Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Over 12 Years in Prison For Sex Trafficking Children While Visiting Metro-Detroit

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan

DETROIT – A Las Vegas man who sex trafficked children in metro-Detroit while visiting the area in December 2020 was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Devin J. Kowalski, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division.

Jquon Wroten, 31, pled guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of a minor in April 2023. Wroten was sentenced today by United States District Judge Bernard A. Friedman.

Law enforcement first began investigating Wroten while attempting to locate two minor females who had run away from the Lansing area in late 2020. A relative of one of the minors contacted law enforcement with information and expressed fears that the minors were being trafficked in the Detroit area. Law enforcement recovered the minors from a motel room in Southfield, Michigan in December 2020 and learned that Wroten had recruited the minors to work for him after meeting them in a local motel while he was in town. Wroten and an adult female associate took the minors to a local beauty supply store and bought items in an effort to make them look older. Wroten then set up a commercial sex date for the minors at a residence in metro-Detroit and drove the minors to the date, where they engaged in commercial sex with multiple men. Wroten took proceeds from the sex trafficking for his own use.

“The sex trafficking of children is a hideous crime that preys on some of our district’s most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “The court’s sentence today is a just punishment and will prevent the defendant from further victimizing children here or anywhere else.”

“Protecting young people from dangerous predators is a top priority for the FBI in Michigan and across the country,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Mr. Wroten in an example of how manipulative these criminals can be. I commend the work of the special agents, deputies, police officers, and prosecutors who worked to make our children safer by ensuring he remains behind bars for a significant period of time.”

This case was investigated by the FBI Detroit Division, FBI Las Vegas Division, FBI San Francisco Division, SEMTEC (Southwest Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes), and State of Michigan Children’s Protective Services.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan Sweeney Bean and Eaton Brown.

FBI-Led Sweep Targeting Sex Traffickers Recovers Dozens of Minor Victims

13th iteration of nationwide ‘Operation Cross Country’ involved hundreds of agencies

B-roll video footage of Operation Cross Country 13, an FBI-led nationwide law enforcement initiative—now in its 13th year. The coordinated operation, which included other federal agencies, state and local police, and social services agencies across the country, aims to find and assist victims of human trafficking, particularly child victims.

Transcript / Visit Video Source

More than 200 victims of sex trafficking were rescued during a nationwide enforcement campaign last month that also included the identification or arrest of more than five dozen suspected human traffickers and 126 individuals accused of child sexual exploitation and trafficking offenses.

The FBI-led “Operation Cross Country,” which involved nearly every FBI field office and their respective state and local partners, also located 59 minor victims of child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, and another 59 children who had been reported missing.  

The two-week law enforcement initiative—now in its 13th year—is a coordinated operation among the FBI, other federal agencies, state and local police, and social services agencies across the country to find and assist victims of human trafficking, particularly child victims. Law enforcement agencies conduct targeted operations to identify traffickers, their networks, and their victims. FBI victim specialists, working alongside local agencies, then provide immediate support and access to the extensive resources that are available to all federal crime victims. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a significant partner in the initiative. The private non-profit is a clearinghouse of information and has assisted in more than 400,000 cases of missing kids who were recovered since its founding in 1984.

“Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights that preys on the most vulnerable members of our society,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an August 1 announcement of the arrests and recoveries. “The FBI’s actions against this threat never waver as we continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated.”

“The FBI’s actions against this threat never waver as we continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated.”

Christopher Wray, FBI Director

FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces across the country work throughout the year to locate victims and their traffickers. Often, victim specialists are embedded in operations. They serve as a liaison between the victims and FBI agents. They also help victims find services to rebuild their lives. The FBI’s Victim Services Division has a team of child and adolescent forensic interviewers, or CAFIs, who are specially trained interviewers skilled at gathering evidence without further traumatizing children and others with mental or emotional disabilities. These multi-disciplinary teams work with state and local partners to make resources available for victims, which might include counseling, medical services, housing, or job placement.  

“Our victim specialists, victim service coordinators, child and adolescent forensic interviewers, and other victim service professionals work collaboratively with special agents to ensure a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach is taken when engaging with victims,” said Regina Thompson, assistant director of the Victim Services Division. “This is especially important when engaging with victims of human trafficking as it is a very complex, traumatic crime.”  

Operation Cross Country grew out of a 2003 FBI initiative to identify and recover minors who have been sexually exploited. While the national sweeps draw attention to the issue of trafficking, the FBI and its partners work to investigate and stop trafficking every day.

“Behind every statistic, there is a person with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from child sex trafficking and exploitation,” said NCMEC President and CEO Michelle DeLaune. “We applaud the FBI and their partner law enforcement agencies for their unwavering dedication to protecting children.”

Trinity Mount Ministries - NCMEC - Important Message for Law Enforcement

Santa Clara Police Department

The posters on this website with the NCMEC logo have been certified as noted below:

Case was entered into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database.

Waiver from parent, guardian or law enforcement agency giving permission to disseminate photo of missing child is on file at NCMEC.

Posters containing photos of adults labeled as an abductor are included only if a felony warrant was issued for the abductor and information about the abductor was entered into the NCIC Wanted Person File.

Some of the individuals pictured in NCMEC posters were reported missing when they were between the ages of 18 and 20. Law enforcement has entered these cases in the FBI National Crime Information Center database, pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 41307 (Suzanne's Law), and has asked NCMEC to disseminate the posters.

Law enforcement officers should:

Check with the appropriate law enforcement agency before taking action regarding a child or abductor depicted in any poster on this website not containing the NCMEC logo.

Be aware some international case posters listed on this website do not have criminal warrants attached, but have specifically-designed posters indicating they are subject to the process specified under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. For more information about this process contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) when dialing within the United States and Canada.

NCMEC

https://www.missingkids.org/home

Trinity Mount Ministries 

https://www.TrinityMountMinistries.com

https://www.TrinityMount.Info

700 Images Of Child Pornography Lands Chesco Man Behind Bars

Cristian Brown was convicted by a jury of seven counts of possessing child pornography.

Holly Herman,Patch Staff

WEST CHESTER, PA —A 21-year-old West Chester man was sentenced Tuesday in the Chester County Justice Center to seven to 15 years in state prison after being convicted of possessing child pornography.

Cristian Brown was also ordered by Judge Patrick Carmody to serve 11 years of probation following the prison term.

“By using the dark web to further his predatory behavior of children the defendant was able to obtain and possess hundreds of the most horrific images of child pornography,” District Attorney Deb Ryan said after the sentence was handed down.

“Each one of these images is a real victim who will suffer these indignities and violations indefinitely.”

According to Chester County detectives, a total of 700 images of child pornography were on one of the computers used by the defendant.

The library of images recovered depicted child victims between the ages of 2 and 14 years old who were sexually assaulted.

Child Sex Predator Arrested Again At Braidwood School: Police

 Twice in May, the Braidwood child sexual predator has been arrested after visiting the property of Reed Custer Elementary School.

John Ferak, Patch Staff

Jason Escalante, 28, of Braidwood, has remained in the Will County Jail since May 24, unable to make his $25,000 bail. (Mugshot via Will County Jail )

BRAIDWOOD, IL — Just a few weeks after Braidwood's convicted child sexual predator Jason Escalante tried to ride on a yellow school bus during a school field trip, Braidwood police have arrested Escalanate, once again, after he visited the Reed-Custer Elementary School property last week, court records show

In the school bus incident, Escalanate stayed in the Will County Jail from May 5 until May 13, when his bail was cut from $10,000 to $5,000. Then, last Wednesday, Escalanate was booked into the jail again and this time his new bail is higher, it's $25,000.

On May 25, Will County prosecutors charged the 32-year-old Escalanate with unlawful presence in a school zone. The criminal complaint states that Escalanate, a child sex offender, was knowingly present on property comprising a school, the Reed Custer Elementary School, where persons under the age of 18 were present in the school building.

According to the Braidwood police Facebook page, around 9 a.m. on May 24, officers saw Escalante, who is a known sex offender, drive through the front parking lot of the Reed-Custer Elementary School to drop off his girlfriend's child. Escalante was taken into custody a short time later, and school officials were notified immediately, police noted.

Escalante's next hearing at the Will County Courthouse is set for June 5 in Courtroom 405 of Will County Judge Dave Carlson.

Trinity Mount Ministries - NCMEC - Important Message for Law Enforcement

 San Jose Police Department 

The posters on this website with the NCMEC logo have been certified as noted below:

Case was entered into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database.

Waiver from parent, guardian or law enforcement agency giving permission to disseminate photo of missing child is on file at NCMEC.

Posters containing photos of adults labeled as an abductor are included only if a felony warrant was issued for the abductor and information about the abductor was entered into the NCIC Wanted Person File.

Some of the individuals pictured in NCMEC posters were reported missing when they were between the ages of 18 and 20. Law enforcement has entered these cases in the FBI National Crime Information Center database, pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 41307 (Suzanne's Law), and has asked NCMEC to disseminate the posters.

Law enforcement officers should:

Check with the appropriate law enforcement agency before taking action regarding a child or abductor depicted in any poster on this website not containing the NCMEC logo.

Be aware some international case posters listed on this website do not have criminal warrants attached, but have specifically-designed posters indicating they are subject to the process specified under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. For more information about this process contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) when dialing within the United States and Canada.

NCMEC

https://www.missingkids.org/home

Trinity Mount Ministries 

https://www.TrinityMountMinistries.com

https://www.TrinityMount.Info

Homeland Security Investigations Recognizes Asheville Federal Prosecutor For Her Work Combating Child Exploitation

 

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of North Carolina

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has awarded Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Alexis I. Solheim the agency’s “Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Year” award, for her exemplary work in child exploitation cases investigated and prosecuted in the Western District of North Carolina. HSI’s recognition ceremony was held on Friday, October 7, 2022.

“The protection of the most vulnerable among us is a priority for my Office and the Justice Department,” said U.S. Attorney King. “AUSA Solheim is tasked with bringing to justice individuals who harm innocent children, which are often some of the most difficult and challenging cases handled by federal prosecutors. Through her legal work and advocacy, AUSA Solheim has demonstrated exemplary legal skill and professionalism, advocating for crime victims and holding offenders accountable for their actions. I am proud of AUSA Solheim’s achievement and I commend her for her legal successes and her work focusing on prevention and intervention.”

AUSA Solheim is a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville and serves as the Western District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator. In this capacity, AUSA Solheim is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of cases involving the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors. Launched by the Department of Justice in 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.

The HSI award recognizes AUSA Solheim for her outstanding work in numerous federal criminal prosecutions involving the production, receipt and distribution of child pornography, “traveler” or enticement crimes, and online child exploitation cases, among others. In addition to prosecuting federal matters, as the District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, AUSA Solheim conducts trainings of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on how to investigate and prosecute computer-facilitated crimes against children. AUSA Solheim also participates in community education programs, in order to raise awareness about the threat of online sexual predators and to provide the tools and information to children and parents on how to protect children and report possible violations.

AUSA Solheim began her career in public service in 2014, when she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), working on criminal and civil matters in federal court. Ms. Solheim then became an Assistant District Attorney in Buncombe County, where she prosecuted state criminal offenses. In 2018, Ms. Solheim returned to federal prosecution as a SAUSA with North Carolina’s 43rd Prosecutorial District until 2021, when she was hired to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

AUSA Solheim received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from the Campbell University School of Law.

 

Berkeley Police Believe Recent Kidnapping Attempts May Be Related

 

Two attempted kidnappings that occurred in the last month may be related, according to an alert issued by the Berkeley Police Department on Friday.

An unknown suspect attempted to kidnap a 12-year-old boy Tuesday evening near the intersection of Sacramento Avenue and Addison Street, the alert noted. According to the alert, the boy was riding his scooter on the sidewalk when a woman stopped her car in front of him and attempted to lure him into the vehicle. The attempt was thwarted when the boy ran away from the alleged perpetrator, the alert added.

BPD noted it believes that this incident is related to another attempted kidnapping from Aug. 29, reported near Allston Way and McKinley Avenue. In that incident, a person in a white car pulled up to a 13-year-old girl and attempted to convince her to get inside, according to the alert. The girl refused and walked away from the situation, the alert noted.

Witnesses described the suspect as a 5’4″ Black woman between the ages of 30 and 40. She was noted as having a “chubby build” and black hair that was in a bun, according to the alert. The vehicle was identified as a newer model white Honda or Toyota sedan, the alert added.

The alert encouraged those with information on the attempted kidnappings to contact BPD.

Check Back For Updates.

Trinity Mount Ministries - DOJ - PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD - Justice News - UPDATE - 10/07/2022

Help Find Missing Children. Let's Put An End To Child Abuse And Exploitation... Care. 

PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD

   About Project Safe Childhood 

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.

Learn More About Project Safe Childhood

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RESOURCES

Amber Alert

iKeepSafe

INOBTR ("I Know Better")

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Office of Educational Technology Internet Safety

Read the Project Safe Childhood Fact Sheet »

Featured Videos

 

View the Project Safe Childhood Video Page »