Ohio child sex trafficking sting nabs more than 100, including church leader, ER doctor

By Danielle Wallace - Fox News

Ohio police make over 100 arrests in massive human trafficking and child sex sting.

More than 100 are arrested in Ohio on charges linked to human trafficking and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The arrests were made during a four-part simultaneous operation involving more than 30 law enforcement agencies. Over 40 women were also arrested for prostitution, with some being placed in a human trafficking rehabilitation program.

More than 100 people, including a medical doctor and a church youth director, were arrested as part of a massive human trafficking and child sex sting operation based in central Ohio, according to a report.

Those arrested included 24 men caught when they showed up at an undisclosed location with the intention of meeting a child for sex, Maj. Steven Tucker of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said.

"They show up with sex toys, they show up with lubrication. They show up with things that clearly somebody isn't going to show up to a house with, unless they intended to engage in sexual activity."

— Maj. Steven Tucker, Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The 24 suspects were charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning, Columbus’ WBNS-TV reported.

The total group of 104 suspects included Christian Gibson, 26, a former youth director at Redeemer's at Courtright Church in Columbus, and Austin Kosier, 31, an emergency room doctor, authorities said, adding that the sting was focused on Franklin, Fairfield and Delaware counties.

Christian Gibson, 26, left, a former church youth director, and Austin Kosier, 31, a medical doctor were both charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning, authorities say.

Trinity Mount Ministries - DOJ - Homeland Security - BLUE CAMPAIGN - WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

Watch Video Presentation

What Is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.

Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime.

Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. They look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters, or political instability. The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.

Many myths and misconceptions exist. Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Not all indicators listed are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.

The safety of the public as well as the victim is paramount. Do not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to any suspicions. It is up to law enforcement to investigate suspected cases of human trafficking.

Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to create general awareness training and materials for law enforcement and others to increase detection of human trafficking, and to identify victims.

Located within the Office of Partnership and Engagement, Blue Campaign leverages partnerships with the private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), law enforcement and state/local authorities to maximize national public engagement on anti-human trafficking efforts. Blue Campaign’s educational awareness objectives consists of two foundational elements, prevention of human trafficking and protection of exploited persons.

You are he

• a Blue Campaign Parter
• Report a Tip to Law Enforcement
• Human Trafficking Awareness Training
• Get Help From an NGO
• 
  

  Resources for Law Enforcement
• 
  

  Spread Awess
  

  
  

To report suspected human trafficking:

1-866-347-2423

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

1-888-373-7888

or text HELP or INFO to

BeFree (233733)

18 Marines, 1 Sailor Arrested On Smuggling, Drug Charges

Three more service members were taken into custody in connection with a criminal probe into human smuggling and drug offenses that led to the arrests of 16 Marines at Camp Pendleton, investigators said. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)

CAMP PENDLETON, CA — Three more service members – two Marines and one Navy sailor – were taken into custody in connection with a criminal probe into human smuggling and drug offenses that led to the arrests of 16 Marines at Camp Pendleton, investigators said Friday.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents took 16 Marines into custody Thursday morning during a battalion-wide roll-call formation at the northern San Diego County military installation, according to Marine Corps officials.

The arrestees range in rank from E-2 to E-4 and were all from the same unit – 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Their identities and details on the allegations against them were not immediately available.

NCIS officials confirmed Friday that two more Marines had been arrested, along with one sailor, pushing the total number of arrests to 19.

"NCIS apprehended 18 Marines and one Sailor yesterday (Thursday) in relation to an ongoing investigation into allegations of human smuggling and drug-related offenses," NCIS spokesman Jeff Houston said in a statement. "The 1st Marine Division is cooperating with NCIS on this matter. NCIS is dedicated to investigating allegations of criminal activity that poses threats to Department of the Navy readiness and the safety of U.S. citizens.

"Out of respect for the investigative and judicial process, and to protect witnesses, NCIS will not comment further until the investigative and judicial process has completed," he said.

No other details were provided about the additional arrests.

As of Friday afternoon, the suspects had yet to be charged with any crimes, said USMC Maj. Kendra Motz, a 1st Marine Division spokeswoman.

"Out of respect for the privacy of the implicated Marines, we will not release names or other identifying information until charges are announced," Motz said. "The commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment will act within his authority to hold the Marines accountable at the appropriate level, should they be charged."

According to a Marine Corps statement, the arrests stemmed from "information gained from a previous human-smuggling investigation." Eight other Marines were interrogated Thursday for their alleged involvement in unrelated drug crimes, officials said. It was not immediately clear if the two additional Marine arrests announced Friday came from that group.

"None of the Marines arrested or detained for questioning served in support of the Southwest Border Support mission," according to the Marine Corps statement.

The prior case that led investigators to the new arrests involved Camp Pendleton Marines Byron Darnell Law II and David Javier Salazar-Quintero, who were taken into custody three weeks ago.

On July 3, Border Patrol agents investigating suspected human- smuggling activity in the southeastern reaches of San Diego County pulled over a small black car near Boulevard, according to a federal complaint.

Inside the vehicle were Law, Salazar-Quintero and three Mexican nationals in the United States illegally, the court document states. The two servicemen were taken into custody on suspicion of transporting undocumented immigrants for financial gain.

Law and Salazar-Quintero are being prosecuted in federal court. The newly arrested Marines' cases are in the military justice system for now, though they could wind up in the civilian legal arena, as well, said 1st Lt. Cameron Edinburgh, another public-information officer with the 1st Marine Division.

Oil Company ‘Man Camps’ in ND Terrorizing & Sex Trafficking Native American Kids and Adults (Article from December 5, 2017)

Camps popping up all over North Dakota have been infiltrated by sex traffickers and criminal gangs who are preying on the local native children and adults alike.
by John Vibes

New Town, ND – The recent disappearance of a 32-year-old mother has shed new light on the growing problem of violence against women that live near the booming oil fields of North Dakota. Over a month ago, Olivia Lone Bear went missing from Fort Berthold Reservation and has not been heard from since.

In a recent interview, lawyer Mary Kathryn Nagle, who is helping the family with the investigation, pointed out that violence against women in this particular area has been steadily increasing since the oil companies came to town.

“We have the highest rates across the United States, again, in Indian Country, of violence, but in particular in North Dakota, where the rates of oil extraction have skyrocketed since 2005 in the Bakken oil boom. As a result of that, over 100,000 men from outside the state of North Dakota have moved to the state of North Dakota to live in man camps that the oil companies have set up. And unfortunately, as Senator Heidi Heitkamp has noted, as the former U.S. Attorney for the state of North Dakota has noted, the resulting rates of violence, drug of course, and crime and burglary have skyrocketed, but also in particular, domestic violence and sexual assault, including rape and sex trafficking,” Nagle said.

“Numerous leaders both at the state and federal level have now noticed that North Dakota—some of the towns in North Dakota within the Bakken boom and some within the Fort Berthold reservation, where Olivia is from, now some have some of the highest rates of sex trafficking in the United States,” she added.

Former Rosebud Sioux Tribe Police ChiefGrace Her Many Horses warned about these camps in a 2014 interview, saying that, “This tribal police department isn’t equipped to handle what’s going to happen out there when the Man Camp arrives. The infrastructure of the towns on this Indian reservation will be forced to expand then months later it will collapse onto itself. Because I’ve witnessed it doing just that… what I am saying up there in Newtown, ND. It’s going to be really scary. Realistically speaking, we’re going to need to setup a substation for the area nearest to the Man Camp, and we got have people on call 24 hours a day there too. I don’t know how we are going to deal with that just yet. We are overwhelmed as is stands right now. Once the Man Camp moves in…” she added.

Pop up trailer cities where tens of thousands of oil workers come to live have become known locally as “man camps.” These camps are filled with workers who have been shipped in from all over the country, and while the majority of them are just trying to take any job they can get in a tough economy, there is a very dangerous criminal element that goes unchecked in and around these camps.

According to the Boston Globe, there are over 35 corporations extracting oil and “man camps” that stretch for miles just on the Fort Berthold reservation alone. A 2013 report in the Bismark Tribune showed rates of crime increasing across the board in the state, with Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem placing the blame directly on the growing oil industry and the camps that come along with it. More recent numbers show that the state’s crime rate increased by nearly 10% in 2015 and has stayed at that level, despite a slight increase of less than a percentage point in 2016.

North Dakota U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon told the AP that, “Our police and prosecutors are going to have to adapt to keep pace. We have organized criminal gangs selling drugs, sex trafficking, and out-of-state flim-flam men coming in. And the cases have become more and more complicated."

Former Rosebud Sioux Tribe Police Chief Grace Her Many Horses warned about these camps in a 2014 interview, saying that, “This tribal police department isn’t equipped to handle what’s going to happen out there when the Man Camp arrives. The infrastructure of the towns on this Indian reservation will be forced to expand then months later it will collapse onto itself. Because I’ve witnessed it doing just that… what I am saying up there in Newtown, ND. It’s going to be really scary. Realistically speaking, we’re going to need to setup a substation for the area nearest to the Man Camp, and we got have people on call 24 hours a day there too. I don’t know how we are going to deal with that just yet. We are overwhelmed as is stands right now. Once the Man Camp moves in…”

The Tribal Police departments are also prevented from having jurisdiction over the non-tribal crime, which has presented a major roadblock in solving these cases, especially since the issue does not seem to be a priority to non-tribal law enforcement. In 2015, the FBI opened a fully staffed office in the area, but in the two years that they have been around there has been no improvement, and now there is another missing person with no major leads from the agency.

Trinity Mount Ministries - BLUE CAMPAIGN - Homeland Security - Information & Resources

Identify a Victim

Everyone has a role to play in combating human trafficking. Recognizing the signs of human trafficking is the first step to identifying a victim. Our resources page has materials for a more in-depth human trafficking education and a catalog of materials that can be distributed and displayed in your community.

Do not at any time attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to your suspicions. Your safety as well as the victim’s safety is paramount.  Instead, please contact local law enforcement directly or call the tip lines indicated on this page:

• Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) to report suspicious criminal activity to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. The Tip Line is accessible outside the United States by calling 802-872-6199.
• Submit a tip at www.ice.gov/tips.  Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on more than 400 laws enforced by ICE HSI, including those related to human trafficking.
• To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH), call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). The NHTH can help connect victims with service providers in the area and provides training, technical assistance, and other resources. The NHTH is a national, toll-free hotline available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. The NHTH is not a law enforcement or immigration authority and is operated by a nongovernmental organization funded by the Federal government.

By identifying victims and reporting tips, you are doing your part to help law enforcement rescue victims, and you might save a life. Law enforcement can connect victims to services such as medical and mental health care, shelter, job training, and legal assistance that restore their freedom and dignity. The presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking. It is up to law enforcement to investigate suspected cases of human trafficking.

Learn more about HSI investigations and the victims HSI has assisted from the ICE Newsroom.

To report suspected human trafficking:

1-866-347-2423

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

1-888-373-7888

or text HELP or INFO to

BeFree (233733)

Follow the Blue Campaign

From Steve W Stewart/ KJAS - 
Law enforcement officials say a major crime ring that had been hitting Tyler and Liberty Counties has now struck here in Jasper County. Late Wednesday night to early Thursday morning, Jasper County Chief Deputy Glenn Blank says that four pickup trucks were stolen from the Rayburn Country area, and Jasper Police Chief Gerald Hall says that two pickup trucks were stolen in the city limits of Jasper.

Meanwhile, Chief Hall said late Thursday afternoon that he had been in contact with state and federal authorities and they tell him that it's believed that the thefts are related to organized crime out of Mexico, and the trucks are used to transport illegal aliens from Mexico into the United States.

Hall issued an urgent warning for everyone to keep their vehicles locked with alarms set, and never leave a key in your vehicle.

This comes just two days after KJAS News brought you the story of numerous crimes occurring in Tyler County, in which several vehicles were burglarized, and five pickup trucks were stolen in one night from the Wildwood Community.

Law enforcement officials say the thieves are targeting 4-wheel drive pickups along with large pickup trucks, 2500 series and above.

Jasper Police Chief Gerald Hall said that his officers began looking for the stolen vehicles after the crimes were discovered early Thursday morning in the Rayburn Country area, and at about 5:00 a.m. an officer happened to find himself behind a stolen truck on Live Oak Lane on the west side of Jasper. Hall said that truck, a 2006 Chevrolet, belonged to the Justice family on Creek Bend Drive.

Hall said the suspect fled from the officer, but soon wrecked out on Farm to Market Road 777 near Highway 190 West. Hall said the suspect fled into a wooded area, and despite officers and tracking dogs searching the area, he managed to elude capture.

Hall said another truck, a white Chevrolet 4-wheel drive, was also stolen overnight from a residence on Willow Drive.

KJAS News spoke to Captain Ken DeForre of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department and he said that the thieves have been hitting their county pretty hard over the last two months, specifically stealing large pickup trucks. DeForre pointed out that not one single truck has been recovered, which he said may indicate that they are being taken to Mexico.

The following press release was issued by Jasper Police Chief Gerald Hall on Thursday afternoon:

On 6/20/19 in the early morning hours a car theft ring that has been plaguing Tyler and Liberty Counties found their way to Jasper County and City. The subjects stole a 2006 Blue Chevrolet 4door 4wheel drive from a residence located on Creek Bend Drive and another one, Red 2015 Ford from a residence located on Willow Drive. The owner of the vehicle on Creek Bend Drive heard his vehicle being stolen and called the Police Department who dispatched officers to the area and shortly thereafter located one of the vehicles and a pursuit ensued resulting in the stolen vehicle being wrecked and the occupant fleeing into the woods. Upon arrival of a k-9 unit, the subject was tracked but the trail turned cold. Evidence located inside the wrecked vehicle indicates the driver was of Hispanic descent. According to other law enforcement agencies (DPS Auto Theft & ICE), the majority of the vehicles have been Ford trucks, all the vehicles have been four door and most were four wheel drive. It is believed the vehicles are being used to transport undocumented aliens across the border into Texas. The subjects change the license plates and will only indicate as stolen if the VIN# is run. All the vehicles stolen by this ring have had the key in the ignition or somewhere inside the vehicle. Some of the vehicles were locked with the key inside the console.

Mike Lout picture

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR KEYS INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE OR YOUR VEHICLE UNLOCKED IF YOU OWN A VEHICLE MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TARGETED VEHICLES.

DOJ - Homeland Security - BLUE CAMPAIGN - WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

Watch Video Presentation

What Is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.

Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime.

Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. They look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters, or political instability. The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.

Many myths and misconceptions exist. Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Not all indicators listed are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.

The safety of the public as well as the victim is paramount. Do not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to any suspicions. It is up to law enforcement to investigate suspected cases of human trafficking.

Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to create general awareness training and materials for law enforcement and others to increase detection of human trafficking, and to identify victims.

Located within the Office of Partnership and Engagement, Blue Campaign leverages partnerships with the private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), law enforcement and state/local authorities to maximize national public engagement on anti-human trafficking efforts. Blue Campaign’s educational awareness objectives consists of two foundational elements, prevention of human trafficking and protection of exploited persons.

You are he

• a Blue Campaign Parter
• Report a Tip to Law Enforcement
• Human Trafficking Awareness Training
• Get Help From an NGO
• 
  

  Resources for Law Enforcement
• 
  

  Spread Awess
  

  
  

To report suspected human trafficking:

1-866-347-2423

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

1-888-373-7888

or text HELP or INFO to

BeFree (233733)

Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse Among Runaway Children Shows Massive Increase

A new study by the Department of Family Services (DFPS) is showing a growing number of runaways from foster care are becoming victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse. (SBG San Antonio)

SAN ANTONIO - A new study by the Department of Family Services (DFPS) is showing a growing number of runaways from foster care are becoming victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

The numbers from DFPS are statewide and are almost double of the year before. The report is looking at children in DFPS conservatorship from fiscal year 2018.

52 children reported that they were trafficked last year, which is a big jump compared to 2017 where there was 35.

The numbers of reports of sexual abuse are more staggering.

68 children reported they we sexually abused after running away last year. That’s compared to 34 from 2017.

The Salvation Army, who works to help survivors of human trafficking, say people should always keep an eye out for signs of suspected children being trafficked.

“Instinct is such a powerful thing, and a lot of times, if you see a situation and you know there’s something not right about it that instinct, I always tell people to go with it,” said Roxanne Ponce, program manager with The Salvation Army.

The study also show girls are 10% more likely to run away from foster care than boys.

DFPS is working to fight human trafficking and abuse of the kids in foster care by working with several non-profit organizations and law enforcement.

Trinity Mount Ministries - NCMEC - Active Missing Children Posters

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