humble3d Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 FBI arrests 239 accused pimps, child sex predators By: Ali Monsen & video Updated: Oct 18, 2016 06:16 PM MDT Hundreds of accused pimps and child sex predators are behind bars, thanks to the FBI's latest operation. Operation Cross Country is an annual mission to rescue as many victims of human trafficking as possible, including here in Utah. This year was the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 10th year holding the operation, and officials say, their biggest to date. Human trafficking is a terrible crime that officials say people do not always want to talk about. "We were probably late to recognize that this problem existed in Utah, Idaho, and Montana," acknowledged Eric Barnhart, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI's Salt Lake City Field Office. But Barnhart says human trafficking does happen in Utah and everywhere. He says the FBI is trying desperately to save as many victims as possible from pimps and predators around the world. "They are probably some of the lowest forms of human to walk the earth. They prey upon and profit from the misery of the most vulnerable," Barnhart told reporters at a press conference, Tuesday, adding that this year's focus was recovering sexually exploited children. Barnhart says in addition to the 55 field offices across the U.S. involved, international partners in Canada, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines took part in the operation for the first time as well. "In all, we recovered 82 minors, and 239 traffic subjects were arrested," he said. In Utah, investigators report rescuing one child, arresting three adults, and citing six others for prostitution in the three-day period of the operation, but it was not easy. Barnhart says criminals continue evolving along with technology all the time. "We have to change what we do every year, and this last year was a pretty good example. Social media has many great qualities and many downsides, and the electronic age is such that word can spread very fast that one of these operations is going on. We saw that in certain places, and we saw that here in Utah," he explained. Unfortunately, from there, the work is just beginning. Barnhart says keeping criminals from repeat offenses and helping victims rebuild their lives can be even more complex than finding them in the first place. "For many reasons, they're unwilling to talk, and it takes a great deal of dedication, time, and effort to break down some of those barriers," he said. Barnhart says this particular operation is just a small glimpse into what investigators do every single day. He says it is rewarding to be able to save lives but acknowledges Utah still has a long way to go in combating human trafficking. http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/fbi-arrests-239-accused-pimps-child-sex-predators-including-in-utah/596601271 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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