Sex & Human Trafficking

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A sex trafficking case, a plea deal and a mother’s pain

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Irma Reyes changed clothes in the back seat of the pickup: skirt, tights, turtleneck, leather jacket. All black. She brushed her hair and pulled on heels as her husband drove their Chevy through predawn darkness toward a courthouse hundreds of miles from home.

https://apnews.com/article/sex-trafficking-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-edcce2714829dac9b4679733c7d5a5f6?

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Anton Lazzaro found guilty on all charges of sex trafficking underage girls

MINNEAPOLIS -- Anton Lazzaro, a former GOP operative, has been found guilty of sex trafficking underage girls. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/closing-arguments-end-in-trial-of-anton-lazzaro-accused-of-sex-trafficking-minors/?

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GOP donor Anton Lazzaro sentenced to 21 years for sex trafficking minors in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A formerly well-connected GOP donor convicted of giving teenage girls gifts, alcohol and money in exchange for sex was sentenced Wednesday to 21 years in prison on sex trafficking charges.

https://apnews.com/article/anton-tony-lazzaro-gop-operative-sex-trafficking-e4fc3e85fe5597b645e74d921246b963?

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Pornhub owner agrees to pay $1.8M and independent monitor to resolve sex trafficking-related charge

NEW YORK (AP) — The owner of Pornhub, one of the world’s largest adult content websites, has admitted to profiting from sex trafficking and agreed to make payments to women whose videos were posted without their consent, federal prosecutors in New York announced Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/pornhub-sex-trafficking-new-york-17e64f155ef903fa1212bc338114ee25?

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Florida Human Trafficking Sting 'Operation Renewed Hope' Leads to Multiple Arrests

https://h5.newsbreakapp.com/mp/0qi8lKcf?

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Fighting human trafficking: Authorities on frontline to save people

PORT CHARLOTTE — Law enforcement agencies across Florida are drawing attention to the issue of human trafficking.

https://local.newsbreak.com/charlotte-county-fl/3298479135808-fighting-human-trafficking-authorities-on-frontline-to-save-people?

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Feds search Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ properties as part of sex trafficking probe, AP sources say Two properties in Los Angeles and Miami belonging to music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs — one of hip-hop’s most recognizable names, were searched Monday as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Read more.

Key developments: It’s not clear whether Combs was the target of the investigation. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment, Combs’ attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Combs’ whereabouts are unknown.   There have been several sexual assault lawsuits filed against Combs in recent months. In February a music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them, and in November, Combs was sued by his former protege and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, alleging years of sexual abuse, including rape.   The entertainment industry has been beset with a steady stream of career-ending sexual misconduct allegations in the years since stories about movie mogul Harvey Weinstein spawned the #MeToo movement. The music industry has not faced a reckoning to the same degree.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and singer Cassie settle lawsuit alleging abuse 1 day after it was filed   Lawsuit accuses Sean Combs, 2 others of raping 17-year-old girl in 2003; Combs denies allegations   Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Diageo settle, withdraw lawsuits in case that accused Diageo of racism

 

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Some human trafficking advocates object to Florida’s new tip line

A law set to go into effect in Florida on July 1 mandates the display of human-trafficking awareness signs in public spaces where that activity is likely to occur. The signs will include a Florida-specific tip line for individuals to report human trafficking, in addition to the existing national hotline.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/05/22/some-human-trafficking-advocates-object-to-floridas-new-tip-line/?

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs jailed by judge after sex trafficking indictment

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs headed to jail Tuesday to await trial in a federal sex trafficking case that accuses him of presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes protected by blackmail and shocking acts of violence.

https://apnews.com/article/sean-diddy-combs-arrested-court-5d570cab4625ca5f9dd16dfd7df4437c?

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs 

 

Sean "Diddy" Combs today is expected to appeal a federal judge's decision to hold the hip-hop artist without bail after he pleaded not guilty in federal court on Tuesday to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Until the court appearance, Combs will remain in federal detention, a judge ruled. The embattled music mogul was arrested Monday at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan and taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations, a source familiar with negotiations for his surrender told CNN. Prosecutors allege Combs, 54, created and ran a "criminal enterprise" through his business empire that engaged in crimes including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, according to the federal indictment.

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Former Abercrombie & Fitch chief Mike Jeffries arrested on federal sex trafficking charges

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, his romantic partner and a third man were arrested Tuesday on charges of luring men into drug-laced, outlandish and coercive sex parties by dangling the promise of modeling for the retailer’s once-defining beefcake ads.

https://apnews.com/article/abercrombie-fitch-ceo-jeffries-sex-charges-f95f6b480dcb41e5365fa9b49f6206bd?