Transcripts For CSPAN Human Trafficking Summit - Law Enforce

Minnesota has been a key part of the department of justices efforts and i hope we can build on the work of the last panel. Some usefulyou information about all the terrific work they are doing there. Greg has been a longtime prosecutor and has served for over a year as the had prosecutor as the United States attorney. Minnesota is one of the districts that features 18 focused a team focused on the Human Trafficking problem in the district. Without further ado, i would like to turn it over to u. S. Attorney booker. [applause] thank you all for dissipating in this very important summit, sponsored by the attorney general. I am here to talk about an issue that my office is deeply committed to and that the department of justice has placed such a priority on, process prosecuting Human Trafficking. It is timely this summit comes at the end of Human Trafficking Awareness Month and two days away from a super bowl in my home state of minnesota. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight trends in prosecutions in my Federal District as well as discuss some of the proactive work being done by minnesotans in preparation for that super bowl on sunday. As we all know in this room, sex trafficking is a marketdriven enterprise. Empirical data show major sporting events like a super an increaseng about in online sex ads on craigslist, backpage. Com, and other websites. We also know from recent Research Studies that commercial sex is not defined to one demographic group. Survey ofto a recent 750 men in minnesota, most sex fires buyers are men between the age of 30 and 60. More than 70 are white, and half are married. Nearly 70 have kids and almost half make 50,000 or more a year. A recent assessment from the human smuggling and Trafficking Center concludes that highprofile events with large crowds, like the super bowl, can be attractive targets for sex traffickers. In preparation for the super bowl in minneapolis, and antisex Trafficking Team on representatives from over 40 organizations was created to map out strategies to crack down on sex trafficking from all angles across the entire state. D. A. ,am is led by a local the Ramsey County attorney, and Hennepin County where minneapolis lies. And our office, the u. S. Attorneys office, is a vital player in that team. The team also includes some important nonprofit organizations such as the Carlson Family foundation and the Womens Foundation of minnesota, long involved in these issues. Representatives from nonprofits, hospitals, private businesses, and Law Enforcement throughout the state and has been supported by the National Football league. So, what has this team been up to the last 19 months . We have developed a plan that includes additional Emergency Shelter beds, increased street toreach, and a hotline report trafficking related tips to Law Enforcement. Hour, fullyted a 24 staffed hotline to ensure victims can immediately find safe shelter and worked with governmental entities to relax zoning requirements during the super bowl to ensure no victim will be denied space in a very cold month in minnesota. What is especially unique, however, about this particular team is that it not only brought together private and public stakeholders but also key voices of sex trafficking survivors. Team also designed multiple Public Awareness campaigns specifically for the super bowl, including the dont buy it campaign designed to educate men and boys about sex trafficking. This part of the campaign focuses on the demand side. Re is a short clip of the dont buy it Public Service announcement now running in minnesota and online. [video clip] me, thatd me he loved i would only have to strip for a little while, and we would start a new life together. Dont buy it. Men act like being a real man means dominating women. Dont buy it. A change my name they changed my name. I was thousands of miles away and sold for sex. Dont buy it. People are not products. Men are more than consumers. Learn more at dontbu yitproject. Org. The antisex Trafficking Team also created a campaign aimed at preventing at risk youth from being harmed and trafficked. The i am Priceless Campaign is geared toward youth between the ages of eight and 12. The team sought input from trafficking survivors to develop this particular part of the campaign. These campaign ads are currently running at malls in minnesota, on bus shelters, and billboards. There arelso a 30 also 30second radio spots being featured on all of the social apps i dont even begin to understand. Facebook, snapshot, youtube. Here is a short clip of the i am priceless video running in minnesota. [video clip] i am not alone. I am worthy of respect. I am my own hero. My body belongs to me. I am priceless. There is a way out of sexual exploitation. For help, call or text this number or visit the link. In the months leading up to the super bowl, bus drivers, hotel workers, and all 10,000 super bowl volunteers received specific training on how to identify sex trafficking when they see it and where to report it. In addition, major Banking Institutions in the twin cities took the lead to train their own internal investigators and analysts to identify trends and that may be Human Trafficking indicators. This new team is reporting such indicators to Law Enforcement. In addition, a Collaborative Team of dozens of local Police Departments in minnesota and the federal agencies led primarily by Homeland Security investigation and the f. B. I. , they are all currently executing campaigns throughout between cities area as of last friday. I can report to you that many arrests have already been made since that time. Well, this is all very important work, isnt it . But Human Trafficking of course is not limited to such largescale events like the super bowl. These crimes against human rights occur 365 days a year. Human trafficking is prevalent and persistent, and it shows its face in many disturbing ways. Yet often remains hidden right in plain sight. Bowl year, many people would not think of minnesota as a prime location for Human Trafficking. However, the f. B. I. Has identified the twin cities as the nations 13th largest location for child sex trafficking. Minnesota is somewhat unique in its geography, population, and major industries. The twin cities represent a large metropolitan area that is home to dozens of fortune 500 corporations, a Major International airport, and the largest Shopping Mall in the United States, as well as Major League Sports teams and event venues. We also share our northern border with canada, and we have a very busy International Shipping port in duluth. Throughout our interstate corridors, we are directly connected to other large, midwestern cities. Chicago, st. Louis, milwaukee. Has 11 federally recognized Indian Tribes and is home to many immigrant groups, somali, if, and liberian communities. Minnesota pretty much has everything. However, the things that make my state unique are the things that present Human Trafficking vulnerabilities. This is why the fight against Human Trafficking is a crucial mission that none of us can afford to ignore or only emphasize when the super bowl comes to town. In 2016, the district of minnesota was only one of six Federal Districts designated as an antitrafficking Coordination Team or act team location. This is a collaborative initiative, as was mentioned this morning. Theg my office, the f. B. I. , department of Homeland Security, and the department of labor. Through this initiative, we focus on developing highimpact trafficking prosecutions and investigations as well as developing strong partnerships with Victim Service providers and state and local Law Enforcement partners. Depth ofproud of the the work of our office, in conjunction with tribal, state, and local Law Enforcement. Together, we have investigated huge, largescale International Trafficking cases as well as cases involving an individual trafficker who targeted minor children. We know that as people go about we areusy lives, usually not paying attention to the indicators of Human Trafficking so these crimes often occur, as has been noted, right before our eyes in plain sight. That is why throughout our federal and state law , notcement task forces just during the super bowl year, but throughout the year, we are focusing our training efforts on employees who work in hotels, airports, casinos, and other hospitality and entertainment occupations. We are reaching out to teachers and administrators in schools, banking and transportation workers, and health care providers, and the faith community. These trainings throughout minnesota have reacted resulted in actionable tips. We have also collaborated with an Organization Called coast. Club operators against sex trafficking to provide training to employees of Adult Entertainment clubs throughout minnesota. They may be the most likely once to encounter signs of a sex trafficking victim. And these tips cannot be ignored. So, what cases have investigated and prosecuted in my district . Examples. Few i would like to start off with one that deals with labor trafficking. Lost sometimes in the conversation about Human Trafficking are the forced labor cases. Last year in a wealthy suburb of st. Paul, two local Police Officers encountered a woman wandering the street at night bloody, beat up, and frail. A native of china, she could see the airplanes moving toward our International Airport and was walking in the direction of the airport many, many miles away. The officers stopped her and spoke to the woman. And this is key. Because of their recent training on Human Trafficking issues, they were quickly recognizing this woman as a victim of Human Trafficking who had escaped her trafficker. The officers were able to her andately refer provide the resources necessary, and they involved Homeland Security agents from the outset. The subsequent investigation revealed the woman indirect horrific abuse endured horrific abuse at the hands of the defendant, lonely long lily wong. The defendant, in addition to holding this woman against her will in her home, forced her to work up to 18 hours a day. The victim was kicked, punched, grabbed by the hair, and threatened with knives. The victim told Law Enforcement agents that she hid clumps of her own hair under her mattress so that the defendant would not force her to eat the hair. Handinhandked with local and state partners to achieve a successful prosecution of the defendant in this labor trafficking case. The defendant was sentenced to more than a year in custody, after which she agreed to be deported to china. She was ordered to pay over 100,000 in restitution to the victim and to the thirdparty Victim Services which provided services to the victim. And she was required to forfeit her home worth approximately 400,000. The second case i would like to discuss with you involves an all too common Human Trafficking scenario, minor children. Girls testified that federal trial against a trafficker who sold them for sex in the twin cities. The investigation began when a concerned mother reached out to her local Sheriffs Office to was recruitingan her 17yearold daughter to engage in sexual acts, and prostitution. In his Facebook Messages to the defendant excuse me, to the victim, he described how the girl could make money and promised a trip to vegas, and indicated that her life which was not all that wonderful would be smooth sailing from here on out. He told her he would provide condoms and protect her from the clients the clients. The defendant also instructed the young girl to save his phone number under the name daddy. That initial report by the victims mother to the Sheriffs Office led Law Enforcement to identify several additional juvenile victims. A 14yearold girl told Law Enforcement that the same defendant had requested sexually explicit images of her. The defendant also sent two pornographic images of an adult female and instructed the 14yearold victim to send pictures of herself in similar poses. The defendant trafficked another minor child who was 14 and used her to produce sexually explicit images. He asked the victim to make a video of herself engaged in very specific sexual acts. And while recruiting this 14yearold, the defendant asked added you will make money, you will indeed make lots of money. Meant, hesked what he replied that you will make much money from the sexual acts that i want you to perform. Knowing that she was 14 years old, the defendant responded in one text, youre kind of young, but we can make a lot of money from young. The fourth victim was 17 years old. The defendant sent messages to her about making quick money and promising her a better life. After picking the victim up in a minneapolis suburb, he posted her socalled escort photographs on backpage. Com. He then made a Hotel Reservation using an alias and paid cash for the room. For the next several days, the defendant sold the victim for commercial sex and kept all of the money the victim received as a result of the sex acts she was forced to engage in. At the time of all of these offenses with these four victims, the defendant was a registered sex offender based on a prior conviction for soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct. The case went to trial. When theas served victims important testimony led to mr. Charles conviction and a 36year sentence in federal prison. The final case i would like to largestt is one of the sex trafficking prosecutions currently in the nation. This particular case is truly remarkable because of the collaborative efforts of multiple Law Enforcement partners, Victim Service providers, and Industry Partners across many jurisdictions in our country. The investigation started through good oldfashioned police work. A federal agent with Homeland Security investigations received a report from her hsi colleagues in arizona that multiple thai women were being trafficked in arizona and that the operation was moving some women up to minnesota. Our office immediately commenced an investigation with our local Law Enforcement partners, and eventually other federal, state, and local jurisdictions from around the country. We worked with multiple u. S. Attorney offices, hsi, state and local enforcement across the country, the u. S. Department of state, as well as components at d. O. J. , including the Human Trafficking prosecution unit, and very importantly, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery section. Arough good surveillance, review of records and receipts, and other techniques, our agents learned the thai victims were being trafficked in almost every major city in the country under the watchful eye of a massive criminal organization. And it was a massive criminal organization. The enterprise was responsible for trafficking hundreds of impoverished women from bangkok, thailand, two cities throughout the u. S. Minneapolis, los angeles, chicago, atlanta, phoenix, las vegas, houston, dallas, austin, seattle, and right here in the nations capital. Putting the pieces together required close coordination with international, national, and state and local partners. There were several trips to thailand by federal lawenforcement officials, including a trip by the former u. S. Attorney for minnesota. Our current prosecution is the result of more than four years of work. And it fortunately has dismantled a highly profitable operation that generated millions, after 24 million we have counted thus far, three highly sophisticated sex trafficking scheme. The victims typically came from very poor backgrounds and spoke very little english. Traffickersies the exploited. The women were promised a better life in the United States<\/a> attorney. Minnesota is one of the districts that features 18 focused a team focused on the Human Trafficking<\/a> problem in the district. Without further ado, i would like to turn it over to u. S. Attorney booker. [applause] thank you all for dissipating in this very important summit, sponsored by the attorney general. I am here to talk about an issue that my office is deeply committed to and that the department of justice has placed such a priority on, process prosecuting Human Trafficking<\/a>. It is timely this summit comes at the end of Human Trafficking<\/a> Awareness Month<\/a> and two days away from a super bowl in my home state of minnesota. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight trends in prosecutions in my Federal District<\/a> as well as discuss some of the proactive work being done by minnesotans in preparation for that super bowl on sunday. As we all know in this room, sex trafficking is a marketdriven enterprise. Empirical data show major sporting events like a super an increaseng about in online sex ads on craigslist, backpage. Com, and other websites. We also know from recent Research Studies<\/a> that commercial sex is not defined to one demographic group. Survey ofto a recent 750 men in minnesota, most sex fires buyers are men between the age of 30 and 60. More than 70 are white, and half are married. Nearly 70 have kids and almost half make 50,000 or more a year. A recent assessment from the human smuggling and Trafficking Center<\/a> concludes that highprofile events with large crowds, like the super bowl, can be attractive targets for sex traffickers. In preparation for the super bowl in minneapolis, and antisex Trafficking Team<\/a> on representatives from over 40 organizations was created to map out strategies to crack down on sex trafficking from all angles across the entire state. D. A. ,am is led by a local the Ramsey County<\/a> attorney, and Hennepin County<\/a> where minneapolis lies. And our office, the u. S. Attorneys office, is a vital player in that team. The team also includes some important nonprofit organizations such as the Carlson Family<\/a> foundation and the Womens Foundation<\/a> of minnesota, long involved in these issues. Representatives from nonprofits, hospitals, private businesses, and Law Enforcement<\/a> throughout the state and has been supported by the National Football<\/a> league. So, what has this team been up to the last 19 months . We have developed a plan that includes additional Emergency Shelter<\/a> beds, increased street toreach, and a hotline report trafficking related tips to Law Enforcement<\/a>. Hour, fullyted a 24 staffed hotline to ensure victims can immediately find safe shelter and worked with governmental entities to relax zoning requirements during the super bowl to ensure no victim will be denied space in a very cold month in minnesota. What is especially unique, however, about this particular team is that it not only brought together private and public stakeholders but also key voices of sex trafficking survivors. Team also designed multiple Public Awareness<\/a> campaigns specifically for the super bowl, including the dont buy it campaign designed to educate men and boys about sex trafficking. This part of the campaign focuses on the demand side. Re is a short clip of the dont buy it Public Service<\/a> announcement now running in minnesota and online. [video clip] me, thatd me he loved i would only have to strip for a little while, and we would start a new life together. Dont buy it. Men act like being a real man means dominating women. Dont buy it. A change my name they changed my name. I was thousands of miles away and sold for sex. Dont buy it. People are not products. Men are more than consumers. Learn more at dontbu yitproject. Org. The antisex Trafficking Team<\/a> also created a campaign aimed at preventing at risk youth from being harmed and trafficked. The i am Priceless Campaign<\/a> is geared toward youth between the ages of eight and 12. The team sought input from trafficking survivors to develop this particular part of the campaign. These campaign ads are currently running at malls in minnesota, on bus shelters, and billboards. There arelso a 30 also 30second radio spots being featured on all of the social apps i dont even begin to understand. Facebook, snapshot, youtube. Here is a short clip of the i am priceless video running in minnesota. [video clip] i am not alone. I am worthy of respect. I am my own hero. My body belongs to me. I am priceless. There is a way out of sexual exploitation. For help, call or text this number or visit the link. In the months leading up to the super bowl, bus drivers, hotel workers, and all 10,000 super bowl volunteers received specific training on how to identify sex trafficking when they see it and where to report it. In addition, major Banking Institutions<\/a> in the twin cities took the lead to train their own internal investigators and analysts to identify trends and that may be Human Trafficking<\/a> indicators. This new team is reporting such indicators to Law Enforcement<\/a>. In addition, a Collaborative Team<\/a> of dozens of local Police Departments<\/a> in minnesota and the federal agencies led primarily by Homeland Security<\/a> investigation and the f. B. I. , they are all currently executing campaigns throughout between cities area as of last friday. I can report to you that many arrests have already been made since that time. Well, this is all very important work, isnt it . But Human Trafficking<\/a> of course is not limited to such largescale events like the super bowl. These crimes against human rights occur 365 days a year. Human trafficking is prevalent and persistent, and it shows its face in many disturbing ways. Yet often remains hidden right in plain sight. Bowl year, many people would not think of minnesota as a prime location for Human Trafficking<\/a>. However, the f. B. I. Has identified the twin cities as the nations 13th largest location for child sex trafficking. Minnesota is somewhat unique in its geography, population, and major industries. The twin cities represent a large metropolitan area that is home to dozens of fortune 500 corporations, a Major International<\/a> airport, and the largest Shopping Mall<\/a> in the United States<\/a>, as well as Major League Sports<\/a> teams and event venues. We also share our northern border with canada, and we have a very busy International Shipping<\/a> port in duluth. Throughout our interstate corridors, we are directly connected to other large, midwestern cities. Chicago, st. Louis, milwaukee. Has 11 federally recognized Indian Tribes<\/a> and is home to many immigrant groups, somali, if, and liberian communities. Minnesota pretty much has everything. However, the things that make my state unique are the things that present Human Trafficking<\/a> vulnerabilities. This is why the fight against Human Trafficking<\/a> is a crucial mission that none of us can afford to ignore or only emphasize when the super bowl comes to town. In 2016, the district of minnesota was only one of six Federal District<\/a>s designated as an antitrafficking Coordination Team<\/a> or act team location. This is a collaborative initiative, as was mentioned this morning. Theg my office, the f. B. I. , department of Homeland Security<\/a>, and the department of labor. Through this initiative, we focus on developing highimpact trafficking prosecutions and investigations as well as developing strong partnerships with Victim Service<\/a> providers and state and local Law Enforcement<\/a> partners. Depth ofproud of the the work of our office, in conjunction with tribal, state, and local Law Enforcement<\/a>. Together, we have investigated huge, largescale International Trafficking<\/a> cases as well as cases involving an individual trafficker who targeted minor children. We know that as people go about we areusy lives, usually not paying attention to the indicators of Human Trafficking<\/a> so these crimes often occur, as has been noted, right before our eyes in plain sight. That is why throughout our federal and state law , notcement task forces just during the super bowl year, but throughout the year, we are focusing our training efforts on employees who work in hotels, airports, casinos, and other hospitality and entertainment occupations. We are reaching out to teachers and administrators in schools, banking and transportation workers, and health care providers, and the faith community. These trainings throughout minnesota have reacted resulted in actionable tips. We have also collaborated with an Organization Called<\/a> coast. Club operators against sex trafficking to provide training to employees of Adult Entertainment<\/a> clubs throughout minnesota. They may be the most likely once to encounter signs of a sex trafficking victim. And these tips cannot be ignored. So, what cases have investigated and prosecuted in my district . Examples. Few i would like to start off with one that deals with labor trafficking. Lost sometimes in the conversation about Human Trafficking<\/a> are the forced labor cases. Last year in a wealthy suburb of st. Paul, two local Police Officers<\/a> encountered a woman wandering the street at night bloody, beat up, and frail. A native of china, she could see the airplanes moving toward our International Airport<\/a> and was walking in the direction of the airport many, many miles away. The officers stopped her and spoke to the woman. And this is key. Because of their recent training on Human Trafficking<\/a> issues, they were quickly recognizing this woman as a victim of Human Trafficking<\/a> who had escaped her trafficker. The officers were able to her andately refer provide the resources necessary, and they involved Homeland Security<\/a> agents from the outset. The subsequent investigation revealed the woman indirect horrific abuse endured horrific abuse at the hands of the defendant, lonely long lily wong. The defendant, in addition to holding this woman against her will in her home, forced her to work up to 18 hours a day. The victim was kicked, punched, grabbed by the hair, and threatened with knives. The victim told Law Enforcement<\/a> agents that she hid clumps of her own hair under her mattress so that the defendant would not force her to eat the hair. Handinhandked with local and state partners to achieve a successful prosecution of the defendant in this labor trafficking case. The defendant was sentenced to more than a year in custody, after which she agreed to be deported to china. She was ordered to pay over 100,000 in restitution to the victim and to the thirdparty Victim Service<\/a>s which provided services to the victim. And she was required to forfeit her home worth approximately 400,000. The second case i would like to discuss with you involves an all too common Human Trafficking<\/a> scenario, minor children. Girls testified that federal trial against a trafficker who sold them for sex in the twin cities. The investigation began when a concerned mother reached out to her local Sheriffs Office<\/a> to was recruitingan her 17yearold daughter to engage in sexual acts, and prostitution. In his Facebook Messages<\/a> to the defendant excuse me, to the victim, he described how the girl could make money and promised a trip to vegas, and indicated that her life which was not all that wonderful would be smooth sailing from here on out. He told her he would provide condoms and protect her from the clients the clients. The defendant also instructed the young girl to save his phone number under the name daddy. That initial report by the victims mother to the Sheriffs Office<\/a> led Law Enforcement<\/a> to identify several additional juvenile victims. A 14yearold girl told Law Enforcement<\/a> that the same defendant had requested sexually explicit images of her. The defendant also sent two pornographic images of an adult female and instructed the 14yearold victim to send pictures of herself in similar poses. The defendant trafficked another minor child who was 14 and used her to produce sexually explicit images. He asked the victim to make a video of herself engaged in very specific sexual acts. And while recruiting this 14yearold, the defendant asked added you will make money, you will indeed make lots of money. Meant, hesked what he replied that you will make much money from the sexual acts that i want you to perform. Knowing that she was 14 years old, the defendant responded in one text, youre kind of young, but we can make a lot of money from young. The fourth victim was 17 years old. The defendant sent messages to her about making quick money and promising her a better life. After picking the victim up in a minneapolis suburb, he posted her socalled escort photographs on backpage. Com. He then made a Hotel Reservation<\/a> using an alias and paid cash for the room. For the next several days, the defendant sold the victim for commercial sex and kept all of the money the victim received as a result of the sex acts she was forced to engage in. At the time of all of these offenses with these four victims, the defendant was a registered sex offender based on a prior conviction for soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct. The case went to trial. When theas served victims important testimony led to mr. Charles conviction and a 36year sentence in federal prison. The final case i would like to largestt is one of the sex trafficking prosecutions currently in the nation. This particular case is truly remarkable because of the collaborative efforts of multiple Law Enforcement<\/a> partners, Victim Service<\/a> providers, and Industry Partners<\/a> across many jurisdictions in our country. The investigation started through good oldfashioned police work. A federal agent with Homeland Security<\/a> investigations received a report from her hsi colleagues in arizona that multiple thai women were being trafficked in arizona and that the operation was moving some women up to minnesota. Our office immediately commenced an investigation with our local Law Enforcement<\/a> partners, and eventually other federal, state, and local jurisdictions from around the country. We worked with multiple u. S. Attorney offices, hsi, state and local enforcement across the country, the u. S. Department of state, as well as components at d. O. J. , including the Human Trafficking<\/a> prosecution unit, and very importantly, the Money Laundering<\/a> and Asset Recovery<\/a> section. Arough good surveillance, review of records and receipts, and other techniques, our agents learned the thai victims were being trafficked in almost every major city in the country under the watchful eye of a massive criminal organization. And it was a massive criminal organization. The enterprise was responsible for trafficking hundreds of impoverished women from bangkok, thailand, two cities throughout the u. S. Minneapolis, los angeles, chicago, atlanta, phoenix, las vegas, houston, dallas, austin, seattle, and right here in the nations capital. Putting the pieces together required close coordination with international, national, and state and local partners. There were several trips to thailand by federal lawenforcement officials, including a trip by the former u. S. Attorney for minnesota. Our current prosecution is the result of more than four years of work. And it fortunately has dismantled a highly profitable operation that generated millions, after 24 million we have counted thus far, three highly sophisticated sex trafficking scheme. The victims typically came from very poor backgrounds and spoke very little english. Traffickersies the exploited. The women were promised a better life in the United States<\/a>. But with that promise came a large vonage debt vonage debt of anywhere between 40,000 and 60,000. The women were told after they worked off their debt, they would become United States<\/a> citizens. The recruiters who met with them in thailand were friendly, helpful, and made the future in the United States<\/a> sound bright. They brought them to photography studios in bangkok to take professional quality, escortstyle photographs, which ultimately were sent to traffickers here in the United States<\/a> and used to advertise the victims for sex online. The traffickers encouraged the women to get breast implants in bangkok in an effort to make the women more appealing to men in the United States<\/a>. The cost of the cosmetic surgery of course was added to the victims bondage debt. When the women arrived in the United States<\/a>, everything changed. They were essentially held er in prostitution houses and only allowed to leave is accompanied by an employee of the organization. The women were forced to have sex with strangers are many hours a day, even if the men were abusive. They were threatened by the organization. The traffickers insured the women remained isolated in the u. S. They had very little money, no freedom of movement, and no interaction with the outside world. Structure of this Sex Trafficking Organization<\/a> was very hierarchical. It consisted of traffickers, house bosses, money launderers, facilitators, and runners. Each of these players had their clearly defined role in keeping this criminal organization profitable. At the top of the organization were the traffickers, traffickers in both the United States<\/a> and in thailand were responsible for recruiting the victims and controlling their bondage debts. They learned everything they could about the women, including detailed information about their families. The information obtained was an important piece of the scheme. Thed with this information, traffickers threatened anyone who wanted to or tried to escape, including threats that their family back in thailand would be harmed if the women did not do everything they were told. The traffickers also determined where in the United States<\/a> the women would be sent. But first, they had to get the women into the United States<\/a>. The traffickers did this by engaging in widespread visa fraud, including arranging sham marriages and lying on visa applications in order to facilitate the travel of the women from thailand to our country. The in the United States<\/a>, women were sent to one of the many houses of restitution prostitution. Next came the house bosses who reported to the traffickers and were responsible for the daytoday operations of the houses. They advertised the women, usually on websites like backpage. Com, scheduled sex buyers, and ensured the cash earned by the victims was routed back to the trafficker with the house boss taking her cut. Little money was left for the victim to pay off her bondage debt. Next, the facilitators assisted in Money Laundering<\/a> and other activities of the organization. They helped lease apartments in other locations used as houses of prosecution prostitution. They booked travel, advertised the women, and scheduled commercial sex acts. And they were the ones primarily responsible for laundering and routing millions of dollars generated through the commercial sex trade. And finally, there were the runners. The trafficking organizations feared the women would try to escape so the runners accompanied them when they left the house, the apartment, or hotel room. Alsounners were responsible for bringing them to and from the airport. The organization regularly moved women to different cities throughout our country so the women did not develop local connections. Runners also took them to the banks were the victims would their payments and individual accounts, which was part of the Money Laundering<\/a> scheme. The runners were typically men and were often paid at least in part in sex with the victims. Prosecution of this case was a major undertaking. To date, we have publicly indicted 38 defendants, 17 so far have pled guilty, and a trial date is set for early may for the rest. Hundreds of victims have been identified. Millions of dollars have already been seized which will go forward to a muchdeserved Restitution Fund<\/a> for the victims. Confiscated also when the houses of prostitution were closed. A victimcentered prosecution. And our prosecutors and agents have helped provide the victims with a sense of hope and a sense of justice. As noted, the Organization Made<\/a> millions of dollars annually. And the Prosecution Team<\/a> is working to secure that money for victim restitution. The d. O. J. Money laundering and Asset Coverage<\/a> section is playing a major role in this aspect of the case. They have documented more than 25 million in proceeds from commercial sex acts that have been laundered back to traffickers. When dealing with this level of organized crime, we know that we can only shut down a sophisticated Sex Trafficking Organization<\/a> when we take away their money. Very importantly, our office collaborated with an organization in los angeles called the Thai Community<\/a> development center, a d. O. J. Grantee. They specialize in working with the thai population to help victims access culturally sensitive and language specific services. Today, some of the victims in our case have learned english. Some are taking vocational courses. And many are living independently. Seriously the department of justices directive to take a victimcentered approach to Human Trafficking<\/a> cases. Thankfully, we have some you need resources that provided services to stabilize and support victims throughout the cases long investigation and prosecution. I would like to make the following observation. Although the increased awareness that an event like the super bowl can bring to our nations problem with Human Trafficking<\/a> is very important, if we really want to get to the problem of Human Trafficking<\/a> and get it under control, awareness and enforcement efforts must be nurtured, must be supported, and most importantly, must be sustained long after the big game is over. Thank you. [applause] we have reserved a few minutes before the lunch break for discussion. We would like to give you a more interactive part for the remainder of our session here. Booker, i was very interested in your characterization of the sophistication and hierarchical nature of the organization you are prosecuting. Can you give us a sense of how you have had to evolve in terms of investigation and prosecution tactics as a result of facing an organization like that in this context . Right. As you can imagine, i dont know if i am on, i will yell. As you can imagine, if your office is used to prosecuting traffickers who may be our trafficking three or four minor girls with not a lot of sophistication and organization, to tackle this level of what i would submit is a mafiastyle organization with very detailed roles that a large number of folks play, you have to leverage your resources and you have to have a game plan. Right . We have had superseding indictments. The indictments have come in waves, as is typical when you prosecute a large organization. The outrage to the appropriate Victim Service<\/a> organizations was crucial from day one. That can be very crucial in a small Human Trafficking<\/a> case of course, but can you imagine the scale with hundreds of victims spread throughout the country . It took the work of a large Organization Called<\/a> the department of justice to make this prosecution work. And for all of you u. S. Attorney folks, those are important resources to leverage as you tackle larger Human Trafficking<\/a> cases. I was intrigued by her comments about the use of Money Laundering<\/a> as an investigative technique. How do you see this playing out as we go forward . In this particular case, because there were folks who were specifically given the duty to launder the money, those folks have been indicted when we can find them. As you can imagine, some are offshore. A lot of them are on the west coast fortunately and we were able to indict. When you have a specific indictment against a Money Laundering<\/a> or and they come in to plead guilty, then you say open up your books and start writing checks out to us as part of the plea. , a goodof you know prosecutor and agent begin to think about the money on the front end. That is crucial in all of these types of cases. Afortunately as you know, small Human Trafficking<\/a> case involving maybe three or four minor women within state boundaries, that defendant may not have any resources. And so, that can be a frustrating piece of the prosecution. Here with this international sophistication of an organization, we could go after directly as part of the prosecution the money launderers and thus the money. I would add from where i sit in the Criminal Division<\/a> in our Money Laundering<\/a> and Asset Recovery<\/a> section, we are firmly committed to working with the u. S. Attorneys office is across the country and have dedicated attorney purely to look at Money Laundering<\/a> and Asset Recovery<\/a> in the context of Human Trafficking<\/a> cases. We are trying to expand our training to make sure we have that ability and consciousness to use this as a tool because i agree it is a very powerful thing. When it comes to the International Aspect<\/a> that we heard the attorney general mention the successful extradition from mexico of several people involved in Human Trafficking<\/a> in the United States<\/a>, do you have any further thoughts on how the International Part<\/a> of the problem makes our lives more difficult or perhaps gives us opportunities . Obviously, you need to coordinate in any International Case<\/a> and seek the cooperation of folks who probably have a totally different Justice System<\/a> than ours, different from ours. Some of those trips to thailand the former u. S. Attorney took with the fed had an official from Homeland Security<\/a> were very helpful. It is just an added layer to the prosecution. The prosecutors have to keep focused on the folks they are indicting. Fortunately, the department and the state department have resources that can focus on that International Peace<\/a> somewhat so the prosecutor can remain busy doing his or her job prosecuting the defendants and continuing the investigation within the United States<\/a>. Maybe i will drop a footnote here as well. One other aspect of the departments efforts is to train train foreign Law Enforcement<\/a> so they will be able to do their part of the case when it involves this kind of transport. We have invested a fair bit of money in the International Training<\/a> in countries like the philippines or nepal, the balkans, all of these trainings have happened in the last year. One other aspect, and i think we can wrap up with this, i have heard you mention advertising through back page twice in your speech. Certainly from the perspective of the Child Exploitation<\/a> section, we have seen numerous cases and sting operations through online advertising. How do you see the advertising platforms playing into the problem . Does that create investigative opportunities as well . Well, as we have found in many Human Trafficking<\/a> cases involving sex, many roads lead to online webbased advertisements. They are the modern version of the old truly back page of what ever arrived was being printed in the local city whatever rag was being printed in the local city. It has increased the volume we are seeing. It is just part of the challenge of prosecuting these cases. But there is evidence that one can use from those sites, right . And of course, good agents are capturing screenshots as we speak right now investigating their Human Trafficking<\/a> cases. Changes, anda remember, i did not know much about some of the social apps i talked about earlier, you have to be nimble as a prosecutor to view that as a positive way to get evidence. But it is very much a presence in our society now, and we are going to have a challenge tackling that. And that is probably all i should say about backpage. Com. Thank you. Certainly, i think the fact that a lot of advertising can be focused in a particular set of online locations may present an opportunity for deterrence as well if we can attack the waylem in that way, in a that perhaps before the advent of advertising online there was not an excellent opportunity. We are out of time. We appreciate your attention. Thank you again for a very interesting and powerful presentation. [applause] thank you. Cspan, with history unfolds daily. 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