Operation Cross Country
The Justice Department announced the arrests of nearly 400 people in connection with child prostitution in the United States. In making the announcement on June 25, 2008, FBI Director Robert Mueller said "Operation Cross Country" also resulted in the rescue of 21 children.1 On October 27, 2008, the FBI announced that more than 600 people were in custody after Operation Cross Country II. The feds credited information gleaned during the first raid as instrumental in capturing more suspects.2
Fast Facts
- 389 arrests made in 16 U.S. cities on June 25, 20081
- 21 children rescued during sweep3
- FBI says roundup of suspects took five days and ended on June 22, 20081
- Arrests made in San Francisco, California, Boston, Massachusetts, Miami, Florida, Dallas, Texas and Rockville, Maryland1
- Suspects include both pimps and prostitutes3
- More than 350 law enforcement agencies assisted in stings1
- "Operation Cross Country" part of the five-year "Innocence Lost National Initiative"1
- Another wave of raids, known as Operation Cross Country II, took place in October 2008; more than 600 people were arrested4
Innocent Lost Initiative
The Innocence Lost National Initiative was created to crack down on interstate child sex trafficking. The FBI, U.S. Justice Department and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) launched the program jointly in 2003. Since then, officials say more than 300 people have been convicted of exploiting children through child prostitution and more than 400 children have been rescued.1
Quote
"The sex trafficking of children remains one of the most violent and unforgivable crimes. What is different as we stand here today is that we are faced with the increasing use of social network sites and other advances in technology to carry out these crimes and facilitate these criminal enterprises."—Robert Mueller1
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