Items written by Shea Rhodes

• HB 2170 Advocacy Day

  Date: November 4, 2020

  On October 20, 2020, Alexia Tomlinson of the CSE Institute, along with Ann Michael of the Pennsylvania Human Trafficking Advocacy Work Group and Catharine Kessack of The Valley Against Sex Trafficking hosted an advocacy day to educate and promote the … Read more about HB 2170 Advocacy Day »

• Luzerne County Man Arrested in Undercover Sting Targeting Sex Buyers

  Date: October 21, 2020

  Marcus Rondinella, 26, of Dallas, has been charged with patronizing prostitutes and criminal attempt to patronize prostitutes. Rondinella was  arrested for allegedly trying to hire a prostituted person over the Internet for sex in the Poconos. Rondinella was arrested after … Read more about Luzerne County Man Arrested in Undercover Sting Targeting Sex Buyers »

• Monroe County Criminalizes Prostituted Woman During Undercover Investigation

  Date: October 14, 2020

  Detectives from the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office arrested a woman on prostitution charges during an undercover sting operation at an East Stroudsburg hotel. The undercover sting operation began when detectives discovered an online advertisement for sexual activity in exchange … Read more about Monroe County Criminalizes Prostituted Woman During Undercover Investigation »

• 16 Pending Arrests and 2 Possible Human Trafficking Victims Recovered from Beaver County Investigation

  Date: October 8, 2020

  A human trafficking and drug investigation involving Beaver County District Attorney’s office, the FBI human trafficking task force, Center Township police, and Pittsburgh police resulted in the discovery of two potential human trafficking victims and sixteen pending arrests of sex … Read more about 16 Pending Arrests and 2 Possible Human Trafficking Victims Recovered from Beaver County Investigation »

• The Spread of Misinformation on SB-145

  Date: October 7, 2020

  The recent introduction and passing of Senate Bill 145 (“SB-145”) by the California State Senate has sparked significant public outrage on both sides of the political spectrum, contributing to the spread of misinformation about the bill and its purpose. Facebook … Read more about The Spread of Misinformation on SB-145 »

• Reading Woman Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Minors

  Date: September 23, 2020

  On September 3rd, 2020, a woman from Reading pled guilty to child sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses before a judge sitting in the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In August 2019, Melissa Madero, 27, was charged … Read more about Reading Woman Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Minors »

• Three Philadelphia Men Charged with Child Sex Trafficking

  Date: September 18, 2020

  On Friday, September 4, 2020, three Philadelphia men were arraigned and charged by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with one count of conspiracy to sex traffic a minor and with four counts of sex trafficking … Read more about Three Philadelphia Men Charged with Child Sex Trafficking »

• Leader of Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 25 Years Imprisonment

  Date: September 15, 2020

  On September 3, 2020, Miguel Scott Arnold, age 33, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his role as leader of a human trafficking operation. Four other co-defendants were charged in the indictment and pled guilty to similar … Read more about Leader of Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 25 Years Imprisonment »

• Georgia’s New Vacatur Law Provides Extraordinary Support for Survivors

  Date: September 10, 2020

  In June 2020, Georgia passed “The Survivors First Act.” This new law allows criminalized survivors of sex trafficking to petition the court to vacate convictions they sustained as direct result of their victimization.  Vacatur laws, such as Georgia’s new “Survivors … Read more about Georgia’s New Vacatur Law Provides Extraordinary Support for Survivors »

• Brookville Borough Targets Demand for Child Sexual Exploitation

  Date: September 8, 2020

  The CSE Institute is a staunch proponent of the Equality Model. We take an abolitionist approach to addressing commercial sexual exploitation and therefore believe the Equality Model is the best way to fight trafficking throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. The Equality … Read more about Brookville Borough Targets Demand for Child Sexual Exploitation »