{"id":4119,"date":"2014-06-23T17:23:23","date_gmt":"2014-06-24T00:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=4119"},"modified":"2014-06-23T17:23:23","modified_gmt":"2014-06-24T00:23:23","slug":"operation-cross-country-rescues-168-juveniles-281-pimps-arrested-106-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=4119","title":{"rendered":"Operation Cross Country Rescues 168 Juveniles; 281 Pimps Arrested in 106 Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON D.C<\/strong>. – A week-long law enforcement effort aimed at child sex trafficking in 106 cities resulted in the rescue of 168 children who were being victimized through prostitution, according to authorities.<\/p>\n

There were also 281 pimps arrested and charged with state and federal crimes, officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cChild sex traffickers create a living nightmare for their adolescent victims,\u201d said Leslie R. Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. \u201cThey use fear and force and treat children as commodities of sex to be sold again and again. This operation puts traffickers behind bars and rescues kids from their nightmare so they can start reclaiming their childhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTargeting and harming America\u2019s children through commercial sex trafficking is a heinous crime, with serious consequences.\u201d said FBI Director James B. Comey. \u201cEvery child deserves to be safe and sound. Through targeted measures like Operation Cross Country, we can end the cycle of victimization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Operation Cross Country is part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative that was established in 2003 by the FBI\u2019s Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Department of Justice andNational Center for Missing and Exploited Children\u00a0<\/span>to address the growing problem of child prostitution.<\/p>\n

\u201cOperation Cross Country reveals that children are being targeted and sold for sex in America every day,\u201d said John Ryan, President and CEO of Missing and Exploited Children. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to partner with the FBI and provide support to both law enforcement and victim specialists in the field as they help survivors take that first step toward freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

To date, the FBI and its task force partners have recovered nearly 3,600 children from the streets. The investigations and subsequent 1,450 convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including 14 life terms and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets, officials said.<\/p>\n

Officials explained how this Task Force works:<\/p>\n