U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations arrested 29 people in 13 cities and eight states Thursday on sex trafficking and related charges in a operation spearheaded out of Savannah.
“Operation Safe Haven”,” which the originated out of the Savannah office of ICE Homeland Security Investigations, targeted a network of illegal brothels trafficking Hispanic females, said Bryan Cox, ICE spokesman.
In addition to these arrests, HSI identified 15 potential human trafficking victims from brothels across the southeastern United States with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security Joint Task Force – Investigations, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Emergency Management Administration and multiple state/local law enforcement agencies, Cox said.
Thursday’s arrests are the result of a 15-month investigation that began in July 2014 by HSI Savannah special agents in Moultrie, Georgia, who identified a loosely affiliated organization that coordinated the illegal movement of Hispanic females from Mexico and Central America across the southern border and then throughout the southeastern United States to brothels in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, Cox said.
The traffickers within this organization worked as independent operators to coordinate the movement and delivery of women for illegal sexual purposes.
According to a five-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, at least one victim identified during the investigation was a juvenile when she was trafficked. Six suspects are charged with conspiracy to participate in the sex trafficking of a minor and 38 suspects are charged with conspiracy to transport a person in interstate commerce for prostitution – nine suspects remain at large after 29 were arrested Thursday. Three of thhose arrested were also charged with promoting the prostitution.
Individuals charged with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor face up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The potential victims’ identities are being protected while HSI ensures they receive emergency medical assistance, food and shelter. HSI is fully committed to victim-centered investigations in which the identification, rescue and needs of victims are treated with equal weight as the prosecution of traffickers.
HSI provides relief to victims of human trafficking by allowing for their continued presence in the United States during criminal proceedings and victims may also qualify for a T-visa, which is issued to victims of human trafficking who have complied with reasonable requests for assistance in investigations and prosecutions.
U.S. Attorney Michael Moore’s office for the Middle District of Georgia is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
“Human sex trafficking is a cancer that we must cut out, and then aggressively fight with all of our resources. Sometimes the trafficking victims are kidnapped and forced into sexual servitude through violence. Other times the victims are lured with the promise of a better life, and then held hostage by predators who literally financially imprison them or intimidate them with threats of harm or shame to them or their families. No matter the circumstances that brought these women into sexual servitude, they are victims. And whether the weapons used by the traffickers cause physical, mental or emotional harm, they are predators, and we will track them down no matter the cost. This investigation has been an example of the outstanding cooperation between federal and state agencies. I applaud their efforts. I also want to thank my colleagues, U.S Attorneys George Beck, Joyce Vance and Chris Canova for their partnership and assistance,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.
Operation Safe Haven is the first major investigation supported by the Joint Task Force for Investigations JTF-I since it became fully operational in July 2015. The task force directed significant funding, intelligence, and analytical support from multiple Department of Homeland Security agencies to bolster the special agents investigating this criminal network.