FBI: 79 rescued in child prostitution sweep

CBS/AP

(CBS News) The FBI has announced the results of the latest nationwide sweep of prostitution rings that prey on children. Over a three-day period, FBI agents with state and local police officials "rescued" 79 minors and arrested 104 pimps. Acting Executive Assistant Director Kevin Perkins briefed reporters on this sixth deployment of "Operation Cross Country," describing how child prostitution has evolved from a local crime to a nationwide problem dominated by organized crime groups "with a business strategy" that recruit vulnerable children in social media, chat lines and text messaging.

Perkins said the girls are "of tender age, 11, 12 and 13 years," enticed with cell phones and other gifts but also with offers of basic food and shelter. The children soon discover that there is no way out.

"They are told, you can be killed and we can injure your parents. Just like any kind of a hostage, they're being held against their will," Perkins said.

Ernie Allen, President of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which joined the FBI in its announcement, said many communities have turned a blind eye to child prostitution. But Allen says the deployment of 2,500 officers in 57 cities in this operation shows that public attitudes are changing.

"This is not just a problem on the other side of the world. It is happening in U.S. cities, and average people doing average things can help put an end to it," he said, adding that the FBI's hotline for cyber-crimes has handled 12,000 tips about child trafficking and prostitution.

Allen and Perkins both called for an increase in social services for the prostitutes themselves since many have nowhere to go when they are released from police custody. The FBI's Office of Victim Assistance steps in to help but comprehensive services are needed. Allen said, "these kids are really damaged. They require a specialized kind of help."

He added: "After an earlier operation, I was called by a prosecutor who said, 'I know I'm not supposed to lock her up but my domestic violence shelters won't take her, the runaway shelters won't take her so I have no choice but to put her in secure detention for her own protection.' But our hope is that America is waking up to that."

[JohnGoodson]

Sweden decriminalized prostitution years ago. But found a huge increase in children being imported into Sweden for purposes of postitution. 3 years ago Sweden changed it's laws to make the selling of sex legal, but the buying illegal. This treats the girls as victims. The men, johns, pimps, and traffickers are treated as criminals. This new approach works. Today Sweden has one of the lowest trafficking rates of any European country. Traffickers won't even bring girls in for conventions.

[Stevie851]

So, why not go all the way and - NAME NAMES????? The root of this problem is not the pimps or the children - it's the john's!!! Duh! Print their names with photo ID on the front page of every newspaper. THAT will begin to control this. As long as they remain hidden (by the police and the press), this will continue.

[doctressjulia]

WELL SAID, Stevie.

POST MUGSHOTS AND NAMES OF ALL THE MEN WHO WERE PIMPING LITTLE GIRLS.

NAME THE AGENT!

[matt6052]

Child prostitution is a sub-set of the illegal prostitution racket. The illegality of adult prostitution generally creates an ongoing illegal revenue source that supports criminals, who then exploit children.

It would be interesting to see how many of the 104 pimps relied on child prostitutes for 100% of their income and how many pimps began as child prostitute pimps -- began with no experience illegally pimping for adult prostitutes.

Clearly, the illegality of prostitution expands the criminal infrastructure and creates the market structures necessary for the ongoing exploitation of children.

[doctressjulia]

No, it is not a "sub-set". It is ALL THE SAME. ADULT PROSTITUTES ALMOST ALWAYS START BEING VICTIMIZED WHEN THEY ARE CHILDREN.

OUTLAW PROSTITUTION. ARREST THE JOHNS.

LEGALIZING IT WON'T WORK. YOU NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH BEFORE YOU SPOUT MORE BS.

[matt6052]

I wasn't posting about prostitutes. I was posting about the relationship between illegal adult prostitution and illegal child prostitution. The illegality of adult prostitution creates the structures for the exploitation of children.

Prostitution is legal in most English speak countries- England, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, and New Zealand all permit it, as does, technically, the United States. It's just that most states here prohibit it.

[credibility2]

Those who prey on children and exploit them for carnal gratification or profit should all be executed.

[mysticpizza]

Amen to that credibility that is the only way to deal with these scumbags.

[realpatriot1776]

I hear so many applauding this action and acting or sounding as if this is not in your neighborhood, you are very mistaken, these children are your children these pimps, are your children, these Johns are your children but for some reason as soon as people claim the Pimps are doing this everyone detaches and leaves the Pimps, but the pimps are also family maybe not directly but they are part of our society, and the Johns yes everyone enjoys detaching from some participant of vice after the fact, everyone says oh he was nice, and he was funny, now he is swept into over crowded jails, and he is abandoned why because of our social attitude of ignoring a problem and refusing to examine what is really happening, these "Children" are rebelling against any parental control, or authority they run away from home and are soon in a position where they need help, the Pimp and the John are also looking for help, and if this action were to actually want to be stopped it would take the cooperation of all to address the problem rather then sweep it into a jail cell, the Children need to know that their actions are leaving themselves in a position to be injured, and they also need to learn reality that there are people whom act as help but are not there to help, we are not using communication in a manner to prevent we are using it to prosecute, "the pessimist looks for mistakes, the optimist looks to correct mistakes," are you just looking for mistakes,

[BWB2020]

A small step, but the concept of "sweeping" should be regarded and practiced as something done on a daily basis, not just occasionally.

One sweeps one's house daily, so should one "sweep" the streets.

Also, I say we should "name, shame, fine and consign" the johns also, their crime is just as great.

But then many judges, police, politicians, priests, and other "upstanding" citizens wouldn't want that, as even their own names would eventually surface.

[mysticpizza]

"But then many judges, police, politicians, priests, and other "upstanding" citizens wouldn't want that, as even their own names would eventually surface."

You are preaching the gospel with that comment, its 100% correct.

[doctressjulia]

THESE CHILDREN COMMITTED NO CRIME. THE JOHNS ARE THE CRIMINALS, THE GIRLS ARE THE VICTIMS.

And, SPOT ON TO YOUR LAST Comment re: judges. This is a widespread patriarchal institution- the one that gives men the right to RAPE little girls and boys and walk away.

[Stellaca]

I am so proud of the FBi for taking these LOSER PIMPS off the streets, also they need to go after the JOHNS to, because they know better, they are not above the law, having sex with a child prostitute is still RAPE. They are worse then a dog.

[doctressjulia]

Coercing someone into sex with money- whether child or adult- IS RAPE.

[63laura]

Life in prison for child trafficking for them is what they
should get. Eventually every trafficker would be in jail and
case solved. They are not human beings anyone who exploits a
child should be put away and throw away the key. Put them in
general population that could also solve the problem with these
perverts.

[luckyturqoise]

In the name of God what is wrong with men, and some women. What could possibly have been done to sicken a soul to do these atrocities? At least the problem of this sickness is coming out more and more. I have always wondered where so many children go that go missing. The brutality and murder of these kids will shurley make all people keep there eyes open and watch out for all children.

[jenntito2010]

I specifically logged in to point out that the GOP led House of Reps ended all funding for domestic violence shelters and CASA was rolled back to 1983 funding. CASA specifically acts as the voice for children navigating the foster care system and assists them with obtaining the help they need. The GOP does not care what happens to children in these sort of situations. I'm glad the under Obama he has taken an interest in ending human trafficking. He is certainly a President that would like to go more, provided the political climate gets better.