Tag Archives: Missing

Child Predator, Child Sex Slavery, Equal Justice, Indifference, Law Enforcement, StopChildAbuse

Is There No Justice For Abused, Trafficked Children Now

.jpg photo of justiceMistrial declared in case against Backpage.com founders

PHOENIX, AZ  –  A federal judge on Tuesday declared a mistrial in the case involving prostitution and money laundering charges against founders of the classified site Backpage.com, noting that none of the defendants have been charged with child sex trafficking, despite it being mentioned several times by prosecutors during the trial.

Judge Susan Brnovich for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona said that repeated references to child sex trafficking by both prosecutors and witnesses brought by the government “is something that I can’t overlook and will not overlook,” according to The Associated Press.

Brnovich had said before the start of the trial that while she would permit evidence indicating that individuals were trafficked on the website, prosecutors could not focus on specific details of alleged abuse.

“It seemed the government abused that leeway,” she said, adding that lingering on details of abuse brings a “whole new emotional response from people,” potentially impacting the integrity of the trial.

Former Backpage.com owners Michael Lacey and James Larkin, as well as four other company employees, have been accused by federal prosecutors of intentionally selling ads for sex on the website.

While prosecutors have said that many of the victims of the alleged sex trafficking were children, child sex trafficking is not among the charges facing the former employees.

All six of the defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of facilitating prostitution, and four of them, including Lacey and Larkin, have also pleaded not guilty to money laundering.

Prosecutors have argued that Backpage generated roughly $500 million from the alleged prostitution scheme between the time it was first launched in 2004 and when it was shut down by the federal government in 2018, according to the AP.

Lacey and Larkin, who founded the Phoenix New Times and held ownerships in other weekly news outlets, have maintained that they did not allow ads for sex, and claimed that they attempted to use various tools to remove the allegedly unauthorized ads that appeared on their site.

The news agency reported that Brnovich has set a new trial date for Oct. 5.

In April 2018, Backpage pleaded guilty to human trafficking charges in Texas, and then-CEO Carl Ferrer pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in California.

Months later, Dan Hyer, the sales director for the website, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, admitting that he was involved in a scheme to give free advertising to sex workers in an attempt to keep them away from competitor platforms.

Child Abuse, Child Predator, Child Sexual Abuse, Law Enforcement, Missing, Trafficking

Operation Not Forgotten 2021

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.jpg photo of U.S. Marshalls in Georgia rescue of Children
U.S. Marshalls in Georgia rescue of Children believed to be victims of Child Sex Trafficking.

US Marshals in Georgia Rescue
16 Children Believed to Be
Victims of Sex Trafficking

A series of raids conducted by U.S. Marshals in Georgia resulted in the recovery of 20 missing and endangered children, with over a dozen of the victims suspected of being sex trafficking victims, authorities announced.

The mission dubbed “Operation Not Forgotten 2021” was led in the metro Atlanta area over a two-week period and was the third of its kind, with the previous operation dating back to August 2020.

The Office of the Attorney General partnered with the U.S. Marshal’s Missing Child Unit (USMS) and Southeast Regional Task Force (SERFTF), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and state and local agencies during the operation.

“Our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit was proud to again partner with our local, state, and federal partners on Operation Not Forgotten 2021, and we appreciate the U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force for coordinating this initiative,” Georgia’s Attorney General Christopher M. Carr, a Republican, said in a press release.

“Being embedded throughout the duration of this op allows our prosecutors and investigators to build the strongest possible cases against buyers and traffickers and allows our victim advocate to ensure those rescued get the critical rehabilitative resources that they need,” he added.  “We will continue to find strategic opportunities like this to recover victims and put criminals behind bars.”

The identities of the 20 child victims—of which 16 are suspected to be a victim of sex trafficking—are withheld for privacy reasons.

In a separate statement published by U.S. Marshals on Wednesday, they announced that 35-year-old Wayne Marcell of Connecticut was taken into custody at 8:30 a.m. during a raid that stemmed from “Operation Not Forgotten 2021.”

In the process of Marcell’s arrest, another “trafficked and endangered child” was recovered, authorities said.  The suspect has been charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

“The U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Connecticut would like to commend the hard work and dedication of all the law enforcement professionals involved in this case,” said Lawrence Bobnick, U.S. Marshal for the District of Connecticut.  “With its nationwide reach and investigative focus, the USMS appreciates opportunities such as this case to rescue innocent victims from their abductors.”

USMS Chief Darby Kirby said he is a strong supporter of the model the agency has used during the missions, adding that the whole team involved in the operation played a vital role in recovering the missing children.

Since 2015, operations conducted by federal authorities with the assistance of the USMS have resulted in the recovery of more than 1,800 missing children, the agency said.

Good People, Missing, Parenting

Jane Doe , John Doe, America’s found unknown persons

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I was making Our Circle’s rounds the middle of the week, and while on FaceBook, I couldn’t help but notice a new Group that I just had to find out more.

As it turns out, this is a new group of obviously, very caring individuals, brought together by 3 very caring people with really big Hearts Of Gold.  I am going to ask everyone of Our Circle and Friends to go by, if you have a FaceBook page, and LIKE the pages.

Jane Doe , John Doe, America’s found unknown persons

https://www.facebook.com/JaneandJohnDoesfoundinAmerica/
(This is the Community)

Helping people locate their missing loved ones that have been found , but unidentified.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/JaneandJohnDoesoftheUSA/
(This is the Public Group)

People that have been found in the USA , some living some deceased , all unknown . Help us get them home to their family’s . This group is for anyone missing a loved one or anyone wanting to help research and find the identity of the Jane and John Does that have been found.

Law Enforcement, Missing, NCMEC

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children – MISSING

Let’s keep Our Eyes Open Here In Texas.

There is the possibility that his young Lady is still in the Lubbock, TX area.

CALL 911  or  1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Lubbock Texas Police Department
1-806-775-2817

.jpg photo of Missing Girl
MISSING – HELP BRING ME HOME