Two arrested, two teen girls rescued in Miami Beach human trafficking case

Authorities are crediting the arrests to a special human trafficking task force in Florida.

By Melanie Eversley

Teen girls were recently rescued in Miami Beach human trafficking cases 

Two teen girls have been rescued and two men have been arrested in South Florida in two separate human trafficking cases, according to local officials.

Details from both cases were outlined in a statement released by the Miami-Dade State’s Attorney’s office on Friday, according to NBC Miami. Authorities credited the arrests to a special human trafficking task force in Florida.

Jamaal Denmon, 36 of Texas was arrested on Jan. 19th in the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl from Louisiana, Local10 reported.

Police found the teen trying to buy drugs in Miami Beach and she told them her pimp, named “Koach,” coerced her into prostitution with threats of violence and also pushed her to drug tourists and rob them, according to Local10.

The investigation then led authorities to a home where the teen was living and where more evidence was found.

In the second case, authorities arrested 39-year-old Terrance Jones back in November in a similar case.

Authorities said the detectives spotted a 14-year-old girl and 20-year-old woman soliciting men on the street in Miami Beach, and that the teen exposed herself multiple times in order to attract attention.

After authorities took the two in for questioning, they discovered the teen was missing from Arcadia, Fla., Local10 reported.

“These two cases of human trafficking represent some of the worst fears any parent may have for the safety and security of their teen-age children,” Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement published by the NBC Miami website. “Restoring these lost girls to their families while getting their predatory bosses off the streets is what the Human Trafficking Task Force is really all about,” she said.

“Human sex trafficking is an absolutely horrendous crime and it’s happening here in South Florida,” Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates said in a statement published by Local10. “The State Attorney’s task force is committed to fighting this terrible evil. Thank God that in these cases, we were able to rescue these two young girls and arrest these pimps.”

In addition to the human trafficking charge, Jones also was charged with the sale of cocaine, according to NBC.

FBI MISSING - Lashaya Stine

Name: Lashaya Stine

Missing Date: July 15, 2016

Date(s) of Birth Used: February 8, 2000
Hair: Long black hair (usually worn in a bun)
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 150 pounds (At the time of her disappearance)
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Scars and Marks: Quarter-sized round scar on Lashaya's chest.

Remarks:

On the day of her disappearance, Lashaya was last seen wearing a black V-neck t-shirt, black stonewash jeans, silver hoop earrings, and a silver watch on her left arm.

Details:

On July 15, 2016, Lashaya Stine left her residence in Aurora, Colorado, around 2:00 a.m.  Lashaya was last seen in the area of E. Montview Boulevard and N. Peoria Street in the early morning hours.  Lashaya was scheduled for a job interview on July 16th, but never arrived.  Lashaya has not made any attempts to contact family members or friends since she has been gone.

This case is being investigated by the Denver Office of the FBI and the Aurora Police Department.

Submit a Tip:

If you have any information concerning this person, please contact the Aurora Police Department at 303/627-3100 or the Colorado Crime Stoppers at 720/913-7867.

You may also contact your local FBI office.

Field Office: Denver

Submit an anonymous Tip online

tiny.cc/b1gv2y

Human-trafficking crackdown: 510 arrested, 56 rescued in California

By Jovana Lara

Los Angeles - More than 500 suspects were arrested and 56 people were rescued during a statewide human-trafficking crackdown, officials said.

The Los Angeles County Regional Human Trafficking Task Forces announced the arrests of 510 suspects during the three-day sweep, called Operation Reclaim and Rebuild.

During the operation, which took place between Jan. 25 and 27, the task force said 45 adults and 11 girls were rescued.

Among the 510 suspects arrested, 30 are suspected traffickers and 178 are alleged "johns."

The task force is housed by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and is a collaboration of more than 85 federal, state, county and local law enforcement and non-profit community organizations.

Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell gave details surrounding some of the arrests.

In one very disturbing incident in Milpitas, California, a man dressed in full police uniform - including a side arm - was arrested on felony charges after he sexually assaulted a human-trafficking victim, McDonnell said. The suspect was found to be already on felony probation and wanted by police for additional, similar crimes.

The sheriff said the operation targeted those who use the internet to exploit victims. In one such instance, McDonnell said an undercover deputy posing as a young female on social media was contacted by a suspect, who recruited her to work for him in the commercial sex trade.

After arranging a meeting, the pimp drove from Riverside County to meet with his victim. He demanded $500 from the victim for him to manage her. The suspect would collect the money from the customers and give the victim whatever he decided she needed. McDonnell said the suspect was arrested by task force detectives and found to be in possession of a stolen .357 Magnum handgun.

The task force was established in November 2015 and since that time, 948 suspects have been arrested in connection to human trafficking.


The Los Angeles-based non-profit Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking is providing help, including shelter and food, to the victims rescued during the operation.

Super Bowl security: 33 arrested on sex-trafficking charges

By Alexis Stevens

With the Super Bowl just days away, federal law enforcement officials announced Wednesday they have arrested 33 people in metro Atlanta on sex-trafficking charges. Authorities said they had also rescued four victims as part of the operation.

Advocates have warned that large sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, are attractive to those in the sex-trafficking trade. They say the crime can surge when lots of free-spending travelers are around.

The 33 arrests came during the past four days, according to Nick Annan, Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge. But Annan declined to discuss specifics of the cases, citing ongoing efforts that will continue throughout the week.

“We plan to continue what we’re doing,” Annan said.

More than 40 local and state law enforcement agencies, along with 25 federal agencies, are assisting with security for the Super Bowl. Officers and security members have been visible throughout downtown Atlanta where events have been held, and those efforts will continue until hours after the big game. So far, all of the months of planning for keeping fans safe in Atlanta has paid off. And those efforts will ramp up as the game gets closer and more visitors arrive.

On Jan. 23 and 24, Homeland Security assisted in a joint operation in Douglas County using undercover officers, social media sites and local hotel rooms, the Douglasville Police Department said Wednesday. Sixteen people were arrested, according to police, and the youngest person involved was 17. The timing of the crackdown was related to the Super Bowl, police said.



Cathy Lanier, NFL Chief Security Officer, speaks during the overview of public safety press conference for Super Bowl 53 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on Wednesday. (Alyssa Pointer)

Investigators have also found more than 2,000 counterfeit items, according to Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security. Neilsen didn’t discuss details about the phony items found. But police have warned fans about fake tickets being sold.

Although the NFL puts special holograms and other features on tickets that help distinguish real ones from fakes, most people won't be able to tell the difference. Police warn ticket-buyers to purchase only from a reputable source.

As part of the massive security operation, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration conducted low-altitude helicopter flights over downtown Atlanta and areas around Buckhead earlier this week, and those will resume Sunday before the game.

Key law enforcement leaders, including Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields, spoke about security efforts during a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Georgia World Congress Center. Shields said security planning for the Super Bowl began over two years ago, and so far everything is going as planned.

Shields encouraged those heading to the game or other Super Bowl events to plan ahead and rely on public transportation. For those who insist on driving, secure valuables ahead of time, she said. Call 911 or alert an officer to anything suspicious. But above all, Shields encouraged fans to have fun.

“This is a fantastic city,” Shields said. “We really want people to come and just have a great time.”

Valley agencies take part in human trafficking sting where 339 were arrested:

339 people arrested in statewide human trafficking sting

By Vanessa Vasconcelos

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 11:22PM

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) --

It's a problem closer to home than we think.

"Many if not most of our victims are home grown born in the U.S. or in California. They come from our backyard," said Lt. Daniel Stanley with the LA County Sheriff's Office.

In a three-day operation starting Jan. 24, 20 agencies teamed up to crackdown on human trafficking.

Operation reclaim and rebuild.

"It's a way for us to help victims of human trafficking reclaim and rebuild their lives," Lt. Stanley said.

Valley Agencies including Tulare County, Fresno and Merced Police took part.

RELATED: 20 people arrested in Merced Police human trafficking sting

"No longer is it primarily a drug issue, a homeless issue or a foster issue it's a problem for everyone no matter when you're at," said Debra Rush, founder and CEO of Breaking the Chains.

Rush says non profits like her's work hand in hand with law enforcement to stop the cycle of human trafficking by providing trauma treatment services.

"They can intercept and provide victims with the critical services they need in that moment it can be something as simple as food and shelter," she said.

In Fresno alone the Economic Opportunities Commission identified 104 human trafficking victims from the start of 2018 to date.

During the operation Fresno Police arrested 18 people, but they found their biggest success in the three victims they were able to rescue.

In Tulare County the human trafficking task force executed several sting operations in Visalia, Tulare, and Porterville boasting 10 arrests -- 5 for prostitution and 5 for solicitation.

In the north Valley with Merced Police, a sting led to 20 arrests one of those paired with the rescue of a underage girl.

"We found evidence he was basically forcing her to participate. So basically pimping her out," said Sgt. Luis Solis.

Because their sting was so successful, they've continued it past the operation, making an additional 4 arrests. One as recent as 6 hours before an interview with Action News took place.

Texas Rangers search here for felony human trafficking suspect

By Ke'Sha Lopez | 

Posted: Sun 3:18 PM, Jan 27, 2019  | 

Updated: Mon 10:33 AM, Jan 28, 2019

  

WACO, Texas (KWTX) The Texas Rangers are looking for information to help find a suspect wanted for human trafficking and child sex crimes.

According to the Department of Public Safety, Sunday, Rangers are looking for 31-year-old Issac-John Bernard Collins.

They believe he is in the Waco area.

They said he is 5-foot 1, weighs 130 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

Authorities believe he is driving a 2012 White Chevy Camaro, with Texas license plate number KVT0745.

He's wanted on five felony charges that include: aggravated kidnapping, trafficking of persons, continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children, indecency with a child, and online solicitation of a minor.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Texas Rangers through DPS Communications in Corpus Christi at 361-698-5600.

Trinity Mount Ministries / NCMEC - Active Missing Children Posters

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

---

Notice: 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.