FBI and State and Local Law Enforcement Recover Six Juveniles During Child Sex Trafficking Operation

SACRAMENTO—The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crimes Against Children Unit and its state and local law enforcement partners are pleased to announce the recovery of six children who were being victimized as prostitutes in the Chico, Redding, Sacramento, and Vallejo areas. The number of minors recovered locally is one of the highest in the nation, making this local achievement one of Operation Cross Country VI’s top success stories.

The Sacramento Division of the FBI and multiple local and state law enforcement participated in the operation from June 19 through June 23, 2012. In addition to six juveniles recovered in Sacramento, multi-agency teams also arrested six pimps during the three-day operation. The local efforts account for nearly eight percent of the children rescued during Operation Cross Country VI.

In addition to the FBI Sacramento Division, the following agencies participated in last week’s local operation:

■Butte County District Attorney

■California Highway Patrol

■California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

■Chico Police Department

■Redding Police Department

■Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department

■Sacramento Police Department

■Vallejo Police Department

Operation Cross Country is a multi-day, national enforcement action targeting the domestic sex trafficking of children. The operation is coordinated by the Innocence Lost initiative and is a partnership between the FBI, state and local law enforcement partners, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Since the first Operation Cross County in June 2008, multi-agency teams in the Sacramento Division’s area of responsibility have recovered 23 children and arrested 18 pimps.

Nationwide, 226 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in 57 cities participated in Operation Cross County VI, resulting in the rescue of 79 children and arrests of 104 pimps. There are 47 task forces and working groups throughout the country addressing the issue of child sex trafficking.

Additional information about Operation Coast to Coast and video that depicts local activities can be found on www.fbi.gov at the conclusion of the national press conference.