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."

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.

Massachusetts Massage Parlor Owners Arrested for Human Trafficking and Prostitution

The owners of two massage parlors – one in Wellesley, Mass., and the other in Revere, Mass. – have been arrested in connection with human trafficking and prostitution. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, and the Wellesley Police Department.

Zhen Lai, 37, of Quincy, Mass., and Joseph Girouard, 55, of Revere, were arrested the afternoon of Thursday, October 18, 2012, by HSI special agents and the Massachusetts State Police. Lai was arrested in Quincy and Girouard was arrested in Somerville, Mass. Lai and Girouard are each charged with one count each of trafficking in persons for sexual servitude and keeping a house of ill fame.

"Today's arrests are the result of the great partnership HSI has with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office and Massachusetts State Police in our unyielding resolve to bring human traffickers to justice," said Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of HSI Boston. "Human trafficking can exist anywhere, as shown with this investigation. HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit these crimes are held accountable for their actions."

"We allege that these individuals ran two massage parlors that were thinly veiled fronts for prostitution," said Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. "Further, these two defendants allegedly profited from sexual services provided to clients by women they employed. We would like to thank HSI and our local police partners for assisting in the investigation and arrests."

"This investigation was a model of collaboration and cooperation between investigators from the Wellesley Police Department, HSI and the attorney general's office," said Chief Terrence Cunningham, Wellesley Police Department. "Thanks to Attorney General Coakley's attention to the human trafficking issue and her unwavering determination to bring individuals involved in the exploitation of women to justice, this is not just another prostitution prosecution."

The arrests are the result of an investigation into allegations of human trafficking and prostitution at Sun Spa, also known as Sun Studio, in Wellesley and Bodywork in Revere.

Authorities allege that Lai and Girouard jointly operated the two massage parlors. During the course of the investigation, authorities developed evidence indicating that these massage parlors were allegedly offering sexual activity between masseuses employed by Lai and Girouard and their clients in exchange for cash that was characterized as "tips." Investigation also revealed that Lai and Girouard advertised the two spas on websites known to advertise prostitution.

The afternoon of Thursday, October 18, 2012, federal, state and local law enforcement executed search warrants at the two massage parlors. Following the execution of the search warrants, authorities arrested Lai and Girouard.

Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes that HSI investigates. In its worst manifestation, human trafficking is akin to modern-day slavery. Victims pay to be illegally transported into the United States only to find themselves in the thrall of traffickers. They are forced into prostitution, involuntary labor and other forms of servitude to repay debts – often entry in the United States. In certain cases, the victims are mere children. They find themselves surrounded by an unfamiliar culture and language without identification documents, fearing for their lives and the lives of their families.

HSI is serious about ending human trafficking.

HSI relies on tips from the public to dismantle these organizations. Trafficking victims are often hidden in plain sight, voiceless and scared.

If you notice suspicious activity in your community, call HSI's Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or report tips online.

"America's Most Wanted" and ICE Catch Two Sex Traffickers

"America's Most Wanted," the television show famously known for helping law enforcement catch some of the country's most hardened criminals, featured Eric Bell on its June 11, 2011 edition.

It is a mother's worst nightmare. Her child ends up in the hands of a monster – sold for sex and treated like a commodity. That's what happened to four young girls, all between 15 and 17 years old, when they met Eric Bell in 2009 and 2010.

That nightmare came to an end Tuesday, September 18, 2012, when Bell and his co-conspirator, Neang Prom, were sentenced to 30 years and three years in federal prison, respectively, on sex trafficking charges. The sentencing resulted from a nearly two-year investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI and the Clearwater Human Trafficking Task Force.

The girls who worked for them knew them as Santana (Bell) and Pocahontas (Prom). The pair preyed on the young and the weak, targeting runaways who had nowhere else to turn. Their victims trusted them, but that trust soon turned to fear. Bell raped and snapped digital images of his victims. He and Prom also marketed the young girls as 18-year-old escorts on websites. The victims were forced to perform sexual acts for fees, never receiving any of the proceeds from prostitution.

"I trusted them with my life, and they took it for granted," said one of the victims in court Monday. "Being forced into prostitution hurt me. I try to forget about it, but I can't. Even now, I think it is okay to sell my body. And it hurts every time I do it. It feels like I am selling my soul to the devil."

The case began after a victim shared statements with a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detective that indicated she was a victim of sex trafficking. After interviewing her, a detective from the sheriff's office began an Internet search to see if he could track down Pocahontas, who was associated with several Craigslist advertisements and a MySpace account. Investigators linked the ads featuring Pocahontas to an Internet Protocol address used by Prom.

After that, special agents from HSI, the FBI and the Clearwater Human Trafficking Task Force conducted surveillance at Bell and Prom's residence. In July 2010, they executed a federal search warrant at the residence and seized numerous items including firearms, ammunition, body armor, digital cameras, cell phones, computers and more. Searches of the cameras and computers revealed numerous pornographic/sexually explicit photos of the minor victims.

"Bell tried to barricade himself in the attic of his residence to avoid being arrested when we executed the search warrant," said Sue McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. "Our law enforcement partners had to resort to using tear gas so we could arrest him."

Bell, upon his arrest, was interviewed by an HSI and FBI special agent, but subsequently skipped town after making bail. 

In January 2011, a criminal complaint was filed in federal court against Bell and Prom for a variety of charges, ranging from production of child pornography to aiding and abetting the sex trafficking of a minor.

HSI and FBI special agents arrested Bell Aug. 31, 2011, in Parsippany, N.J. In February, he pleaded guilty to sex trafficking minors, and in May, Prom pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of minors.

"Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes our special agents investigate. This case was particularly unnerving because it involved the sex trafficking of minors," said McCormick. "Thanks to the efforts of HSI, the Clearwater Human Trafficking Task Force and the FBI, Eric Bell can no longer exploit young girls for his own gain."

Atlanta Man Sentenced to 80 Years for Human Trafficking

A 37-year-old Douglasville, Ga., man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was found guilty of six counts of human trafficking, two counts of aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and pandering by compulsion.

Steven Donald Lemery was sentenced to 80 years in prison Wednesday, September 5, 2012, by Douglas County Superior Court Judge David. T. Emerson.

The investigation resulting in Lemery's conviction was conducted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office with significant assistance provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to evidence presented at court, Lemery is a former Atlanta go-go dancer who lured victims as young as 15 years old to his home for sexual purposes, in some cases pimping them out for homosexual prostitution. Victims testified that they were held in Lemery's home and not allowed to leave. They were plied with drugs and alcohol and were made to participate in sex acts.

One victim described being forced into prostitution, where he was held down and burned at a client's house as they attempted to rape him.

"The horrific crimes perpetrated against these victims, two of whom were 15-year-old children, cannot be allowed to stand in a civil society," said Brock D. Nicholson, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta. "HSI was proud to support the Douglas County Sheriff in this investigation. Thanks to the hard work of law enforcement and the aggressive prosecution by the Douglas County District Attorney's Office, Mr. Lemery will never again have the freedom to victimize another child."

A co-defendant in Lemery's case, Christopher Andrew Lynch, received a 30-year sentence in March after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, pimping a victim under the age of 18 and pandering by compulsion.

Douglas County Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ackley prosecuted both cases on behalf of Douglas County District Attorney David McDade.