were arrested in the area as part of the takedown, which included participation from the Philadelphia Police Department, suburban police departments and prosecutors' offices and the Pennsylvania State Police. Earlier this month outgoing President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Managing Editor Teresa A. Emerson - [emailprotected] To view a comprehensive listing of agencies across the Greater Philadelphia region servicing trafficking youth, please see the Social Services Directory. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. Have a question about Government Services? Allegedly, this defendant forced four young people, one a minor child, to sell their bodies for his financial gain. Their legal aide also includes guidance for survivors interacting with law enforcement, assistance with obtaining legal status, and other referrals to immigrant social services. 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. Discovery Company. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Smith operated a prostitution business in Philadelphia between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011. The Project PROTECT (Philadelphia Response & Outreach To End Child Trafficking) will support the continued advancement of Philadelphias juvenile human trafficking court, Working to Restore Adolescent Power (WRAP Court), and related programs serving child victims of human trafficking. The defendants allegedly used their cell phones to post advertisements of the victims on a website which is known to be used for advertising sexual services for a fee, directed the minors to participate in commercial sex acts, and took a portion of the proceeds on each occasion. 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) 2. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. Address: 31 E. Armat Street Philadelphia PA 19144. Justice At Work assists with recovering unpaid wages, obtaining lawful immigration status for individuals and their families, and connecting communities with resources that provide services victims of trafficking. 215-861-8300. An official website of the United States government. WOARs Sex Trafficking Advocacy and Response Team also assists with crisis support, sex trafficking assessment, prevention/education, and advocacy. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Folks in need of WOAR services do not require insurance. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment on Count One, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment on Count Two, a $500,000 fine, a lifetime period of supervised release and a $200 special assessment. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. 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. The Indictment alleges that for about seven days at the end of September 2019, Smith knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, maintained a minor for the purposes of forcing that minor to engage in commercial sex acts in Philadelphia. HIAS PA provides free legal and immigration services to survivors of trafficking. Phone: 1-888-373-7888 Phone: 215-951-5411 or 888-829-1249 If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyWilliams on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. 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. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA 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. In addition, PCA works closely with DHS to provide comprehensive assessments of children referred to DHS who are screened for concerns of being exploited. In September 2019, Horne was convicted at trial of three counts of sex trafficking minors by force, fraud or coercion. Hebrew International Aid Society The comprehensive programming at Dawns Place supports individuals by addressing their complex needs including trauma services, substance use disorders, legal and educational concerns and more. WebIf you are victim of human trafficking and need help or suspect that someone else is a victim: Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. 215-861-8300. Prior to joining the FBI, I was employed as an Immigration human trafficking, violent crimes against children, and other federal violations. Smith would photograph each female in his home with his camera and, using his laptop computer, would create an Internet advertisement for each on a website known as Backpage.com. Eastern District of Pennsylvania WebPHILADELPHIA United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that three men, Andre Michael Felts, 32, Kevin Michael Francis, 60, and Ryan Keel, 39, all of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Children's Alliance. Dubbed Operation Safeguard, the initiative began on February 15 when a US Marshals Service task force took over 26 missing children cases at the request of other law enforcement agencies. After a few days they are trafficking them. If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyWilliams on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news. The indictment alleges that Felts ran a prostitution ring that recruited and enticed young females, including minors, to engage in commercial sex acts; harbored the victims at various residences for that purpose; transported and provided the victims to males who purchased the commercial sex acts; and collected a portion of the proceeds. So, the Philadelphia Sunday Sun is beginning a series about human trafficking. 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. Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL 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. Though local statistics are difficult to come by, the one thing that experts agree on is that girls and young women are its primary victims. He recruited young women, including a minor (Minor 1), to work as prostitutes. Three Philadelphia men were charged, by a federal grand jury, in an indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of We will continue to work collectively with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these destructive crimes against vulnerable children.. Email. WebYoung women and girls are the most at-risk of trafficking, although boys are also trafficked and are less likely to ask for help. Media Contact Lock A Warner Bros. Have a question about Government Services? Lock Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. Deputy US marshals assigned to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force led the operation along with personnel from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, Bucks County Children Youth Services, the Philadelphia Police Departments Human Trafficking Unit, and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Metcalf and Brittany Jones. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. NSC also assists individuals with obtaining long term immigration status, supporting survivors when working with law enforcement and assessing for other legal needs. Those in the community must also engage in self-examination to ascertain if one is playing a role in the proliferation of this crime against humanity. So far the Phone: 215-387-9500. Eight Croatian nationals charged with attempting to traffic children, outside the magistrates court in Ndola, Zambia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Free counseling and trauma therapy services offered include individual and group sessions. 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? To view information on the trainings our Coalition offers, please see the Training Catalogue. They may be lured thinking that someone is helping them find a job. WebCSEC or Child Sex Trafficking Sex trafficking affects children, too. 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. Anyone who is a victim of child sex trafficking or has President Obama said there is a need to do more to fight against the exploitation of human beings for profit. Eastern District of Pennsylvania Have a question about Government Services? Dawns Place Justice At Work A locked padlock Working alongside the international community, we have seen significant increases in trafficking prosecution and conviction, and we have made great strides in supporting victims.. Blue Campaigns educational awareness objectives consists of two foundational elements, prevention of human trafficking and protection of exploited persons. WebPHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that John Adams, 41, Mercedes Hampton-Devero, 28, Malachai Kendall, 20, and Chukuw Ossai, Official websites use .gov Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. 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). When the minors were rescued and Adams learned he was under investigation by the FBI, he allegedly wiped his cell phone clean of all incriminating evidence. Address: 600 Chestnut St., Suite 500B Philadelphia, PA 19106 Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. 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. This series will assist local residents in being part of the network that can direct victims to safety and healing. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA A lock ( you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: CHILD USA, 3508 MARKET STREET, Philadelphia, PA, 19104. This ongoing series will address this and more. 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 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. A lock ( Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Its even more difficult to ascertain who are being forced or coerced into the trade. He has no regard for the law -- or even basic human decency -- as evidenced by his willingness to sell the bodies of children for sex to benefit himself. Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL WebTuesday, August 11, 2020. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE WebAdding a category of perpetrator to include: an individual 18 years of age or older who engages a child in severe forms of trafficking in persons or sex trafficking, as those terms are defined under section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525, Eastern District of Pennsylvania The church has a ministry that addresses trafficking in the Philadelphia area. WebThe Project PROTECT (Philadelphia Response & Outreach To End Child Trafficking) will support the continued advancement of Philadelphias juvenile human trafficking court, Its a hard statistic, but 1 in 6 children reported missing in the U.S. are likely victims of child sex trafficking, one of CHERRY HILL, N.J. - Officials announced Tuesday th arrest of three people for allegedly trafficking a missing child for prostitution. They will be trafficking women and young girls on major highways and airports, arranging for sexual rendezvous in Center City hotel rooms or unmarked vans on a tree-lined residential street. The New Day Hotline is also available for 24/7 support to survivors and technical assistance to other professionals. 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. Blue Campaign, U.S. Department of Homeland Security We ask anyone with knowledge of child or adult sex trafficking to let us know about it, so we can help. 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. 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. WebVictims of human trafficking can be children or adults, U.S. citizens or foreign nationals, male or female. Main Office: The toll-free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year in more than 200 languages. The children were cleaning blood and animal parts off the floor of meatpacking plants by night and going to school by day, the Labor Department investigators said. Address: 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124 They are not just the drug user, the wayward runaway teen, or the troubled foster child. 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. Based on the results of that assessment, PCA will secure services for the child. Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street They educate and provide technical assistance to legislators, policy decision makers, and other stakeholders in order to improve legal responses to CSE. WebHuman Trafficking | Philadelphia | Battle4Children Charities You're not a victim for sharing your story. Now that there is more transparency, we have to be more honest, Walls said. Consequently, in order to rescue human trafficking victims, one must know how to identify them, the warning signs, and how to help them. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 All Rights Reserved. An official website of the United States government. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA 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 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Because this is the start of the prime season for human trafficking. 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. Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 New Day is a multi-faceted program designed to serve survivors of commercial sexual exploitation as well as sex and labor trafficking. Eastern District of Pennsylvania Enons A Day In The Life Conference Uses The Victims Voice To Talk About Human Trafficking, Enon Tabernacle holds human trafficking walk/run Oct. 3, Biden declares Kyiv stands in surprise visit to Ukraine, Supreme Court seems ready to reject student loan forgiveness, Former Philadelphia Eagle, CBS anchor Irv Cross had brain disease CTE, Queen Latifah will host the 2023 NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 25 in Pasadena CA. 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 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Commercial Sexual Exploitation Institute Readers will enter into an uncomfortable world that will challenge their sensibilities, sense of safety, and stereotypical notions about the topic. A locked padlock Enoch Smith, 36, a/k/a Drees, a/k/a Idris, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted today of all charges including sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography. A locked padlock 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. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. An indictment is an accusation. Official websites use .gov Phone: 215-893-8400 Phone: 215-733-0878 ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. PHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that John Adams, 41, Mercedes Hampton-Devero, 28, Malachai Kendall, 20, and Chukuw Ossai, 31, all of Philadelphia, PA, were arrested and charged in two separate Indictments with sex trafficking of minors. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. A locked padlock Justice At Work specializes in providing free legal representation to victims of labor trafficking as well as other communities of workers. Nationalities Service Center provides intensive case management services to support with basic needs, safety planning, acquiring public benefits, and other referrals for physical and mental health providers. Children cannot sell sex even in places where prostitution is legal. WebPHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Kevin Smith, 27, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged by Indictment with sex trafficking by Phone: 215-832-0900. The Philadelphia Sunday SUN - P.O. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. Address: 990 Spring Garden Street, Suite 300,Philadelphia, PA 19123 33 missing children found in anti-human trafficking operation in Southern California. We, as a society, have to begin facing up to it.
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