FBI Arrests 600 People, Rescues
47 Children In US Child Prostitution
Rings
FBI Arrests 600 People, Rescues
47 Children In Massive US Child Prostitution Rings NATASHA T. METZLER 10/27/08
WASHINGTON
— More than 600 adults have been arrested and 47
children rescued in a three-day roundup targeting people who force children into
prostitution. The FBI said the roundup by federal,
state and local law enforcement occurred in 29
cities, adding that the raids dismantled 12 large-scale prostitution operations
run through call services, truck stops, casinos and
Web
sites...."Sex trafficking of children remains one of our
most violent and unconscionable crimes in this country," Pistole said. The 47
rescued children ranged in age from 13 to 17,
and
all but one are female. Of these, Pistole said, 10 had
been reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A total
of 642 people were arrested. The FBI says
they
include 73 pimps and 518 adult prostitutes. The
operation was part of a larger, five-year initiative that has led to the
recovery of 575 children and the dismantling of 36
criminal
operations since June 2003. Child prostitution has taken
on a new urgency in recent years with the growth of online networks where pimps
advertise the youngsters to clients. The
FBI
generally gets involved in child prostitution cases that
cross state lines. A University of Pennsylvania study estimated that nearly
300,000 children in the United States are at risk
of