Trinity Mount Ministries - DHS - BLUE CAMPAIGN - Indicators of Human Trafficking

Indicators of Human Trafficking:

Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Here are some common indicators to help recognize human trafficking. You can also download or order the Blue Campaign indicator card, which is a small plastic card that lists common signs of trafficking and how to report the crime.

Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
Has a child stopped attending school?
Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?
Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?

Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.

Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to create general awareness training and materials for law enforcement and others to increase detection of human trafficking, and to identify victims.

Located within the Office of Partnership and Engagement, Blue Campaign leverages partnerships with the private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), law enforcement and state/local authorities to maximize national public engagement on anti-human trafficking efforts. Blue Campaign’s educational awareness objectives consists of two foundational elements, prevention of human trafficking and protection of exploited persons.

To report suspected human trafficking to Federal law enforcement:

1-866-347-2423

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

1-888-373-7888

or text HELP or INFO to

BeFree (233733)

A Few Tips To Keep Your Child Safe Online

by Lisa Lake

Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Online games and websites for kids are everywhere these days – to the point where it’s commonplace to see toddlers playing with them, too. And while the internet often offers a positive way for children to explore and learn, privacy concerns are lurking. To help protect children’s privacy, the FTC enforces the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires websites and online services to obtain consent from parents before collecting personal information from kids younger than 13.

According to the FTC, i-Dressup, a website allowing users to play dress-up games, and its owners violated COPPA by collecting personal information from kids – including names, email addresses, and user names – without obtaining parental consent and failing to take reasonable steps to protect this information. This led to a breach of i-Dressup’s network in August 2016. As a result of the breach, a hacker accessed the personal information and account passwords of over two million i-Dressup users, including at least 245,000 children under 13.

So how can you protect your child online? Here are some tips:

• Talk to your kids about what they’re doing online. Find out which games, social networking sites, and other online activities your kids are into and make sure you are comfortable with them.
• Talk to your children about the implications of providing personal information.
• Help your kids understand what information should stay private. Tell your kids why it's important to keep information like Social Security numbers, street addresses, phone numbers, and financial information private.
• Learn more about how to protect your child when he’s online.
• File a complaint with the FTC if you think a site has put your child’s privacy at risk.

 

Facebook Blocks Trinity Mount Ministries Blog - Missing Children Posters / Child Safety

By Brett Fletcher  

UPDATE - Facebook blocks Trinity Mount Ministries blog: Please read this report.

The Trinity Mount Ministries blog posts that Facebook is continuing to block can be viewed at -

Twitter -  https://www.twitter.com/trinitymount
and
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinitymount

Brett Fletcher, MHRS, MS.Psy, Th.G, Founder of Trinity Mount Ministries

Facebook continues to block Trinity Mount Ministries blog posts: Latest post blocked - Trinity Mount Ministries - DOJ - PROJECT Safe Childhood - Justice News

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

UPDATE - Facebook blocking Trinity Mount Ministries blog:

1. LinkedIn -  https://www.twitter.com/trinitymount and Twitter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinitymount - allow the posts that Facebook is blocking.

2. The Trinity Mount Ministries blog that Facebook is blocking only shares posts concerned with helping missing and exploited children as well as child safety in general.

3. Facebook claims people on Facebook  find Trinity Mount Ministries blog as abusive :

Facebook to Trinity Mount Ministries:

[Error

Your message couldn't be sent because it includes content that other people on Facebook have reported as abusive.]

5. This issue has been brought to the attention of Facebook administration numerous times over the past few days since the banning of Trinity Mount Ministries blog posts. They have yet to address this issue.

6. Trinity Mount Ministries has posted their blog posts since 2011. Trinity Mount Ministries is a paying customer to Facebook for advertising: Facebook have offered paid advertising for the Trinity Mount Ministries blog posts that they blocked as being inappropriate.

7. Facebook is the only social media outlet that blocks Trinity Mount Ministries blog posts, which are concerning the protection, safety and well-being of children, as well as offering support to parents and families of missing children.

Trinity Mount Ministries will continue to bring the actions of Facebook regarding Trinity Mount Ministries blog posts being blocked. Facebook was established on Facebook since 2011. Since that time to the present Trinity Mount Ministries have posted blog posts on Facebook, but recently they are being blocked from posting without explanation from Facebook why this is happening.

Trinity Mount Ministries blog will continue to bring awareness to missing and exploited children as well as provide child safety reports and information, regardless of the actions of Facebook towards Trinity Mount Ministries.

The Trinity Mount Ministries blog posts that Facebook is continuing to block can be viewed at -

Twitter -  https://www.twitter.com/trinitymount and LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinitymount

Brett Fletcher, MHRS, MS.Psy, Th.G, Founder of Trinity Mount Ministries

FBI NEWS - CYBERSTALKING

Two Federal Cases Illustrate the Consequences of Sextortion

Children and young adults seem particularly susceptible to sextortion—when a victim is threatened with the release of private and sensitive information unless sexual favors, nude photos, or other demands are met.

But two unrelated cyberstalking crimes committed months apart and hundreds of miles away from each other serve as a reminder of the dangers of compromising personal photos being in the wrong hands, no matter the age of the victim.

In Houston, Heriberto Latigo repeatedly used nude photos of his ex-girlfriend to coerce her to have sex with him. In Crescent, Oklahoma, Troy Allen Martin similarly blackmailed his victim for $50,000.

Both men were eventually convicted and sentenced to prison for their crimes under federal cyberstalking statutes. The harm they caused their victims, however, may never be undone. Such crimes are occurring more frequently, especially among younger victims.

Latigo not only demanded sex, he also sent his victim horrible images and threatening messages. He sent the nude photos to the victim’s sister and male co-workers, and created a disturbing Facebook page that included deeply personal information about the victim.

“It’s a violent crime; he just used cyber tools to carry it out,” said Special Agent Christopher Petrowski of the FBI’s Houston office, who worked the Latigo case.

Latigo’s victim approached local police several times. The case was complicated and the victim’s story changed a number of times, in part because of pressure from Latigo, Petrowski said, making it difficult for local authorities to help effectively. She turned to the FBI, visiting the Houston office in person in spring 2015.

“When someone walks in with a story like that, it’s very emotional and difficult to figure out right away,” Petrowski said. “They’re hurting. This went on for more than a year.”

It took some time for the FBI and federal prosecutors to determine that Latigo had likely violated federal cyberstalking laws. The FBI sent letters to social media companies to preserve certain records in order to prevent Latigo from covering his tracks. Agents also served search warrants, seizing computer equipment from his home.

“By taking this one guy off the street, we may have prevented countless future sexual assaults. We also gave past victims some closure, which local authorities legitimately couldn’t do.”

Christopher Petrowski, special agent, FBI Houston

Members of Houston’s Innocent Images Task Force—which investigates child pornography—helped search Latigo’s electronics. They uncovered photos and were able to document that Latigo accessed social media sites from the machines.

During the course of the investigation, Petrowski discovered that other victims had filed similar complaints with local police. Although Latigo wasn’t charged in other cases, it was important to the investigation that his name was mentioned in other police reports, Petrowski said. “These other victims, who did not know each other and have never met, effectively corroborated this pattern of behavior,” he said.

Latigo was arrested in June 2015 and convicted on a federal stalking charge—using the Internet to cause substantial emotional distress—in October 2017. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison in March.

“This guy is a predator, and he targeted her from the first time they met. He had a pattern,” Petrowski said. “By taking this one guy off the street, we may have prevented countless future sexual assaults. We also gave past victims some closure, which local authorities legitimately couldn’t do.”

“He was just harassing this lady, causing severe emotional distress. He was relentless.”

Ken Western, special agent, FBI Oklahoma City

In Oklahoma, the victim came to the FBI’s attention in a different manner. Bank employees in Ardmore filed a federal suspicious activity report with federal authorities after the victim showed up at the bank seeking to wire $40,000.

The victim was on the phone with Martin when she arrived at the bank. When asked for a destination bank for the wire transfer, Martin refused to tell his victim and insisted on speaking to the teller instead. The bank refused to handle the transaction.

When the wire transfer was denied, Martin told his victim to withdraw $50,000 in cash. The bank complied with the victim’s request, but urged her to speak to police about the obvious coercion. Bank officials also filed the suspicious activity report, which ended up with the FBI.

“That’s a significant amount of money,” said Special Agent Ken Western, who worked the case from the FBI’s Oklahoma City office. “The bank thought if he was requesting money by phone, maybe it was a threatening communication. So they reported it.”

The FBI reached out to the victim, who showed agents numerous text messages and played voicemails from Martin. He repeatedly said he would share nude photos he had taken of her unless she gave him money. Despite receiving $50,000, Martin also demanded a relationship and sex with the victim.

“He was just harassing this lady, causing severe emotional distress. He was relentless,” Western said.

As in the Latigo case, Martin had other victims as well. He even sent the nude photos of his victim to another victim to show he was serious.

Investigators found victims through protection orders that had been filed against Martin. That information helped show a pattern of behavior. Martin found several of his victims through a dating site for divorced adults.

Martin pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking in October 2017. A federal judge sentenced him to 33 months’ imprisonment in April.

“This goes on a lot,” Western said, adding that people should not share intimate photos over the Internet or social media sites. “This lady lost $50,000, and she was extremely distressed. I hope other people will think twice about it.”

Victims in both cases received support through the FBI’s Victim Services Division.

What is Cyberstalking?

It is a specific federal crime and falls under a federal stalking statute as part of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005. The law was amended in 2013 to include stalking by the Internet or by telephone and no longer requires that the perpetrator and victim live in different legal jurisdictions.

The amended law in part makes it illegal to use “any interactive computer service or electronic communication service” to conduct activity that places a person “in reasonable fear” of death or serious bodily injury, or that causes or could cause “substantial emotional distress.” The law states the actions must be intentional.

Cyberstalking is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. A life sentence can be imposed if the cyberstalking results in the death of a victim.

What is Sextortion?

It is a form of cyber extortion. It occurs when individuals demand their victims provide them with sexual images, sexual favors, or other things of value. There is no specific federal sextortion offense, but it falls under the federal cyberstalking law.

• U.S. Department of Justice Bulletin: Cyber Misbehavior

Resources

• Unprecedented Stalking Conviction Sends Former Richmond Resident to Prison
• Crescent Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Cyberstalking Public School Teacher
• Jennings Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Posting Nude Photos Online of Female Victim
• Stop Sextortion Brochure

NCMEC - Search For Missing Children

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• ENSP

Active AMBER Alerts

Name	Missing From	Issued For	Alert Date
Jonathan Nunez-Coronado	Phoenix, AZ	AZ	Sep 1, 2018
Victor Nunez-Coronado	Phoenix, AZ	AZ	Sep 1, 2018
Jayme Closs	Barron, WI	WI	Oct 15, 2018

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Notice: The The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® certifies the posters on this site only if they contain the NCMEC logo and the 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) number. All other posters are the responsibility of the agency whose logo appears on the poster.

Select an image to view the poster for one of these missing children.

If you have any information, please call:
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)

The FBI cautions parents of kindergarten through high school students of the potential safety and privacy risks associated with education technologies, or EdTech

Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The FBI cautions parents of kindergarten through high school students of the potential safety and privacy risks associated with education technologies, or EdTech. 

The growing incorporation of devices and software into school systems facilitates learning.

It also includes the collection of student data such as …

Lynn: … Social Security numbers, academic records, any kind of disciplinary records, medical histories …

Halpern: That was Lynn, an FBI intelligence analyst who says if cyber criminals gain access to that sensitive data, then it could be exploited in many ways.

Lynn: In addition to financial exploitation, another concern we have is the use of that information for sexual exploitation or even cyber bullying.

Halpern: To help prevent these crimes, the FBI recommends that families …

Lynn: … conduct regular Internet searches of their children's information to see if there's any social media profiles, financial information, or even photos that really shouldn't be there.

Halpern: Learn more at ic3.gov. With FBI, This Week, I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau.

Audio Download

• Download Audio File

FBI - Human Trafficking - Seeking Victims of David Delay

Seeking Victims of David Delay 

Seattle-Area Sex Trafficker Duped Victims With Promise of Fame and Riches

A survivor of sex trafficking describes how she came under the control of David Delay, who was sentenced in April in Seattle for sex trafficking and child pornography.

Transcript | Download

An 18-year-old Seattle-area high school student looking for a relationship online found herself entangled with master manipulators who coerced her into prostitution with promises of fame, money, and love.

Lauren (not her real name) met Marysa Comer on a dating website in 2014 and quickly hit it off—so much so that she left home to move in with Comer and her business partner, David Delay, in Lynnwood, Washington. Delay, 52, and Comer, 24, claimed they had a deal with a major TV production company to produce a documentary about why prostitution should be legal. Each participant would receive $20 million.

“I just thought, ‘I will have a lot of money and I’ll be around people that care about me,’” Lauren said. “I just thought that sounded great.”

At first they treated her well, giving her attention and buying her things, but that was simply setting her up for manipulation to come. Soon after, they coerced her—through various forms of abuse—into signing a contract to participate in the documentary. The contract required Lauren and other victims to work as prostitutes and to be interviewed about their experiences.

“I think I was just kind of in shock, and I didn’t really know what to think of it. I just wanted to be cared about. I wanted a person to care about me and to be loved,” Lauren said. “So, at that point, I just didn’t really know what to do.”

After a few months of being trafficked all over the country by Delay, Lauren escaped and returned to her family. But Comer lashed out, hacking into Lauren’s social media account and harassing her family. That’s when Lauren and her mother went to the Redmond Police Department for help.

As the Redmond Police and the FBI’s Seattle Division began looking into Delay, they realized that not only had Lauren’s story checked out but there were also other victims (see sidebar) who Delay had lured using the same approach—the promise of money and fame from appearing in a documentary on prostitution.

“He showed them what looked like legitimate contracts and had them sign nondisclosure agreements so they couldn’t tell their friends and family about it,” said FBI Seattle Special Agent Ingrid Arbuthnot-Stohl, who investigated the case. “If they tried to get out of their contract or leave, he would threaten to sue them for breach of contract, so that kept actually quite a few of the victims in line.”

While certainly not a Hollywood powerhouse, Delay had a few production credits and online videos to his name that he used to lure girls and women into his orbit. He posed for photos outside of television studios and used realistic-looking contracts. While he claimed the women would receive huge payouts after the documentary aired, he required the women to pay him “production fees” in the form of some or all of their prostitution earnings.

“He always picked individuals who were vulnerable,” said Redmond Police Department Detective Natalie D’Amico, who also worked the case. “If somebody wanted a relationship or just to feel love, he’d promise that. So he really focused on whatever vulnerability that specific victim had.”

As a detective investigating sex crimes, D’Amico noted that human trafficking victims are typically controlled through physical abuse or access to drugs, but in this case, Delay simply used manipulation tactics.

“I think it is very unique, as this was primarily done through coercion and fraud,” she said. “Deceit using contracts and the promise of fame and money—that was unlike anything I’ve ever heard of before.”

FBI Seeking Additional Victims

Although the case against Delay is closed and he is serving his 33-year sentence, the FBI is asking victims of his crimes to come forward so we can help them.

If you or someone you know was one of David Delay’s victims, the FBI can connect you to services you are entitled to, such as mental health counseling. If you believe you may be a victim of David Delay, please e-mail ReportDDMC@fbi.gov.

There are 15 known victims in this case, and investigators believe there could be more, both victims of his prostitution scheme, as well as possible victims of child pornography that he may have coerced others into creating.

Because he was posing as a successful Hollywood producer, Delay often used his real name in seeking out his victims. He also used screen names like “Writer3D” and “SeattleWriter.” A few times he posed as a woman using the screen name “Haleybi69” before Comer began to recruit women on his behalf.

“[Delay] is already going to be in prison for a very long time,” said FBI Seattle Victim Specialist Stefanie Hanley. “But it’s really about trying to make right those other wrongs and helping those victims with where they are at and what they have been through, which we can’t do unless they come forward.”

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The Investigators

Special Agent Ingrid Arbuthnot-Stohl describes how convicted Seattle sex trafficker David Delay conned his victims.

Transcript | Download

Natalie D’Amico, a detective with the Redmond Police Department, talks about how convicted sex trafficker David Delay manipulated his victims.

Transcript | DownloadInvestigators also believe that for years prior to his “documentary” scheme, Delay may have manipulated other women into sending him nude photos of themselves by promising them love, money, or whatever else they needed. In many cases, once he had an established relationship with a women—and possibly nude photos to blackmail them with—investigators believe that he convinced several women to commit an unthinkable crime: produce pornography of their own children.

David Delay, shown waving cash in a piece of self-promotion, focused on his victims' vulnerabilities and then exploited them, investigators said.

Delay was indicted in 2015 and was convicted last November on 17 charges related to sex trafficking and child pornography. He was sentenced in April to 33 years in prison. Comer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in 2015 and was later sentenced to three years in prison. Although the case is now closed, the FBI is asking for Delay’s other victims to come forward so they can be provided with services, such as counseling. (See sidebar below).

For the investigative team, getting justice for Delay’s victims was worth the wait and the years of investigative efforts.

“It sends a wonderful message that if you’re willing to come forward, and you’re willing to share your story, that it’s not going to be swept under the rug,” Arbuthnot-Stohl said.

With Comer and Delay both sentenced, Lauren is regaining control of her life. Now 22, she’s pondering her future, hoping to help others who may have found themselves in similar circumstances.

“I just want to let them know that there’s people that care about them and want to help them,” she said.

Protecting Your Children Online

FBI Seattle Special Agent Ingrid Arbuthnot-Stohl, who investigates crimes against children, advises parents to carefully monitor their children on any Internet-connected device and to have open conversations with them about the dangers of the Internet.

“Kids’ brains aren’t fully developed, and they’re willing to take risks that, as adults, we might think twice about,” she said.

She also advises parents to:

• Keep the computer and tablets in a public space, like the family room
• Keep an eye on children’s online behavior, whether on a phone, tablet, or computer
• Set strong parental controls
• Limit screen time through actions like taking a child’s phone and tablet before bedtime
• Encourage your children to talk to you about anything of concern that happens online

“The biggest thing is making sure you have that open line of communication to your child, so that they know, regardless of what has happened, they can come to you with anything,” she said.