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. Official websites use .gov In September 2019, Horne was convicted at trial of three counts of sex trafficking minors by force, fraud or coercion. 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. Media Contact The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. 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 Ryan Keel, 39, was charged with conspiracy to sex traffic a minor. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: CHILD USA, 3508 MARKET STREET, Philadelphia, PA, 19104. WebVictims of human trafficking can be children or adults, U.S. citizens or foreign nationals, male or female. This ongoing series will address this and more. Enslavement of African Americans is rising in the City of Brotherly Love and Sister Affection. A lock ( Have a question about Government Services? 215-861-8300. It is going take the men taking control to reverse this. Eastern District of Pennsylvania 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. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Also according to court documents, Adams and Kendall each coerced the minors into having sex with them on multiple occasions, and Hampton-Devero instructed one of the minor victims to record commercial sex acts on her cell phone for Devero to post online to attract more sex buyers. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. Lock 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. PCA also conducts comprehensive assessments for children who are at risk or prevent red flags of being commercially sexually exploited. Apr 1, 2016 Local 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 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA All Rights Reserved. Have a question about Government Services? 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. Thats why there has to be an entire paradigm shift.The average girls who enters this is about 13.. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much A locked padlock 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. Furthermore, travelers who frequent turnpike rest stops, ride public transportation or stay in hotels can quickly recognize when a human trafficking victim may be approaching them for assistance. A Northeast Philadelphia hotel owner was ordered to pay $24 million to eight sex trafficking victims. WebPhiladelphia Men Charged with Child Sex Trafficking. Leah Fletcher, Account Executive. Main Office: Its not just that women have lowered their standards, but that men are the one who see women as lower, too.. Address: Nationalities Service Center 1216 Arch Street, 4th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 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. Philadelphia, PA 19106, JENNIFER CRANDALL A locked padlock EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA Lock We cannot use terms like child prostitution. 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 WebTuesday, August 11, 2020. Fax Line:(215) 861-8618. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE 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). 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 President Obama said there is a need to do more to fight against the exploitation of human beings for profit. Our resolve remains steadfast in finding other children in peril.. We ask anyone with knowledge of child or adult sex trafficking to let us know about it, so we can help. Our hope is for a better future for the 16 children we recovered, said Eric Gartner, the US marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. WebPHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that John Adams, 41, Mercedes Hampton-Devero, 28, Malachai Kendall, 20, and Chukuw Ossai, Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The dates would take place at the home that Smith leased and the females gave 100 percent of their cash earnings to Smith. WebPHILADELPHIA Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Kevin Smith, 27, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged by Indictment with sex trafficking by You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth and you never know WOAR (Women Organized Against Rape) The Philadelphia Sunday SUN - P.O. When you hear the testimony of those who have been victimized, men have to be honest. PCA works in tandem with DHS to connect survivors with the appropriate services. Readers will enter into an uncomfortable world that will challenge their sensibilities, sense of safety, and stereotypical notions about the topic. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A Philadelphia man is accused of trafficking four victims, one of whom was a minor, in Bucks County and surrounding areas, according to federal authorities. Text the letters "Befree" or the numbers 233733 to reach the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. A locked padlock 215-861-8300. 2. This is about helping raise awareness to eradicate human trafficking, Waller said. The seal of the F.B.I. Email. Three Philadelphia men were charged, by a federal grand jury, in an indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of Based on the results of that assessment, PCA will secure services for the child. Yet without those who purchase the services of modern day slaves, like any market, it would dry up. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. The Indictment alleges that Felts ran a prostitution ring that recruited and enticed young girls, including one who was only fifteen years old, 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. UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE Email He said this is the time to shine the light on both the consequences and root causes of human trafficking. 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. 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124, 2023 All rights reserved. Official websites use .gov They are not just the drug user, the wayward runaway teen, or the troubled foster child. 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. An official website of the United States government. Children cannot sell sex even in places where prostitution is legal. Main Office: A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 31, 2013. Kevin Smith allegedly did just that to three young women and a child. Know that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are working every day to put traffickers like Horne behind bars and ensure some justice for their victims. 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? WebThe 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 For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 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. Yet it is clear that this and other types of trafficking are not just limited to certain times of the year. In addition, PCA works closely with DHS to provide comprehensive assessments of children referred to DHS who are screened for concerns of being exploited. 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. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone:(215) 861-8200 hangs in the Flag Room at the bureau's headquarters in Washington. He also reiterated that the United States, including cities like Philadelphia, must continue this as part of the fight for human rights. At least 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Many of these at-risk youths are referred for services with PCAs CSEC therapist, who is specially trained in this area. 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. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Lock ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Many who engage in the paid sex during Super Bowl season are not the typical prostitute street walker. Online Tip Reporting. Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners to recognize theindicatorsof human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of lifetime imprisonment. This month, let us find inspiration in Americas progress toward justice, opportunity, and prosperity for all and affirm out pledge to continue fighting for human rights around the world, he said. 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. Smith gave each of his recruits a cellular telephone, which he paid for, and then included that phone number in the Backpage advertisement. 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Metcalf and Brittany Jones. Have a question about Government Services? FOX 29 Philadelphia. Justice At Work specializes in providing free legal representation to victims of labor trafficking as well as other communities of workers. Participating agencies of the Coalition discuss actionable steps towards improving city-wide efforts and collaboration to ensure that youth are able to access the multitude of services across systems throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. WebPhiladelphia Police are launching a special task force to battle the growing problem of Human Traffickers preying on children in Philadelphia, CBS has learned. It also alleges that Smith operated a sex trafficking enterprise at various times over a period of two years from July 2015 to July 2017, during which he used physical threats to force three different young adult victims to have sex for money. 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. According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Smith operated a prostitution business in Philadelphia between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011. Those who so victimize vulnerable kids do untold physical and emotional harm. 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. 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. He admitted that he had to examine himself as to whether he lusted after young women young enough to be his daughter. 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) A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Phone: 215-387-9500. As many are gathering in front of large flat screen televisions during Super Bowl Sunday surrounded by trays of hors doeuvres, party platters and beer, an underground network will also be working hard. 6:45 PM EDT, Sat March 20, 2021. PCA conducts forensic interviews and offers therapeutic services specializing in understanding the needs and experiences of trafficking survivors. 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, 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. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. According to publicly filed court documents, Adams, whose self-professed nickname was Captain Save-A-Hoe, along with co-defendants Hampton-Devero and Kendall, trafficked two minors during approximately three weeks in January of 2020 from multiple locations in Philadelphia. Covenant House As a city Philadelphia has major conventions and athletic events as well as many entertainment strips. 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 Smith was charged locally and was later charged in a federal indictment. Eastern District of Pennsylvania 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. appreciated. 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Day slaves, like any MARKET, it would dry up, men have to be.... 100 percent of their cash earnings to Smith African Americans is rising in the United.!