Child Abuse

Child Abuse: Mother sells daughter for sex

In a tragic case of child abuse and criminal sex trafficking of her own daughter, Amy Floyd Morgan was arrested for selling her pre-teen daughter to Rama Raji Erramraju so that he could have sex with her. The arrangement between Morgan and Erramraju carried on for well over a year, with Morgan delivering her daughter (under 12) to Erramraju in an …

Burgessct- Human Trafficking Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airline Flight Attendant: Rescues Teenage Human Trafficking Victim

Though it was six years ago, Shelia Fedrick of Alaska Airlines actions in saving a young girl being transported from Seattle to San Francisco by a sex trafficker, has provided the grist for human trafficking awareness training for other flight attendants of all airlines around the globe. Fedrick, noticed a girl with greasy blonde hair, about 14 or 15, sitting …

Sex Trafficking - Chiicago

Sex Trafficking: Grooming within suburbia

  Grooming in Suburbia Grooming of girls (and boys) and young women from seemingly protected and immune suburban neighborhoods is one of the most lucrative methodologies used by sex traffickers. In her book, The Slave Across the Street, Teresa Flores’ describes the circumstances surrounding her enslavement to include, how those who exploited her targeted, engaged, compromised and enslaved her for a …

The Slave Across The Street -- Burgessct

Book Review: The Slave Across the Street

I just finished reading “The Slave Across the Street” which is a first person account of how Theresa Flores, at age 15 found herself enslaved in Michigan.  Flores’ describes the circumstances surrounding her enslavement to include, how those who exploited her targeted, engaged, compromised and enslaved her for a period of two years, all while she was still living at …

Demanding Justice Report - 2014

Sex Trafficking – The Buyers – Demanding Justice Report 2014

Sex trafficking of minors, aka sexual exploitation of minors, continues in all corners of the world, and law enforcement is becoming more sensitized toward as to how the individual minor prostituting themselves are the victims. Shared Hope International released their new report “Demanding Justice” which shines the light on the buyers of sex with a minor. The report highlights the …

Sex Trafficking - Tulsa

Sex Trafficking – Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma recently saw another round of arrests as local law enforcement took to the streets and wrapped up 42 individuals who were involved in an organized sex trafficking network.

TVPRA - Trafficking Victims Reauthorization Act

Human Trafficking – TVPRA (Trafficking Victims Reauthorization Act) in President Obama’s Hands

The combined bill passed through both houses last week (28 Feb 2013), with The Senate voting 93-5 and The House voting 286 to 138. The passage of the TVPRA follows 2.5 years of congressional debate, rewrites, exclusions and inclusions. The bill was presented to President Obama for signature on 4 March 2013.

Sex Trafficking & Super Bowl

Super Bowl XLVII is coming to New Orleans – You can be aware, and make it more difficult for the criminal element to operate within the fringes of the Super Bowl. If you are a the Super Bowl and you see a child proffering themselves up for sex, please don’t turn your head – call 911 – or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline – 1-888-373-7888 – or visit the web site Free-NOLA

Savannah – Sex Trafficking 2013 – Hostess City of the South

All is not peachy down in Georgia, specifically Savannah, the Hostess City of The South. On January 11, 2013 (coincidentally Human Trafficking Awareness Day), the Department of Justice, indicted 12 individuals for the sex trafficking of women from Central America and Mexico who had been duped into thinking they were coming to the US in pursuit of the American Dream, not a trafficker’s induced nightmare.

Think you’re immune? Sex Trafficking convictions in Western Washington

On Friday, 30 November 2012, two miscreants (Terrence Williams and Charles Deville Nash) were sentenced to extended stays within the federal prison system for trafficking young women within Western Washington, and to/from other states. The pimps would advertise the availability of their victims via advertisements on Craig’s List and Backpage (see my prior piece: Sex Trafficking & Exploitation 2012 – Village Voice). According to the US Department of Justice, “both men controlled young women, advertising them on the internet, transporting them to “dates,” taking their earnings and through verbal or physical violence forcing them to continue in the sex trades.”

Children as a commodity – Human Trafficking & Sex Trafficking

Those who are unfamiliar with the terms “sex trafficking” or “human trafficking” I hope will envision children being bought and sold, for the use of others – child slavery would also be an apropos term. This isn’t isolated to some poor unfortunates in a far away land. Look around and you will see it; look around and understand. The year is now 2012 and we continue to see an ever increasing number of fellow humans being trafficked and enslaved. In fact, the number of persons believed to be enslaved in 2012 is at its greatest level in the history of mankind.

Sex Trafficking & Exploitation – 2012 – Village Voice

Today I opened up the NY Times web page to see Nicholas D. Kristoff’s piece “Where Pimps Peddle Their Goods” which speaks to how Village Voice Media accepts advertising on their websites which offers lightly veiled solicitations for the services of “escorts” and the like, both male and female. The reality is that this is unvarnished advertising by pimps who have exerted control over individuals whom they force to prostitute themselves.

In reading Kristoff’s piece, I was particularly taken back by this portion, “Liz McDougall, general counsel of Village Voice Media, told me that it is “shortsighted, ill-informed and counterproductive”

Book Review: Off the Street

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Detective Christopher Baughman of the Las Vegas Police Department in person and chatting with him about his book, “Off the Street.” (to be released September 2011). You see Detective Baughman is the lead for the Las Vegas PD’s Pandering Investigation Team, part of Las Vegas Vice, and his book details the team’s first case. His mild manner belays his internal fire to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. Our discussion ranged from technologies described in his book, to human trafficking situation in Las Vegas where literally hundreds of vulnerable children and adults are manipulated into the sex trade. I also asked his permission to share the review pre-publication, to which he agreed. Read more…

Parents Selling Their Children – Sexual Exploitation of Minors

There are days when you read a piece in the news and shake your head in disbelief. That was the case yesterday when I read of a couple (Anthony Wayne Hart, 47 and his wife Kathy Lee Hart, 43) indicteded in Madison County, Virginia on charges of “human traffiicking” of their daughters. The grand jury indictment read, “arranging for their 13 and 14-year-old daughters to provide companionship and affection to male individuals in exchange for money and goods …” The incidents took place between 10 October 2009 and 24 February 2011.

When you step into your past, you may step into a cow-patty

The Thai people remain amongst the friendliest and engaging in the world. My childhood memories will remain, I am glad I was able to show my bride Thailand the land of my youth. I felt during my walk through my personal life’s history, I had stepped into a cow-patty. It is most lamentable Thailand has allowed the denigration and exploitation of women and children to evolve to the current levels, and in the process acquiring the moniker of “Sex tourism destination of choice.” – Read of our experience during our recent anniversary trip…

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

On 15 September, the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security conducted a hearing on “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking” in the United States. (NB: A minor in the United States is an individual under the age of 18.) On ongoing issue in the United States which every year touches over 100,000 children. The sex trafficking and exploitation of a child victim, on average …