Tag: Human Trafficking

Nine Arrested in Federal Crackdown on L.A.’s Sex-Trafficking Corridor

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Federal agents on Wednesday raided a section of Los Angeles that has become one of the country’s most notorious child sex-trafficking corridors, arresting nine people on charges related to selling girls as young as 14 for sex. The operation took place near a 3.5-mile stretch of Figueroa Street known as “the Blade,” where girls go from car to car in stilettos, soliciting customers for sex to reach their traffickers’ nightly quotas. The girls can be seen wearing hair bows and dangling condoms from Hello Kitty lingerie, their faces tattooed with their traffickers’ monikers. A federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday listed more than 50 victims, and officials identified an additional five during the sweep. “We really don’t know how many victims are out there,” Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, said in an interview on Wednesday.

“The more of these arrests we do, we get more information, we get more evidence, we get into their phones, we discover more and more victims.” Six of the defendants were identified by officials as members of the Hoover Criminal Gang, which formed in the late 1960s and claimed its territory in a swath of south Los Angeles that includes the Figueroa corridor. For years, the gang has controlled much of the sex trafficking there, and many of its motels. Among those arrested was the manager of a local motel, the Stadium Inn & Spas, where prosecutors said victims were held and exploited. An additional arrest on Monday was linked to the case. The operation on Wednesday came nine months after The New York Times published an examination into the city’s sex trafficking crisis, drawing widespread outrage and national attention to the abuse many of the girls face on Figueroa Street.

Court documents described how the traffickers worked together to recruit and control their victims, including by branding the girls’ faces, necks and buttocks with tattoos of their street names and logos. The authorities said Cameron Lockett, 23, beat one of his victims on her back and ribs, bit off a chunk of her cheek and then pressured her to lie when she was taken to the hospital for stitches. Officials said Caleed Mouton, 26, ordered one of the girls to get an abortion. Hours after the procedure, he required her to continue having sex with customers, according to the indictment. Prosecutors also accused Jorge Melendez, 23, of punching a 14-year-old victim in the face at least five times and dragging her by her hair because she did not meet her quota. “The whole thing, from top down, is just absolutely disgusting and horrific,” Mr. Essayli said. “When it comes to victims, these are among the most vulnerable victims that we see in the work that we do.”

The names of the lawyers representing Mr. Lockett, Mr. Mouton and Mr. Melendez were not available. Many of the girls on the Figueroa corridor have been recruited out of the Los Angeles County foster care system; others have run away from home and were in need of financial and emotional security when they were befriended by traffickers on social media. Several of the defendants arrested on Wednesday had promised girls luxurious lifestyles before turning violent, according to the indictment, hooking them on amphetamines and oxycodone to create addictions they could exploit. Editors’ Picks Years After High School, Their Love Story Began Is a ‘Frictionless’ Society a Trap? How Do I Stop Guests From Bringing Their Children to My Parties? SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Wednesday’s operation, which was part of a joint federal and local investigation known as Operation Broken Blade, involved Homeland Security Investigations, I.R.S. Criminal Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department.

Prosecutors are using a federal racketeering statute that was originally aimed at fighting organized crime, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. In January, city and county officials announced renewed efforts to combat sex trafficking in the area, saying they would push for state lawmakers to pursue stricter penalties for both traffickers and buyers. “Let me affirm our clear commitment to everyone: The L.A.P.D. will protect the victims, will hold the traffickers accountable, and will restore dignity and safety along this corridor,” Jim McDonnell, the police chief, told reporters as he stood on Figueroa Street. If convicted, some of the defendants who were arrested on Wednesday face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, and a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison.

Source: Nine Arrested in Federal Crackdown on L.A.’s Sex-Trafficking Corridor – The New York Times

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning while people who hate him are watching,…

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10 arrested in Fort Worth undercover sting targeting online child predators, authorities say

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Ten people have been arrested, with nine additional suspects still under investigation, following a Fort Worth Police Department‑led, multi‑agency sting targeting child predators. The three‑day undercover operation, held April 1-3, focused on adults who investigators say were attempting to solicit minors online, authorities said Wednesday. Investigators used multiple online platforms to identify suspects seeking sexual contact with children under 17.

Participating agencies included the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Crowley Police Department, Carrollton Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, and the FBI. Names of arrested suspects listed Among those arrested, according to a Fort Worth police social media post, are the following:

  • Jose Montalvan, 41
  • Stephen Milliken, 30
  • Humberto Aldana Caballer, 23
  • James Klump, 61
  • Jordan Kammerer, 26
  • Joel Stroud, 33
  • Santiago Luque-Calix, 28
  • Jose Morales-Puentes, 25
  • Michael Schweitzer, 48
  • William Johnson, 19

Source: 10 arrested in Fort Worth undercover sting targeting online child predators, authorities say – CBS Texas

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.
Titus 2:11-12

North Texas woman arrested in widening prostitution, racketeering investigation, authorities say

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A North Texas woman accused of taking part in a years‑long prostitution scheme and an effort to gather intelligence on local public officials has been arrested, authorities said. Ashley Ketcherside, 41, of Godley, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with racketeering. No bond has been set. The District Attorney’s Office for Johnson & Somervell Counties said the investigation centers on ongoing criminal activity involving Ashley Ketcherside, her husband, Michael, 52, and former members of the Godley Police Department. Michael Ketcherside had previously been arrested on charges of continuous promotion and solicitation of prostitution. Ashley Ketcherside, 41   Johnson County Jail Alleged decade‑long operation According to authorities, the couple allegedly ran a prostitution and racketeering operation that investigators describe as a pattern spanning nearly 10 years. The activity allegedly included promoting and facilitating prostitution.

Source: North Texas woman arrested in widening prostitution, racketeering investigation, authorities say – CBS Texas

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

Human trafficking a rising problem in Cameroon

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Human trafficking in Cameroon has been impeded by social stigma, inadequate financial resources, as well as lack of clarity in the laws.

During a workshop on human trafficking organized by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Kumbo Diocese Christopher Bello said Cameroon is a source, transit and destination for human trafficking, noting this modern slavery has spiked as a result of the separatist conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions.

Source: Human trafficking a rising problem in Cameroon, Catholic Church says | Crux

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Woman, young girl fall off chairlift ride at the Jersey Shore

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Marijuana seizure: 1,800 pounds intercepted by Butts County sheriff

Nearly 900 pounds of marijuana headed to Orlando was intercepted in Georgia as part of a larger interstate shipment, according to the Butts County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Gary Long said authorities seized approximately 1,800 pounds of marijuana in Butts County on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The shipment originated in Sacramento, California. Long said approximately half was…

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Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft

Home / Business/Industry News / Sports Memorabilia Business News / Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft August 31, 2026 By Rich Mueller A 30-year-old U.S. Postal Service employee has been arrested after police in Lincoln, NE say he stole a package containing nearly…

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Choosing life amid a prenatal diagnosis

After losing their first baby to miscarriage, Alex and Sarah Kennedy were thrilled late last year to find out they were pregnant again. “We went in for our first ultrasound around eight weeks,” Sarah said. “As soon as she put the thing on my belly I saw a fluttering heartbeat. That just gave us so…

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Pro-life org again calls on DOJ to end mail-order abotion pills

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called again on the Department of Justice to end mail-order abortion by settling Louisiana v. FDA in light of a new U.S. Senate report on the “dangerous practices” of abortion drug manufacturers. President of SBA Pro-Life America Marjorie Dannenfelser told The Center Square that “Sen. [Bill] Cassidy’s research shows there…

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West Nile Virus Activity Confirmed in Montana

DPHHS URGES MONTANANS TO TAKE INCREASED CAUTION AGAINST MOSQUITO BITES THIS SUMMER State and local health officials confirmed the first detections of West Nile virus (WNV) in Montana for summer 2026. WNV activity will likely spread across the state, and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is urging all Montanans to take…

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Minor earthquake reported in southeast Ohio

A minor earthquake was logged in southeast Ohio on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  The USGS said that around 4:06 a.m., a 2.2-magnitude quake struck around seven kilometers north of New Marshfield in Athens County, which is around 10 miles from Ohio University.  There is little information about the quake, but the…

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Feds nab another Syrian national connected to SIA smuggling in New Mexico; Human Trafficking

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Federal agents arrested another Syrian national involved in border crimes, this time in New Mexico and west Texas.

The arrest stems from a 1.5-year-long investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations-El Paso. HSI El Paso is part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Sector, which includes two west Texas counties and all of New Mexico. 

Source: Feds nab another Syrian national connected to SIA smuggling in New Mexico

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Revelation 22:21

Bear encounters are on the rise. Here’s what to do if you meet one

A drought in the western U.S. has devastated wildlands, dried up food sources and sent bears wandering along city sidewalks and into homes and shops in search of food. What should you do if you meet a bear? Reuters ​turned to BearWise, opens new tab, which bear biologists started in the southeastern United States in…

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Rabid baby goats prompt North Carolina mobile petting zoo scare

At least three baby goats belonging to a North Carolina petting zoo have tested positive for rabies, prompting state health officials to issue an urgent warning to those who visited the operation’s mobile menagerie since late July. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said Sunday that tests Friday confirmed that the…

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12-foot Mississippi River gator caught — now, who wants to go swimming?

Alligator hunting season is off to a massive start in Mississippi — and this catch is enough to make you think twice before jumping into the Mississippi River. According to the Vicksburg Daily News, Jonathan Wimberley and his friends had an impressive first night of hunting, catching a 12-foot, 4-inch alligator in the Mississippi River.…

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Mudslide blocks road along Colorado River in Eagle County

Crews are working to clear a large mudslide that brought boulders and debris down on a road in Eagle County, Colorado. On Saturday afternoon, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said the area near Sweetwater Road and Colorado River Road is closed due to the slide. Photos shared by the sheriff’s office show a significant amount…

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Dozens of people evacuated from parts of the Grand Canyon after flash floods

Dozens of people were evacuated Saturday from Grand Canyon National Park after parts of the canyon were struck by flash flooding. Bright Angel Canyon was hit by flash floods Saturday afternoon, according to the National Parks Service (NPS), but no injuries were reported. The NPS said it was conducting an aerial evacuation of “approximately 50…

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