by Jessica on May 13, 2013
East Coast / West Coast … it doesn’t matter what “coast”. Human Trafficking is everywhere. And it needs to be stopped!
“New York: On April 30, 2013, the federal government charged 13 men, nine of whom live in Queens, with crimes related to running an international sex trafficking ring from the rural enclave of Tenancingo, Mexico to New York. Homeland Security Investigations issued search warrants for four brothels in Yonkers, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Queens. Nine men were arrested, though three were already incarcerated, and one suspect remains on the loose.
“With promises of a better life, the members of this alleged sex trafficking and prostitution ring lured their unsuspecting victims to the United States and then consigned them to a living hell – forcing them to become sex slaves living in abhorrent conditions, and using threats, verbal abuse, and violence – sexual and otherwise – when they resisted and even sometimes when they didn’t,” said U.S. attorney Preet Bharara in a statement.
The details of the alleged crimes–including sex trafficking, interstate transportation for prostitution, and possession of child pornography, among others–outlined in the complaint are disturbing. It describes victims being beaten, threatened, and force to have sex with 20 to 30 New York customers a day, a service for which the johns paid $30-$35. More than half of that amount went to the driver or the brothel, and the remainder to the victim, who was usually forced to hand it over to the trafficker, according to the complaint.
“After periods of victimization- typically months or years – many victims manage to escape,” the complaint reads. “Without legal status in the United States, without family or friends for support, without employment opportunities, and as a result of the trauma they have suffered, victims sometimes return to prostitution.”
The typical pattern for coercing rural women into the sex trade was engaging them in romantic relationships, according to the prosecutors.” -The Village Voice.
by Jessica on May 10, 2013
Most people think human trafficking only happens oversees. Think again people. It’s right here in the good ol USA.
“Los Angeles: On April 30, 2013, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Human Trafficking Unit, in partnership with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, concluded by way of felony conviction an 18 month investigation into a claim of human trafficking of a minor.
The defendant in this matter, Charles Bland, 26 years of age, of Lancaster, California, was convicted of Sexual Assault and Pimping of a Minor under the age of 15. The survivor in this case is a 14 year-old female from Riverside, California.
The investigation began when the 14 year-old survivor reported the sexual assault and abuse of her trafficker to the LAPD. Detectives from North Hollywood Division contacted investigators from the LAPD Human Trafficking Unit for a more thorough interview and investigation.
The investigation revealed that during the month of September 2011, Bland, using various social media sites, recruited the survivor, while she was still in Riverside, to meet him in the San Fernando Valley. Once Bland met with her, he took her to his home in Lancaster. Over a period of three weeks, Bland, on multiple occasions, sexually assaulted the survivor. He then forced the young survivor to work for him as a prostitute, from Pomona to Los Angeles, to the San Fernando Valley.
On one specific occasion, when Bland believed that the survivor did not earn enough money for him as a prostitute, he stripped the survivor naked and proceeded to beat her with a leather belt and its belt buckle. Shortly thereafter, the survivor fled in search of the police. After three weeks, the young survivor was able to escape from Bland and report him to the proper authorities.
Bland, a self-admitted gang member has pled guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court to Pimping of a Minor and Lifetime Registration as a Sexual Offender. He received a six year sentence for his crime.” -The Guardian Press
by Jessica on May 3, 2013
First off, let me first acknowledge my amazing team. They did a fantastic job as camp counselors. To make things a little more fun for camp, we all changed our names. For example, I was Brownie, Joy was Salon, Phoad was Tron, Kaew was Blueberry, Fa was Scoopy, Rim was Bambi, Chu was Dino, Nava was Deedo, and Pope was Makuatae (which is tomato in Thai). The kids had fun calling us by our nicknames – I guess my former job as a camp counselor at Sunshine is still near and dear to my heart (although my nickname at Sunshine was “Gup” – but in Thai, that doesn’t have a good meaning, so I opted for my favorite treat).
Here is a pic of the kids on “Make-It Monday.” Every Monday we would use our God-given creativity and make something together as a family.
And one of my favorite parts of camp was “Friend Friday.” Every Friday, we would go out and bless others. It was all about giving back and being a good friend. I was so proud of our kids. They lead the outreach on their own. My leaders and I were there as a support for them, but they planned and implemented the entire program themselves – I was so proud!
YOUTUBE