Five Arrested in Houston Sex Trafficking Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

CRM
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

Four men and one woman have been arrested on charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking of children, as well as forcing and coercing adults to engage in commercial sex acts.

The charges against the six total defendants represent the single-largest domestic sex trafficking case ever prosecuted in the Southern District of Texas.

“The protection of the innocent and the most vulnerable among us is one of the most important obligations of law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer. “Sex trafficking, especially the trafficking of children, is unconscionable, and federal law enforcement is working closely with state and local authorities to fight this most reprehensible sort of exploitation.”

“It is a horrible reflection on our society when adults prey on the vulnerabilities of children and reduce them to indentured sex slaves,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Tim Johnson.  “Whenever and wherever offenses of such a depraved nature occur, our law enforcement community will respond with the sum of our collective prosecutorial resources.”

Five of the six defendants were arrested late Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, and early Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, in a coordinated effort between federal and local law enforcement with warrants issued following the return of a sealed indictment by a Houston grand jury on Aug. 4, 2009.

The indictment unsealed today charges John Butler, 47; William Hornbeak, 34; Jamine Lake, 27; Andre McDaniels, 39; Kristen Land, 28; all of Houston, and Ronnie Presley, 35, formerly of Houston and currently of Tulsa, Okla., with conspiracy to traffic women and children for the purposes of commercialized sex; sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; transportation of minors; transportation; and coercion and enticement.

Upon conviction, each count of sex trafficking and transportation of minors carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Each count of transportation carries up to 10 years in prison, charges for coercion and enticement carry up to 20 years in prison and conspiracy carries up to five years in prison. All charges carry up to a $250,000 fine.

Butler, Hornbeak, Lake, McDaniels and Land were arrested in Houston. The government will ask the court to hold all the defendants in federal custody without bond pending trial. Presley is a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about Presley’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact their local FBI field office, or the Houston FBI Field Office at (713)-693-5000.

According to the unsealed indictment, the defendants allegedly operated commercialized sex businesses often disguised as modeling studios, health spas, massage parlors and bikini bars in Houston, and used sexually oriented publications and Web sites to advertise their illicit business. The criminal enterprise allegedly transported women and minors to and from the Houston area and had ties to Kansas, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. Women and minors as young as 16 were allegedly enticed and coerced into prostitution and were routinely beaten and threatened. The defendants allegedly collected any proceeds the women and minors received as a result of “dates,” rendering them dependent upon the defendants for basic necessities.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

“The defendants are charged with transporting and threatening young women with violence in order to force them into prostitution,” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot said. “A concerted, cooperative effort by state and federal law enforcement is cracking down on the horrific crime of human trafficking – and those who profit from it.”

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI’s Innocence Lost Task Force and the Houston Police Department as part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative. A joint effort of the FBI, the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the initiative was founded in June 2003 to address criminal enterprises involving the domestic sex trafficking of children.  At least one minor was rescued during the course of the investigation. Other minors and several adults have been returned to their families.

“From low-tech methods such as prostituting minors at truck stops, to high-tech methods such as internet advertising, our children are being used as commodities for sale or trade,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Richard C. Powers said. “Here in Houston we have established unprecedented cooperation among law enforcement agencies that are working together to link cases, make arrests, and rescue children being sold on our streets. We will not allow our city to be a safe haven for this unconscionable activity.  If you hear about it, if you suspect it, report it.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Goodwin of the Southern District of Texas and of the Texas Attorney General’s Office and Trial Attorney Michael Yoon of CEOS.

NEW JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES HELP TRIBES REGISTER AND TRACK SEX OFFENDERS

• FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
• April 17, 2009
• WWW.OJP.GOV

• Office of Justice Programs
• Contact: Shelia Jerusalem
• (202) 307-0703

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) is making available to Indian Country two new resources that enable tribes to easily and cost-effectively create federally compliant sex offender registration programs and public Web sites.

“Managing sex offenders in the community is an important part of a broader strategy to prevent crimes against citizens,” said Laurie O. Robinson, Acting Assistant Attorney General for OJP. “These valuable tools will allow tribes to create and customize their own sex offender registration systems, while meeting the requirements of the Adam Walsh Act.”

The first resource, the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS), is available free of charge to tribes and territories and will greatly reduce the technology burden as they are not required to stand up and host a dedicated Internet server. All that is required to use this system is a computer with internet access. The system enables agencies to provide sex offender notification to community members and automatic participation with the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, the only government registry website that links public, state, territory, and tribal sex offender registries from one national search site. Only participating tribes and territory agencies responsible for managing sex offenders will have access to TTSORS.

In addition, the SMART Office has released a Model Tribal Sex Offender Registration Code; the model language was developed with the assistance of nine respected Indian lawyers and tribal attorneys from around the country and provides tribes with Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) compliant language for tribal leaders to consider as they work to implement SORNA by the statutory deadline.

Both TTSORS and the Model Sex Offender Registry Code are designed to help Indian Country meet the requirements of Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act which aims to strengthen the national network of sex offender registration and notification programs by eliminating loopholes and gaps in prior law. The Act requires certain federally recognized Indian tribes and the principal territories to be in substantial compliance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by July 27, 2009, or apply for a one year extension by that date.

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The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information can be found at http://www.ojp.gov.

TRIB 09038

Pine Ridge Man Charged with Sexually Abusing Child

United States Attorney Marty J. Jackley announced that a man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for engaging in a sexual act with a minor child. Carl Gerald Cortier, age 35, of Pine Ridge, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 21, 2009, with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. He appeared before US Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 27, 2009, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The mandatory minimum penalty upon conviction is thirty years to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation and Cortier is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant US Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case. Cortier was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.

Oglala Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor

United States Attorney Marty J. Jackley announced that Aric Singing Goose, age 21, of Oglala, appeared before US District Court Chief Judge Karen E. Schreier on May 11, 2009, and pled guilty to a superseding indictment that charged him with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. The maximum penalty upon conviction is twenty-five years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. Singing Goose pled guilty to having sexual intercourse with a 13-year old girl. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant US Attorney Mara M. Kohn prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for July 27, 2009. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal pending sentencing.

New Richmond Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

Madison, WI—Erik C. Peterson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jason M. Pape, 37, of New Richmond, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 90 months in prison, without parole, for possessing child pornography. Following his release from prison, Pape will be on supervised release for the rest of his life. Pape pleaded guilty to the charge on March 6, 2009.

On May 15, 2008, police officers from the New Richmond Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Department executed search warrants at Pape’s home in New Richmond and a residence used by Pape in Osceola, Wis. At these residences, law enforcement officers found numerous images of child pornography on his computer hard drives.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The charges against Pape were the result of an investigation conducted by the New Richmond Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office . The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz.

Youth at higher risk of involvement in the sex trade

All youth can be recruited or forced into the sextrade.

However some youth are more at risk.

Youth in foster care and youth with child welfare involvement

A 2007 research report out of New York State found a high correlation between child welfare involvement and subsequent commercial sexual exploitation. between 85 to 89% of youth reported to be commercially sexually exploited had prior child welfare involvement.1

Youth who are homeless,AWOL, runaway, in unstable housing  situations

Research results demonstrate a consistently high risk of involvement in survival sex or other forms of commercial sexual exploitation for youth without stable housing. the most recent federally funded national study found 70% of homeless youth are commercially sexually exploited.2

Out of school youth, unemployed youth, low or no income youth

While not documented specifically in research, youth in group discussions have reported a lack of money or survival needs (even when youth have a place to live), lack of access to jobs and lack of skills from dropping  out or being pushed out of school as direct links to their involvement or consideration of the sex trade to make money.

Youth with family involved in the sex trade and/or an active sex trade in their community

Youth in prevention workshops continue to identify being around an active sex trade in their community or family members involved in the sex trade as a risk factor. Youth stress that people in the community are more likely to encourage or recruit them and an active sex trade normalizes the option.

Youth with a history of sexual abuse

All research studies that ask youth who are or have been involved in the sex trade about previous sexual abuse prior to any commercial sexual exploitation find rates of up to over 90%. Research also suggests that sexual abuse is a factor independent of any resulting running away or substance abuse.3

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Youth

Personally I disapprove of the word Queer…..by definition….abnormal or odd.  Traditional teachings tell me that all human beings are spiritually equal in creation and have a purpose in the grand scheme of life.  But the movement is because of the context in which it was reclaimed, queer has sociopolitical connotations, and is often preferred by those who are activists, by those who strongly reject traditional gender identities, by those who reject distinct sexual identities such as gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight, and by those who see themselves as oppressed by the heteronormativity of the larger culture. In this usage it retains the historical connotation of “outside the bounds of normal society” and can be construed as “breaking the rules for sex and gender.” It can be preferred because of its ambiguity, which allows “queer” identifying people to avoid the sometimes strict boundaries that surround other labels. In this context, “queer” is not a synonym for LGBT as it creates a space for “queer” heterosexuals as well as “non-queer” (“straight-acting”) homosexuals.4

LGBTQQ youth make up 20 to 40% of all homeless youth, resulting in high rates of survival sex.5

Additionally, a study in Canada found LGBT youth were three times more likely to trade sex for survival than heterosexual youth.5 Almost 60% of transgender youth reported exchanging sex for money in recent Chicago based research.

Youth of Color

African American minors are over-represented in prostitution arrests, comprising 55% of all arrests of juveniles for prostitution across the U.S. in 2002. Some of the evidence suggests this may have to do with unequal law enforcement strategies that target communities of color. However this may also reflect a higher involvement of African American, Latino, Asian,  and Native American or First Nations, that  experience higher rates of poverty and involvement in the child welfare system.

1. Gragg, F. et al.  (2007). New York Prevalence Study of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children. http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/reports/CSEC-2007.pdf. Accessed April 8, 2009

2. Estes. R and Weiner N. (2001). The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the United States. Canada and Mexico. http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/-restes/csec Files/Complete CSEC 020220.pdf. Accesses April 8, 2009

3. Simons. R and Whitebeck, L. (1991) Sexual Abuse as a Precurser to prostitution and Victimization Among Adolescent and Adult Homeless Women. Journal of family Issues, 12(3).

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer

5. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (2007). Lesbian,gay, bisexual and trangender youth: An epidemic of homelessness. http://www.thetaskforce.org/reports and research/homeless youth. Accessed April 8, 2009

6. (Gaetz, S. (2004). Safe streets for whom? Homeless youth, social exclusion, and criminal victimization. canadian Journal of Criminal Justice, 46(6).)

7.Howard Brown Health Center (2008). http://www.howardbrown.org/uploadFiles /HowardBrownResearchNews0408.pdf. Accessed April 8. 2009

8. Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2002). Crime in the United States. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cuis 02/html/web/arrested/04-table43.html. Accessed April 8, 2009

Claudine O”Leary    www.rethinkresources.net

A few personal thoughts by yours truly…

What You can Do if a Child Discloses Sexual Assault to You

• BELIEVE THE CHILD!!!
  
• Respond calmly and in a “matter of fact” style
• DO NOT ask leading questions (Leave that to a child forensic interviewer)
• Ask simply: Who What When Where?
• Tell the child you will get them help
• Call Child Protective Services, Indian Child Welfare and or Law Enforcement.

A Sane nurse is not always especially equipped to do a sexual assault exam on a child. REMEMBER THE ASSAULT WILL CONTINUE IF YOUR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM IS FORENSICALLY NOT HANDLED BY QUALIFIED SPECIALIST.

Child Sexual Assault Myths and Facts

WCADV Beth Balo

• MYTH: Child Sexual Assault is most often committed by strangers.
• FACT: Over 90% of child sexual assault victims know their abuser.
• MYTH: Child Sexual Assault is a rare occurrence.
• FACT: 1 in 4 females and 1 in 7 males will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18.
• MYTH: The average age of the onset of child sexual assault is 6-8 years of age.
• FACT: The average age of sexual assault to a boy is 4.
• FACT: The average age of trafficking a child is 9
• MYTH: You can tell a sex offender be looking at him/her.
• FACT: Sex offenders come from all walks of life, can be male or female, all age groups.

FRIGHTENING NUMBERS

• CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 COMPRISE 46% OF THE CASES OF FORCIBLE RAPE IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR.
• 88% of the incidents of child sexual assault go UNREPORTED.
• The FBI reports that only 2% of reported child sexual assault cases are false.

ALWAYS…ALWAYS….BELIEVE THE CHILD FIRST!

Child Sexual Assault

By: Beth Ballo Prevention Specialist Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Wisconsin Child Sexual Assault Laws

• First Degree Sexual Assault
• A. Sexual contact or intercourse with a person not yet 13, and causes great bodily harm.
• B. Has sexual intercourse with a person who has not yet attained the age of 12.
• C. Has sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 by use or threat of force or violence.

( Class A Felony Mandatory Arrest Minimum=25 yrs)

• Second degree Sexual Assault:
• Anyone who has sexual contact with or intercourse with a person who has not reached age 16.
• Sexual intercourse with a child 16 or older.
• Engaging in repeat acts of sexual assault with the same child.
• Incest with a child.
• Sexual Assault of a child by a school staff person or a person who volunteers or works with children.
• Child Enticement
• Causing a child to listen to or view sexual activity.
• Sexual Assault of a child for prosititution.
• Sexual Assault of a child placed in substitute care.
• Exposing genitals or pubic area.
• Female genital mutilation.

Examples of Child Sexual Assault

• Obscene phone calls
• Internet Solicitation
• Exposure to pornography
• Exposure to Sexual Acts
• Voyeurism
• Photographing a child in sexual poses
• Touching a child’s genitals; making a child touch someone else’s genitals. (inside and outside of clothing)
  

The Dark Side of the Internet and Cell Phones!

Report BY: Special Agent Eric Szatkowski
Wisconsin Department of Justice/Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) since 1991.
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Milwaukee. Eric’s law enforcement experience also includes murder-for-hire, cold-case homicides, death investigations, anti-government groups, fugitives, and narcotics enforcement.
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG ERIC CAUSE I KNOW YOUR OUT THERE IN CYBER-SPACE WATCHING….
Oh Yes and Miigwitch (thank-You) for that!
Since 1998 there have been more than 680,000 tips about online exploitation and the majority of the tips have involved child pornography.
In Wisconsin alone 20,000 sites are identified porn sites and these sites are abusing our children and subjecting them to sexual predators and porn.

I watched him as he logged on to my space and went into a CHAT. Here he introduced himself as a child home from school and bored. WITHIN SECONDS HE HAD TWO CHAT BUDDIES QUESTIONING WITHIN A MINUTE THERE WERE FOUR …..WITHIN FOUR MINUTES THERE WERE TEN CHAT BUDDIES ASKING…….QUESTIONS!

In 2002, 22 Million images and more of child pornography were on the internet.
INNOCENCE IS LOST ON THE INTERNET
1-5 teens have sex by age 15
1-4 girls between the ages of 4-11 have sexually transmitted diseases.
20%-Caucasian
20%-Hispanic
50%-African American
No mention of Native American nor Alaskan Natives?
Statistically speaking Alaskan Native women have the highest rate of sexual assault in the United States.
Chat or Cell children and teens are exposed to predators, pornography and bribed into sexual contact and online sex chats.
Do you know the old saying “a photo speaks a thousand words”, well a photo on the internet like Myspace, Facebook, Bebo, Xanga, and Cell Phones, “A PHOTO IS FOREVER!”
Think about this girls and boys IF YOU SEND A FRIEND A PHOTO OF YOU THAT IS SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND THEN THE FRIEND DECIDES NOT TO BE YOUR FRIEND ANYMORE AND PASSES IT ON TO YOUR MOM AND DAD OR WORST YET POST IT ON THE WEB OR EVEN WORST YET PUTS UP IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF YOUR SCHOOL….OH OH OH OMG!
25% of youth being exposed sexually or sexually enticed become depressed.
19% of youth being exposed have a very expanded vocabulary.
Porn on the Pod….no not Corn on the Cob….Pornography uploaded on an I-Pod.
Sexting….no not Texting sexually charged to a cell phone pornographic pictures and cell phone exchange, ALL YOU NEED IS A CELL PHONE NUMBER TO DO THIS. All of you professionals out there, teachers, counselors, be wary of this!
(see sexting teen suicide under the blogroll)
Vermont is considering legalizing teen sexting.
IT’S ALL ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT!
In Wisconsin it’s a crime 15 years and younger.
On YouTube our youth are subject to tons of porn such as rape dance and all a kid has to do is spell words like Big Tits and boom there it is OMG!
Take a look at LiveLeak.com real nice photo’s of Beyonce’s Butt, Britneys oops!, and Miley Cyrus Sexy Photos….HOW OLD IS SHE?
Children and Teenagers on these sites are:
10-20 harassed or bullied online
1-3 unwanted exposure to sexually inappropriate content
1-7 receive sexual solicitation
1-7 sexual exploitation
1-33 aggressive solicitation
Parents while your sleeping there getting bribed with alcohol, money, games, tickets to the game to send photo’s and YES, some sneak out and meet these guys in your back yard. WHAT DO YOU THINK THESE GUYS ARE DOING WHILE CHATTING, SEXTING AND LOOKING AT YOUR CHILD’S PHOTO…. WITH THEIR FREE HAND?
Most often the photo’s these guy’s are putting up on their myspaces or sending on Bebo are not the actual photo of the guy.
My space banded by-law 90,000 sexual predators there are 40,000 more than that on the sex offender registry….!
Sex offenders, Perverts, Pedophiles get a free ride. WHY?…… money for corporations and site owners. Corporations solicit their wares on these websites.
What about Private Spaces?????
No….not private…..try it anyone can get in.
These spaces are like diaries….do you think they check your birth certificate when you login…no, youth…. kids, no pictures, no addresses, no time schedules. When you invite friends those friends have friends and so on and on we go….

SEXUALIZATION=VICTIMIZATION

X-Box Live, Ruinscape and all live games on the internet are subject to perverts pretending to be a player…BEWARE!

1/3 to 1/2 of Internet user’s are children or our Youth…..Who do you think are the rest?
Police
Perverts
Predators
Stalkers
Students
Parents
Recruiters
Employers
Teachers
Colleges
Kids and young people your friends are not the only people on your site!
Parents her are some FILTERS.
What do they do WATCH!
www.guardiansoftware.com
spectorsoft.com
They cost otherwise…..
No Internet on the cell phones or camera’s or unlimited texting
No computer’s in private area’s
No No No No using computer’s without supervision.
On the side bar I will add some sites to help and report cyber crime. I will also add a cyber language dictionary.