News
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Sep 24
Bristol Township Man Charged with Drugging and Sexually Assaulting Multiple Women
On September 11, Andrew Gallo, 40, of Cooper Beech Lane, was arrested after he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted at least six women between the ages of 17 and 30. He is charged with five counts of rape by causing … Read more about Bristol Township Man Charged with Drugging and Sexually Assaulting Multiple Women »
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Sep 24
Former Harriton High School Teacher Sentenced to 30 Years for Soliciting Nude Photos from Teens
On September 11, Jeremy Schobel, 33, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography and five counts of manufacturing child pornography. Before his arrest, Schobel was a former teacher at … Read more about Former Harriton High School Teacher Sentenced to 30 Years for Soliciting Nude Photos from Teens »
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Sep 19
Police Charge Allentown Man in Child Exploitation and Trafficking Investigation
On September 4, Tamaqua Police arrested Joshua Mickey Martel, 31, in connection with a child rape, human trafficking, and sexual assault investigation. He now faces charges in two separate incidents involving preteen girls. In the first incident, on April 23, … Read more about Police Charge Allentown Man in Child Exploitation and Trafficking Investigation »
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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 »