News/Blog categorized: News
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Aug 08
Philadelphia Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking a Minor on Backpage.com
On June 17, 2022, Rodney Kent, 50, was convicted of sex trafficking a minor by a jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In September of 2018, Kent was charged by a grand jury for trafficking a minor via force, … Read more about Philadelphia Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking a Minor on Backpage.com »
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Aug 08
Two Individuals Charged with Sex Trafficking in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas
On May 24, 2022, Philip Walker, 36, of Pittsburgh, and Anjali Lindsey, 22, of Kensington, Maryland, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to sex trafficking. According to the indictment, from around November 2019 through April 2022, … Read more about Two Individuals Charged with Sex Trafficking in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas »
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Aug 01
Two Stroudsburg Residents Charged in an Undercover Prostitution Sting
On May 23, 2022, Jessica Bauer, 43, and Eric Scelza, 47, were charged in an undercover prostitution sting in Stroudsburg, PA. According to media reports, the sting was designed to catch Bauer, who posted advertisements selling sex. She also had … Read more about Two Stroudsburg Residents Charged in an Undercover Prostitution Sting »
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Jul 29
Misinformation Going Viral: Myths and Misconceptions about Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation on TikTok
In the age of social media, there is often rampant sharing, posting, and reposting of online content. Specifically, human trafficking and sexual exploitation are often misunderstood issues that are propagated and sensationalized, especially across social media platforms such as TikTok … Read more about Misinformation Going Viral: Myths and Misconceptions about Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation on TikTok »
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Jul 22
Sir Mo Farah, British Olympic Long Distance Track Star, Reveals He was Labor Trafficked as a Child
In a BBC One documentary entitled “The Real Mo Farah,” Sir Mo Farah, one of the UK’s long-distance track stars, revealed he was brought to the United Kingdom as a child and was then exploited for his labor. Farah was … Read more about Sir Mo Farah, British Olympic Long Distance Track Star, Reveals He was Labor Trafficked as a Child »
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Jul 19
Eight Arrested in Oklahoma in Connection with Texas Teen Trafficked from a Mavericks Game
In mid-May 2022, Kenneth Nelson, Sarah Hayes, Karen Gonzales, Saniya Alexander, Melissa Wheeler, Chevaun Gibson, Thalia Gibson, and Steven Hill, were arrested in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. These individuals were arrested in conjunction with the investigation into a fifteen-year-old trafficking victim … Read more about Eight Arrested in Oklahoma in Connection with Texas Teen Trafficked from a Mavericks Game »
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Jul 19
Truck Driver Found Guilty of Sex Trafficking a Minor and Production of Child Sex Abuse Materials
On July 11, 2022, a federal jury found Roderick King, 32, guilty of one count of sex trafficking a minor and two counts of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The jury deliberated for just over … Read more about Truck Driver Found Guilty of Sex Trafficking a Minor and Production of Child Sex Abuse Materials »
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Jul 12
Update: Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Chrystul Kizer, Allowing Her to Raise the Sex Trafficking Defense in Homicide Trial
On July 6, 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of a Wisconsin state appellate court holding that, under Wisconsin law, victims of human trafficking have “an affirmative defense for any offense committed as a direct result’ of trafficking.” … Read more about Update: Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Chrystul Kizer, Allowing Her to Raise the Sex Trafficking Defense in Homicide Trial »
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Jul 11
Update: R. Kelly Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Racketeering
On June 29, 2022, Robert Kelly, 55, more commonly known as R. Kelly, was sentenced to 30 years in prison following his 2021 convictions for sex trafficking and racketeering. Kelly was charged with violating the Mann Act, a federal law … Read more about Update: R. Kelly Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Racketeering »
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Jul 08
Media Must Stop Using the Term “Sex Work”: It Inappropriately Legitimizes an Industry Sustained by Gender-Based Violence
On May 23, 2023, the Inquirer published an article titled “As Philly Prostitution Cases Dwindle to Almost Nothing, Some Worry that Sex Workers Won’t Get Help” by Vinny Vella. In his article, Vella uses the phrases “sex work” or “sex … Read more about Media Must Stop Using the Term “Sex Work”: It Inappropriately Legitimizes an Industry Sustained by Gender-Based Violence »