Fact Sheeton Federal Prosecutions of Trafficking Cases in the United StatesfromNational Institute on State Policy on Trafficking of Women and GirlsA Program of the Center for Women Policy StudiesJuly 2005 Selected CasesAlthough most of what we read and hear concerns the horrors of trafficking of women and girls in other countries, the United States is a major “destination” country for traffickers and so we too are obligated to respond to this most appalling violation of women’s and girls’ basic human rights. Though the Center’s focus is on women and girls, it is important to note that men and boys also are trafficked into our country. When our constituents doubt that “this could happen here,” we describe several federal cases, both large and small, that reflect the reality of trafficking in persons in the United States. In 2000, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), making human trafficking a federal crime. Congress reauthorized TVPA in 2003 as the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA) and expanded its provisions. According to the State Department’s June 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. Department of Justice brought 60 cases under TVPA against 162 alleged perpetrators between fiscal years 2001 and 2004. In 2003, Congress also passed and the President signed the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act of 2003, which authorizes fines and/or imprisonment for United States citizens who travel abroad and engage in illicit sexual conduct. The following cases are representative of federal cases filed under TVPA and the PROTECT Act. Sex Trafficking · United States v. Carreto (Convicted 4/5/05, E.D. New York)On April 5, 2005, Josue Flores Carreto, Gerardo Flores Carreto, and Daniel Perez Alonso pleaded guilty to 27 counts of an indictment that charged them with various crimes relating to their involvement with the Carreto family sex trafficking ring. They admitted that between 1991 and 2004 they recruited young women from Mexico, smuggled them into the United States, and forced them into prostitution in brothels in the New York City area. The defendants also repeatedly physically and emotionally abused the women. They each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for each count. Three other co-defendants pleaded guilty to charges related to the trafficking ring during earlier proceedings and two are being held in prison in Mexico on Mexican federal charges; they also face extradition to the United States to stand trial on US federal charges. · United States v. Rojas (Indicted 1/28/04, Convicted 4/2004 & 8/27/04, Sentenced 11/23/04, N.D. Georgia)Juan, Jose, and Raul Reyes Rojas were indicted January 28, 2004 on numerous charges including conspiracy, sex trafficking, importing and harboring aliens for the purpose of prostitution, alien smuggling, and interstate transportation of illegal aliens. They lured women from Mexico to the United States with promises of legitimate employment and long-term relationships. Once the victims, at least one of whom was a minor, reached the Atlanta area, the defendants forced them to have sex with numerous men every night through the use of physical violence, threats, and psychological coercion. Both Jose and Juan Rojas pleaded guilty; Jose was sentenced to almost five years (57 months) in prison and three years supervised release and Juan was sentenced to almost six years (71 months) in prison and three years supervised release. Raul remains a fugitive. · United States v. Jimenez-Calderon (Indicted 9/26/02, Sentenced 8/7/03 & 5/4/04, D. New Jersey) On August 7, 2003, Librada and Antonia Jimenez-Calderon were sentenced to over 17½ years (210 months) in prison for conspiracy and sex trafficking. In May 2004, they also were ordered to pay a total of $135,240 to four of their victims. The two women pled guilty to luring young Mexican girls, between the ages of 14 and 18, to the United States with promises of legitimate jobs. Upon arriving in Plainfield, New Jersey, however, the girls were confined to a brothel and forced to submit to acts of prostitution six to eight times each day for $35 per act. They were not allowed to leave the house or speak to each other and were subjected to threats of harm, force, and psychological coercion. Their accomplices – Sergio Farfan, Angel Ruiz, Pedro Garcia Burgos, and Maritzana Diaz Lopez – were charged with various crimes, including obstruction of justice and sex trafficking. Librada and Antonia Jimenez-Calderon’s two brothers, Delfino and Luis Jimenez-Calderon,are still at large and considered fugitives. Labor Trafficking · United States v. Lee (Convicted 2/21/03, Sentenced 6/23/05, D. Hawaii)In the largest human trafficking case prosecuted through June 2005, Kil Soo Lee, owner of a garment factory in American Samoa, was found guilty of involuntary servitude, extortion and money laundering. From March 1999 through November 2000, Lee and other factory managers recruited over 200 workers from China and Vietnam who were willing to pay fees to gain employment in Lee’s factory. Once in American Samoa, however, the victims were threatened with arrests, deportations, food deprivation and beatings in order to force them to work. The defendants also confined the trafficked individuals to a fenced-in compound. Lee was the third and final person convicted in connection with this case and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. In 2002, a manager and garment worker at the factory pleaded guilty to trafficking and were sentenced to nearly 6 years (70 months) and more than 4 years (51 months) in prison, respectively. · United States v. Alamin and Akhter (Indicted 11/16/00, Sentenced 5/14/01 & 4/16/01, C.D. California) A husband and wife – Nur Alamin and Rabiya Akhter – brought a young woman from Bangladesh to the United States to be their housekeeper and nanny. They repeatedly beat and threatened her. Akhter was sentenced to more than one year (16 months) in prison after pleading guilty to an immigration violation. Alamin was convicted of involuntary servitude and sentenced to more than 11 years (135 months) in prison. In addition, both offenders were ordered to pay the victim $125,819 in restitution. · United States v. Blackwell and Blackwell (Convicted 6/9/03, D. Maryland) Barbara Coleman-Blackwell and Kenneth Blackwell were convicted of smuggling a woman from Ghana to the United States, and forcing her to work as a domestic servant and nanny, with little or no pay. In order to keep her in this position, the defendants hid her passport and threatened her with deportation and imprisonment. Barbara Coleman-Blackwell was sentenced to more than four years (63 months) of incarceration and Kenneth Blackwell to supervised release for three years. Grace Coleman, Coleman-Blackwell’s mother, who is a member of the Ghanaian Parliament, faces similar charges and extradition to the United States for aiding the Blackwells. Sexual Violence in the Context of Labor Trafficking · United States v. Udeozor (Indicted 11/12/03, Convicted 11/18/04, D. Maryland)On November 12, 2003, a Germantown, Maryland couple -- Adaobi Stella Udeozor and George Chidebe Udeozor – were indicted on counts of conspiracy, involuntary servitude, and harboring an alien for financial gain. From September 1996 to October 2001, the couple held a 14-year-old Nigerian girl in involuntary servitude, forcing her to work for little or no pay, and also physically and sexually assaulting her. The indictment alleged that the couple had promised the girl that she would be paid and allowed to attend school. Both defendants face maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment, a three year term of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. As of November 19, 2004, George Udeozor was a fugitive in Nigeria and Adaobi Udeozor had been convicted of conspiracy and harboring an alien for financial gain. · United States v. Soto-Huarto (Indicted 07/31/03, Sentenced 1/29/04 & 1/30/04, S.D. Texas) Seven men were sentenced to a combined 51 years in prison on trafficking and forced servitude crimes. Juan Carlos Soto, the ringleader, was sentenced to 23 years in prison – the longest sentence ever handed out under TVPA as of that date. Arrested in March and April 2003, the men trafficked four women from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, who had agreed to pay $5000 to be smuggled into the United States. Once they arrived here, however, the women were confined in “safe houses,” where they were forced to cook, clean, and do housework without pay. In addition, they were repeatedly raped by the defendants, who were charged and convicted on federal civil rights violations, extortion, hostage-taking, immigration offenses, involuntary servitude, and human trafficking. - United States v. Tecum (Sentenced 2/01, D. Florida)
Jose Tecum is currently serving a nine year prison sentence for trafficking a Guatemalan teenager into South Florida, through Mexico and Arizona, where he forced her to perform manual farm labor during the day and sexual acts for him at night. Tecum raped and kidnapped this young woman, then smuggled her into the United States, where he held her in servitude through sexual violence, psychological coercion, cultural isolation, and financial dependence. He was convicted of kidnapping, immigration violations, slavery, and conspiracy to manufacture false documents. This woman was one of the first human trafficking victims granted a T-visa under TVPA. Sex Tourism - United States v. Clark (Convicted 3/17/04, Sentenced 6/25/04, W.D. Washington)
Michael Lewis Clark was sentenced to nearly 11 years (97 months) in prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of engaging in and attempting to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. In 2003, Clark traveled to Cambodia and engaged in illegal sexual conduct with two boys, aged 10 and 13. Clark was charged and sentenced under a provision of the PROTECT Act. SourcesProsecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003, Pub. L. No. 108-21. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq. U.S. Department of State. (2005, June). Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington, DC: Author. U.S. Department of Justice. (2003, August). Assessment of U.S. Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/rpt/23495.htm United States v. CarretoEastern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2005, April 5). Three defendants plead guilty to charges involving forcing young Mexican women into sexual slavery in New York. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nye/pr/2005apr5c.htm United States v. RojasNorthern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2004, November 23). Rojas brothers sentenced in human trafficking case. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan/press/11-23-04.html Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2004, January 27). Three brothers indicted for human trafficking. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan/press/01-27-04.html U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2004, August/September). Anti-Trafficking News Bulletin, 1(8/9). Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/crim/trafficking_newsletter/antitraffnews_augsep04.pdf U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. (2004, August 27). Second man pleads guilty in Georgia human trafficking case. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/August/04_crt_587.htm U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. (2004, January 28). Justice Department announces indictment of three brothers on sex trafficking charges. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/January/04_crt_048.htm United States v. Jimenez-CalderonNew Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2003, August 7). ‘Madams’ sentence to 210 months in prison for forcing Mexican teens into prostitution. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_press/files/ji0807_r.htm New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2002, July 18). Five indicted for luring Mexican teens to United States to be captive prostitutes. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_press/files/ji0807_r.htm New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2001, January 21). Sixth defendant admits involvement in prostitution ring involving young Mexican girls. [Press Release]. U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2004, January). Recent notable prosecutions. Anti-Trafficking News Bulletin, 1(1), p. 8. United States v. LeeU.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. (2005, June 23). Garment factory owner sentenced to 40 years for human trafficking: Largest ever human trafficking case prosecuted by the Justice Department. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/June/05_crt_335.htm U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. (2003, February 21). Garment factory owner convicted in largest ever human trafficking case prosecuted by the Department of Justice. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2003/February/03_crt_108.htm United States v. Alamin and Akhter Central District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2001, January 19). Bangladeshi found guilty in slavery case. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.oig.dol.gov/public/media/oi/afamin.html Central District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2000, November 17). Los Angeles couple charged in slavery case. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 7, 2004 from http://www.oig.dol.gov/public/media/oi/nalamin.html United States v. Blackwell and Blackwell U.S. Department of Justice. (2004, January 9). Maryland couple sentenced for forced labor. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/press_releases/press04/BlackwellSent.pdf United States v. UdeozorMaryland U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2003, November 12). Maryland couple charged by grand jury with enslaving juvenile girl. [Press Release]. U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2005, April). Anti-Trafficking News Bulletin, 2(1). Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/crim/trafficking_newsletter/antitraffnews_apr05.pdf U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2004, December). Anti-Trafficking News Bulletin, 1(11&12). Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/crim/trafficking_newsletter/antitraffnews_novdec04.pdf U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. (2004, November 19). Woman found guilty of conspiracy, harboring a domestic worker for financial gain. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/November/04_crt_759.htm United States v. Soto-HuartoFederal Bureau of Investigation. (2004, February 13). Enforcing civil rights: Justice served in the case of the Texas sex slaves. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.fbi.gov/page2/feb04/slave021304.htm U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. (2004, January 29). Justice Department announces sentencing in south Texas human trafficking and sex slavery prosecution. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2004/January/04_crt_054.htm United States v. Tecum Human Trafficking Project: Center for the Advancement of Human Rights. (2003). Florida Responds to Human Trafficking. Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.cahr.fsu.edu/the2%report.pdf U.S. Department of Justice. (2001, March 27). Fact sheet on worker exploitation. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2001/march/126cr.htm United States v. ClarkWestern District of Washington U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2004, June 25). Seattle man sentenced to prison for sex crimes overseas: First prosecution under PROTECT Act. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/waw/press_room/2004/jun/clark.htm Western District of Washington U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2004, March 18). Michael Lewis Clark pleads guilty to traveling to Cambodia and engaging in illicit sex with minors. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/waw/press_room/2004/mar/clark.htm Western District of Washington U.S. Attorney’s Office. (2003, September 24). Man charged with traveling to Cambodia and engaging in illicit sex with minors is first person charged under new provision of the PROTECT Act. [Press Release]. Retrieved July 25, 2005 from http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/waw/press_room/2003/sep/clark.htm
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