News
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Sep 05
Former Backpage.com Owners and Officials Sentenced
On August 28, three former officials of Backpage.com, the former website notorious for facilitating prostitution and sex trafficking, were sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for offenses arising from their promotion of prostitution and associated … Read more about Former Backpage.com Owners and Officials Sentenced »
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Aug 23
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Sex Trafficking Operation
On July 31, Kevin L. Smith, 29, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 23 years of incarceration after he pleaded guilty to charges relating to his operation of a sex trafficking ring in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. This case was … Read more about Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Sex Trafficking Operation »
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Aug 23
Central PA Journalist Pleads Guilty to Federal Enticement of a Minor Charge
On August 6, former State College journalist and youth soccer coach Christopher Morelli, 54, of Spring Twp., pleaded guilty to a federal charge of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. Morelli is accused of engaging in this … Read more about Central PA Journalist Pleads Guilty to Federal Enticement of a Minor Charge »
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Aug 21
Nazareth Emergency Management Official and Volunteer Firefighter Arrested in Sex Trafficking Investigation
On July 22, 2024, Mark A. Morella Jr., 38, of Nazareth, was arrested in connection to a local and federal sex trafficking sting. Morella is charged with criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than … Read more about Nazareth Emergency Management Official and Volunteer Firefighter Arrested in Sex Trafficking Investigation »
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Jul 27
“Not a victimless crime:” Dauphin County Targets the Demand for Sex Trafficking with Recent Convictions for Patronizing Prostitutes
Over the past several months, Dauphin County and several cooperating agencies have made laudable efforts to proactively reduce sex trafficking in our Commonwealth by targeting the demand that fuels the industry: sex buyers. On June 25, Leonard Long, 39, of … Read more about “Not a victimless crime:” Dauphin County Targets the Demand for Sex Trafficking with Recent Convictions for Patronizing Prostitutes »
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Jul 18
Dauphin County Man Sentenced to Up to 30 Years for Attempting to Buy Sex from a Minor
On July 1, Jeffrey Pettinato, 62, was sentenced to up to 30 years of incarceration for his attempt to arrange a sexual encounter with who he believed to be a 15-year-old girl in Dauphin County. Pettinato’s sentence was imposed following … Read more about Dauphin County Man Sentenced to Up to 30 Years for Attempting to Buy Sex from a Minor »
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Jul 11
Man Sentenced in First Blair County Human Trafficking Jury Trial
On June 28, 2024, Donald Hetrick, 40, of Alexandria, PA, was sentenced to a total of 21 to 47 years of incarceration following his conviction at Blair County’s first human trafficking jury trial. Hetrick was sentenced to 10 to 20 … Read more about Man Sentenced in First Blair County Human Trafficking Jury Trial »
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Jul 11
Reading Police Arrest Three Women in “Prostitution Sting”
On June 19, 2024, the Reading police arrested three women in an undercover “prostitution detail” in downtown Reading. The women’s ages range from 27 to 40, and all are from Berks County or a surrounding county. Each woman was separately … Read more about Reading Police Arrest Three Women in “Prostitution Sting” »
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Jun 22
Cumberland County Men Pleaded Guilty in Separate Sex Buying Incidents
Earlier this month, two men pleaded guilty to charges related to separate sex buying/human trafficking incidents in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. On June 5, William Stum, 62, of Enola, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal attempt to patronize prostitutes. Two … Read more about Cumberland County Men Pleaded Guilty in Separate Sex Buying Incidents »
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Jun 12
Former Montgomery County Substitute Teacher Arrested for Child Sex Trafficking and Related Charges
On June 1, the Springfield Township Police Department arrested Tyler Degiacomo of Oreland for his alleged role in the trafficking of minors and sexual abuse of children. Degiacomo, 33, was a former substitute teacher, a school volunteer, PIAA umpire, and … Read more about Former Montgomery County Substitute Teacher Arrested for Child Sex Trafficking and Related Charges »