Leader of Interstate Sex Trafficking Ring Pleads Guilty

Michelle Matney, 38, of Greensboro, N.C., pleaded guilty Friday, February 8, 2013, for her role as the leader of an interstate prostitution organization and to conspiracy to persuade others to travel to engage in prostitution. This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Henrico County Police Division.

John P. Torres, special agent in charge for HSI Washington, D.C.; U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride, Eastern District of Virginia; and Chief of Police Douglas A. Middleton, Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Matney faces a maximum penalty of five years of incarceration when she is sentenced on May 10, 2013.

In a statement of facts filed with her plea agreement, Matney admitted to recruiting and supervising numerous prostitutes from 2010 through 2012. She acknowledged that she would recruit prostitutes to work for her, encourage them to travel to various states other than North Carolina, where she was based, to work as prostitutes, post prostitution advertisements online for them and set up prostitution appointments with clients.

In exchange, Matney received a portion of the earnings that the women made from prostitution. Matney came to the attention of law enforcement after the Henrico County Police Department arrested several women for prostitution who stated that they were working for Matney.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie L. Mickelson and Roderick C. Young are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

ICE Director Speaks Out Against Human Trafficking at Georgetown University

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton delivered a keynote address to the Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium at Georgetown University, Wednesday, January 30, 2013.

The event brought government, academic, not for profit and business leaders together to help reimagine the ongoing fight against human trafficking. Other keynote speakers included actress Mira Sorvino, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking and Tony West, acting associate attorney general.

"It's fitting for us to meet during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month to discuss the crime of human trafficking," said Morton. "The grim reality is that human trafficking and sexual exploitation are a very real part of the modern world… To defeat human trafficking we must attack it relentlessly. There is no other way. There is no other answer. It is simply one of the great wrongs of our time. And attack it we will."

In his address, Morton discussed ICE's recent successes combatting human trafficking, including this January's conclusion of Operation Dark Night, an investigation that uncovered an organized prostitution ring operating throughout the southeast United States.

He also discussed the victim-centered approach taken by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), placing their identification, rescue and stabilization on equal value with the apprehension and prosecution of the trafficker.

"I think we will all agree that human trafficking provokes our justifiable and righteous anger," said Morton. "Let's bring our outrage to the offense."

ICE's Operation Dark Night Busts Sex Trafficking Ring, Rescues 11 Victims

On Thursday, January 17, 2013, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the results of a lengthy investigation, called Operation Dark Night, into a sex trafficking ring operating in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The investigation, which was led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), led to a takedown Wednesday, January 16, 2013, in which authorities made 13 criminal arrests and 44 administrative arrests tied to the investigation, as well as the rescue of as many as 11 victims.

"ICE investigates a wide array of crimes, but the trafficking of women and girls for prostitution is among the most sinister," said ICE Director John Morton. "Few crimes so damage their victims and undermine basic human decency. Our fight against this evil must be relentless, both here and abroad."

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Edward Tarver said, "In what essentially amounts to slavery in the year 2013, the conduct described in the indictment against these defendants is reprehensible. This case is a prime example of the United States Attorney's Office and HSI recognizing that human trafficking is a cancer facing our society and taking a stand to stop the victimization of women involved in sex trafficking."

According to the indictment, Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez, aka El Flaco, conspired with each of the other defendants to transport people across interstate boundaries to engage in prostitution. In addition, Mendez-Hernandez allegedly conspired with at least three others to entice women from Mexico, Nicaragua and elsewhere to travel to the United States with false promises of the American dream. Once inside the United States, these women were allegedly threatened and forced to commit acts of prostitution at numerous locations in Savannah and throughout the Southeast. In one such instance identified in the indictment, Mendez-Hernandez is alleged to have told a Mexican woman that she would be sent back to her home country unless she serviced 25 clients a day.

HSI provides relief to victims of human trafficking by allowing for their continued presence in the United States during criminal proceedings. Victims may also qualify for a T visa, which is issued to victims of human trafficking who have complied with reasonable requests for assistance in investigations and prosecutions. Anyone who suspects instances of human trafficking is encouraged to call the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Anonymous calls are welcome.

Operation Dark Night was led by HSI, with assistance from the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP Air and Marine Operations; the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations; the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department; the Chatham County Sheriff's Office; the Garden City Police Department; and, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover and E. Greg Gilluly Jr. are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

New York Man Convicted for Sex Trafficking

A New York man was convicted after a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara of sex trafficking by force, sex trafficking of a minor by force and sex trafficking of a minor. When sentenced, he faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The conviction is the result of an extensive investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and local law enforcement agencies.

Between winter 2010 and August 2012, Kenneth Graham, 25, of Amherst, N.Y., recruited, promoted and profited from the prostitution activities of two minor girls knowing that the girls were under the age of 18. Graham also recruited, promoted and profited from a third victim, a woman in her 20s.

Graham placed advertisements on the website "backpage." One ad read, "Amazingly Sexy Sweet Petite Companion 20 working out of the airport area." The acts took place in various hotels in the towns of Amherst and Cheektowaga, N.Y., and customers were charged between $100 and $200.
According to evidence presented by the government, two of the victims were assaulted and threatened by the defendant. One victim testified that Graham told her "I'll kill you" and a second victim testified that Graham brandished a weapon at her. Under cross examination, the defendant admitted to pushing one of the victims into a wall and over a piece of furniture.

"This is the first sex trafficking conviction at trial in the Western District of New York," said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr., Western District of New York. "Based on charges recently filed by our office, the problem of human trafficking appears to be growing but so too is our ability to investigate and prosecute these crimes. In the past year, we have filed charges against seven defendants who are accused of victimizing a total of 12 victims. Freedom is a basic human right and individuals should not be forced into actions or behaviors that are both illegal and can cause long term physical, psychological and emotional damage."

"Today's guilty verdict is the result of the great partnership HSI has with law enforcement in Western New York in our unyielding resolve to bring human traffickers to justice," said James C. Spero, special agent in charge of HSI Buffalo. "Trafficking children for sex is one the most deplorable crimes our HSI special agents investigate. My agency is committed to protecting those who cannot protect themselves. These cases are extremely difficult to investigate - and prosecute - and would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our special agents and attorneys."

The conviction is the result of an investigation on the part of HSI, Amherst Police Department, Cheektowaga Police Department. and Buffalo Police Department. Additional support was provided by the Western District of New York Human Trafficking Task Force and Alliance. Anyone who has knowledge of any form of trafficking is encouraged to contact the task force or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 888-373-7888.

Sentencing has been scheduled for May 8, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert C. Moscati and Kathleen A. Lynch, Western District of New York, are prosecuting this case on behalf of the U.S. government.