News
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Apr 16
UPDATE: High School Teacher Arrested for Child Sex Trafficking
Former high school teacher and volunteer football coach Michael Feifel, 56, was sentenced to serve eleven months twenty-nine days to twenty four months less a day, followed by twelve months of probation. This sentence followed a guilty plea to one count … Read more about UPDATE: High School Teacher Arrested for Child Sex Trafficking »
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Apr 15
Former Fountain Hill Borough Manager Sentenced to Two Years of Probation
On March 22, 2024, Eric Gratz was sentenced to two years of probation for two counts of criminal solicitation by the Honorable Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. Gratz was employed as a borough … Read more about Former Fountain Hill Borough Manager Sentenced to Two Years of Probation »
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Apr 13
Student Blog Series: Exploitation in the Modeling Industry
Esmeralday Seay-Reynolds was just fifteen years old when Click Model Management scouted her in New York. This was supposed to be her “big break,” but the glamorous bubble of the model agency quickly popped, when the agency told the 5-foot-11, … Read more about Student Blog Series: Exploitation in the Modeling Industry »
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Apr 12
Pittsburgh-Area Cop Sentenced in Prostitution Scandal
On March 13th, a former Pittsburgh police officer, Blake Thomas Babin, 60, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court, following a guilty plea to one count of illegally transporting a Venezuelan teenager from Colombia into the United States. … Read more about Pittsburgh-Area Cop Sentenced in Prostitution Scandal »
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Apr 04
Student Blog Series: Stranger Danger? Trafficking Through Romantic Relationships
One of the most misleading and dangerous myths of human trafficking is that traffickers are strangers. In 2021, 28% of the total number of victims with known recruiter types, were trafficked by an intimate partner, which equates to about 1 … Read more about Student Blog Series: Stranger Danger? Trafficking Through Romantic Relationships »
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Mar 28
German Man Accused of Traveling to Pennsylvania to Meet 15-year-old Girl for Sex
On March 9, 2024, Erik Weidling, 20, was arrested and charged in Lancaster County for his alleged involvement with a 15 year-old girl. His 16 charges include two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (IDSI) – person less than 16 … Read more about German Man Accused of Traveling to Pennsylvania to Meet 15-year-old Girl for Sex »
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Mar 28
Santa Monica Man Charged in Montgomery County Child Exploitation Scheme
Earlier this month, 54-year-old John Douglas Burch from Santa Monica, California was charged in connection to an online child exploitation scheme that began in Los Angeles, California. United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero and the Philadelphia FBI believe Burch had … Read more about Santa Monica Man Charged in Montgomery County Child Exploitation Scheme »
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Mar 28
Pennsylvania Man Charged with Sex Crimes Against Children
On March 7, 2024, 18-year-old Tyler Pearsall of Moscow, Pennsylvania was arrested and charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse of children – child pornography and one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility. The charges followed … Read more about Pennsylvania Man Charged with Sex Crimes Against Children »
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Mar 28
Student Blog Series: The Road to the Crown: How the Pageant World Advances the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women
“I’m not a model. I’m an opera singer.” This was the famous stance of Miss America 1951, Yolande Betbeze. After securing the coveted title, she refused to wear the swimsuits of the pageant’s sponsor, Catalina Swimsuits, during her appearances. Her … Read more about Student Blog Series: The Road to the Crown: How the Pageant World Advances the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Women »
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Mar 26
Student Blog Series: Deepfake Pornography: How AI Has Added to the Power Imbalances of the Porn Industry
As AI becomes more advanced, its potential to cause harm grows, as exhibited by the recent rise in deepfake pornography. Deepfakes are images, videos, or audio that have been altered to make it appear as if a specific person is … Read more about Student Blog Series: Deepfake Pornography: How AI Has Added to the Power Imbalances of the Porn Industry »