WASHINGTON, D.C. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16th, 2005 – 12:00 PM
Good morning.
I am joined by Assistant Director Chris Swecker from the FBI, Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher of the Criminal Division, and John Rabun, Vice President of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
We’re here to talk about important successes in the “Innocence Lost” initiative – an ongoing national investigation into child prostitution in the United States.
Our society has no place for those who prey on children and no tolerance for child prostitution or sex trafficking. That’s why the Justice Department launched the “Innocence Lost” initiative more than two years ago to help stop this terrible practice.
Within the past two days, we’ve unsealed indictments and criminal complaints in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Hawaii, charging more than 30 individuals with crimes related to child prostitution. And we’ve arrested [19] people for their alleged roles in this sex trafficking across America. Several more perpetrators remain at-large, and we’re working to bring them to justice.
As a result of these recent investigations and arrests, we have rescued more than 30 children from prostitution. Some were as young as twelve years old.
The abhorrent acts alleged in these charges include children being herded around the country as sex slaves, forced to work as prostitutes in brothels and at truck stops, and beaten at the hands of pimps and peddlers.
In one case, young children were coaxed into the car of a defendant and then held for days with the threat of physical harm if they tried to escape. These young girls were forced to perform sex acts while the defendants watched and collected money from patrons. The alleged perpetrators of these crimes will, we hope, be brought to justice as a result of these arrests and indictments. They are, of course, presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
As part of “Innocence Lost,” the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children brings together federal, State, and local law enforcement for a joint training program. The results to date have been impressive. In two and a half years, 200 child victims have been rescued, and we’ve collected more than 500 arrests, 70 indictments, and 67 convictions.
These numbers represent remarkable progress. Thanks in large part to the efforts of local law enforcement, we’ve nearly doubled the number of arrests, indictments, and convictions in just the last few months.
Today, we add to those totals. But the true impact of the “Innocence Lost” initiative can only be measured in human terms. We have a responsibility to protect America’s children, so we’re continuing to track down those who would steal away their hopes and dreams in this despicable manner.
Bearing this responsibility are a number of investigators, prosecutors, and professional staff from the Justice Department, the FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and State and local law enforcement agencies across the country. I’d like to thank them for the work that has led to today’s successes and their continued diligence in this important effort.
Thank you.
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