Items written by Shea Rhodes

• Three Pennsylvania Men Accused of Sexually Exploiting Children

  Date: June 6, 2019

  According to Trib Live, 3 Pennsylvania men by the names of David Kent, 24, of Cranberry Township, Steven Sutton, 44, of Prospect, and Thomas Yakemovic III, 30, of West Middlesex, were among 16 arrested on May 17, 2019 in Youngstown … Read more about Three Pennsylvania Men Accused of Sexually Exploiting Children »

• Lehigh County Man Attempts to Purchase 11-Year-Old Child for Sex

  Date: June 5, 2019

  An undercover investigation has led to the arrest of Lehigh County’s Phillip C. Londono for attempting to purchase an 11-year-old child for sex. According to Lehigh Valley Live, the 40-year-old Londono allegedly wanted to pursue a “child rape fantasy” with … Read more about Lehigh County Man Attempts to Purchase 11-Year-Old Child for Sex »

• Woman Arrested for Prostitution in Monroe County

  Date: May 22, 2019

  On May 14, 2019, the Monroe County District Attorney announced that a woman from Florida was arrested and charged with prostitution at a hotel during an alleged human trafficking investigation. An undercover detective responded to an advertisement allegedly posted by … Read more about Woman Arrested for Prostitution in Monroe County »

• Erie Man Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking

  Date: May 17, 2019

  On April 8, 31-year-old Thomas Petoff [1] of Erie, PA was sentenced to fourteen years in prison for overseeing a multi-state sex trafficking operation involving two teenage girls. Senior U.S. District Judge David Cercone, who issued the prison sentence, also … Read more about Erie Man Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking »

• Third Annual Survivor-Led Symposium: Engaging Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation to End Gender-Based Violence

  Date: May 15, 2019

  On April 11-12, 2019, the Villanova Law Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation hosted its third annual Survivor Symposium,  “Engaging the Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation to End Gender-Based Violence”.  Survivor leaders from across the county convened at the Inn … Read more about Third Annual Survivor-Led Symposium: Engaging Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation to End Gender-Based Violence »

• Woman Arrested for Prostitution in Trafford

  Date: May 9, 2019

  On May 2, 2019, a woman was arrested for prostitution in Trafford, Pennsylvania. She was charged with various acts of promoting prostitution, including two counts of owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping a house of prostitution (a third-degree felony) … Read more about Woman Arrested for Prostitution in Trafford »

• Lancaster Woman Found Guilty of Prostitution

  Date: May 8, 2019

  On May 2, 2019, a 33-year-old woman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of one count of prostitution by a jury. She was sentenced to a maximum of twelve months incarceration with credit for time served. According to various media … Read more about Lancaster Woman Found Guilty of Prostitution »

• Student Blog Series: The Market Dynamics of the Commercial Sex Industry

  Date: May 2, 2019

  We are excited to share the final installment of our 2019 Student Blog Series!  The student blog series highlights original pieces authored by first-year law students at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Read on for Sarah Blum’s contribution … Read more about Student Blog Series: The Market Dynamics of the Commercial Sex Industry »

• Student Blog Series: All That Glitters Isn’t Gold: A Look into the Exploitative Nature of the Amateur Porn Industry

  Date: April 23, 2019

  We are excited to share the next installment of our 2019 Student Blog Series!  The student blog series highlights original pieces authored by first-year law students at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Read on for Kendal Hutching’s contribution … Read more about Student Blog Series: All That Glitters Isn’t Gold: A Look into the Exploitative Nature of the Amateur Porn Industry »

• UPDATE: Woman Accused of Running Sex Trafficking Ring Released from Custody

  Date: April 22, 2019

  According to Triblive, a 44-year old woman accused of running a sex trafficking ring waived her right to a preliminary hearing and will be released from custody on April 22. Hui Xu has been incarcerated in the Washington County Jail … Read more about UPDATE: Woman Accused of Running Sex Trafficking Ring Released from Custody »