SEMIANNUAL HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING PROSECUTIONS UNIT REPORT

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1 SEMIANNUAL HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING PROSECUTIONS UNIT REPORT June December 2016 Human sex trafficking is an epidemic affecting over 21 million people worldwide more than seven times the population of Nevada. It is easy to think of human trafficking as a crime only occurring in foreign countries suffering through war and poverty. But many of its victims are right here in Nevada. The Office of the Nevada Attorney General continues to collaborate with local law enforcement, community leaders, victim advocates and others to create solutions and boost the capacities of the office towards eradicating this growing problem. As a community, we must actively work to identify and understand what drives human trafficking so we can more effectively combat it. Eradicating human trafficking is an ambitious goal, but it is one we must commit ourselves to fulfilling. I hope that this report offers insight to the efforts my office already has underway. 1

2 I. Background Concerning the Nevada Attorney General s Human Sex Trafficking Report Under NRS , the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and Nevada s district attorneys may prosecute violations of NRS or During the 2015 legislative session, the OAG secured funding for one Human Trafficking Investigator. The Senate Committee on Finance and the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means asks that the OAG provide semiannual reports to the Interim Finance Committee regarding the number of human sex trafficking cases reported, investigated and prosecuted by geographic location in the State. This report contains information concerning certain OAG activities from July 1, 2016 to December 31, II. Progress of Investigation and Prosecutions Divisions From an investigative standpoint, the OAG continues to actively engage in the general sex crimes and trafficking areas. There are two criminal investigators assigned full-time to the Washoe County Sheriff s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in Reno; one full-time forensic examiner assigned to the LVMPD and FBI s ICAC Task Force in Las Vegas; and one full-time criminal investigator dedicated to investigating missing and exploited children matters in Las Vegas. This current level of engagement has continued to produce positive results in both the federal and state criminal justice systems. In addition to the resources above, the Legislature has approved one full-time human sex trafficking investigator within the OAG. In August 2016, the Human Sex Trafficking investigator began working with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Vice and Sex Trafficking Investigations Unit on a full-time basis. Since August, the investigator has participated in numerous vice related operations geared toward identifying and potentially rescuing victims of sex trafficking, as well as identifying and building cases against the traffickers. These investigations include short-term reactive, short-term proactive and longterm proactive investigations. Short-term reactive investigations are generated as a result of vice-related calls for service, patrol officer contacts and complaints received via LVMPD s information complaint system. Short-term proactive investigations are generated as a result of undercover operations targeting street level prostitution, illegal brothels and online advertisements offering unlicensed sexual services for sale. Long-term proactive investigations are generated as a result of tips received from other units such as financial crimes that may be vice related but require additional investigative resources to determine what specific criminal activity may be occurring. The following table illustrates the number of undercover vice operations the human trafficking investigator has participated in during the last six months. Additionally, the table lists the number of cases that the investigator was assigned as a co-case agent and the number of juveniles and adults who disclosed they were sex trafficking victims. The table also indicates the total number of women contacted during the undercover vice operations. 2

3 Vice Operations Conducted Investigations Assigned Juvenile Victim Recoveries Adult Victim Recoveries Juveniles/Adults Contacted /44 Although not all individuals engaged in illegal prostitution who come into contacted with the Vice and Sex Trafficking Investigations Unit disclose that they are victims of sex trafficking to investigators, they are all offered the services of community based organizations (NGOs) that serve as safe havens for victims of sex trafficking, including the Salvation Army Seeds of Hope. At Seeds of Hope, the victims are offered shelter, food, transportation, therapy and social services. The individuals are also provided with educational opportunities about potential dangers associated with their lifestyle. In addition to social services, if a sex trafficking victim discloses they have been victimized, the Vice and Sex Trafficking Investigations Unit initiates a human trafficking investigation. In turn, when a victim of sex trafficking discloses their victimization to staff at an NGO, including Seeds of Hope, the Vice and Sex Trafficking Investigations Unit is contacted and an investigation is initiated. The NGOs are also instrumental in helping trafficking victims from outside of the United States obtain documentation to remain in the country to testify against their traffickers. The OAG and LVMPD s participation in the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), including involvement with community based NGOs, is an integral part of the investigative team and victim recovery process. Over the last six months, the OAG received two notable human trafficking complaints: On September 9, 2016, a Boulder City resident submitted a claim alleging that (1) a registered sex offender was sex trafficking Mexican women between the ages of and (2) the subjects involved were committing immigration fraud. The human trafficking investigator interviewed the complainant, the alleged victim and the suspect. Following a thorough investigation, OAG prosecutors determined that sex trafficking activity could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at that time. The immigration fraud information was forwarded to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. On January 4, 2017, a Las Vegas resident submitted a claim alleging that a local attorney was pandering or possibly sex trafficking. The complainant stated the attorney attempted to force her to work as a prostitute 38 years ago. This is not being investigated as it is well outside the statute of limitations. The allegation that similar criminal activity may be ongoing, however, will be investigated by the OAG Human Trafficking Investigator who has requested information related to the type of cases handled by the attorney over the past two years to determine if clients being represented by the attorney are involved in prostitution. The complainant was not contacted because this allegation is part of a larger complaint unrelated to sex trafficking. In addition to participating on the Vice and Sex Trafficking Investigations Unit, working with NGOs, and investigation tips provided directly to the OAG, the OAG s Human Sex Trafficking investigator attends training as opportunities and funding allows. In addition to receiving hands-on training related to conducting covert vice operations, the investigator has also completed training regarding (1) the successful use of online social networking for investigations and intelligence and (2) proactive investigation of child sex trafficking. 3

4 From a prosecutorial perspective, the OAG maintains sufficient personnel within the Bureau of Criminal Justice who contribute prosecution resources to this priority area. The OAG possesses the capability to dedicate prosecutors as required from Carson City, Reno, Ely and Las Vegas. OAG prosecutions received one favorable sentencing in the last six months: On May 5, 2016, a trafficker pled guilty to one count of coercion. State v. Wright, Clark County District Court Case No. C On October 18, 2016, he was sentenced to months (suspended), and up to four years probation. In addition to prosecuting matters referred to the OAG, our Bureau of Criminal Justice participates as a member in the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force. The Task Force is sponsored by the LVMPD and focuses on coordinating efforts between prosecutors, law enforcement and victim advocates in Clark County. III. Public Outreach and Educational Programs A. Fundraising Efforts for Nevada s Human Trafficking Contingency Account In 2013, Assembly Bill (AB) 311 was passed authorizing the Department of Health and Human Services to create a contingency account to allocate money to nonprofit corporations and agencies benefitting victims of human trafficking. The account is entirely donation based, and helps Nevada s human trafficking survivors obtain temporary housing, relocation and/or transportation costs in emergency situations. Under AG Laxalt s leadership, the OAG has cohosted two benefit dinners supporting victims of human trafficking, and through these dinners, has raised more than $76,000 in funds for the contingency account. The next fundraising dinner is scheduled to take place in July of B. Campaign for National Human Trafficking Awareness Month In January 2017, the OAG launched a television and radio campaign during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The campaign was aimed at promoting awareness for the above referenced human trafficking contingency account, including the availability of funds for temporary housing, relocation and/or transportation costs for human trafficking survivors. The announcements appeared on television and radio stations in both English and Spanish. Within the first two weeks of the campaign s launch, two requests from local non-profit organizations were made to obtain available funds to assist human trafficking survivors. C. Coalition to Prevent the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children On October 24, 2016, the Nevada Coalition to Prevent the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children held its first meeting in Reno. The meeting was attended by representatives from the court system, district attorneys offices, the OAG, state and local law enforcement, higher education representatives, local school districts and religious and community based organizations. As a result, five subcommittees were formed to address specific areas of concern. Chairpersons and co-chairpersons for each of the subcommittees were selected, and monthly meetings were scheduled. A brief description of each subcommittee follows: The Prevention & Awareness Subcommittee develops a means to raise awareness within the community with specific tools for each target group, such as parents of victims. Meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. beginning on January 19,

5 The Training Subcommittee gathers information on the current training available, develops training standards to be utilized statewide, and determines the most effective and efficient way to provide the necessary training. A survey is being provided to committee members to obtain information on what is available, what they themselves can provide, and how the training can be made available to entities statewide. Meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of every month from 9 to 10 a.m. beginning on January 12, The Engagement Subcommittee puts together the standardized screening tool to address first contact issues. These are issues facing juveniles during their initial contact and assessment by governmental and non-governmental agencies. The goal is to provide doctors, nurses, social workers and others involved in the assessment of juveniles suspected of being sexually exploited with a standardized and effective screening tool. Meetings are scheduled on various days and times beginning on January 17, The Care Coordination Subcommittee puts together a comprehensive list of resources available within the communities being served and determines the most effective way to connect the victims and their families with those resources. Meetings are scheduled for the last Tuesday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. beginning on January 31, The Data Analysis Subcommittee creates and manages a clearinghouse responsible for gathering, analyzing and sharing Commercially Sexually Exploited Children related data across various agencies. Meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of every month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. beginning on February 13, D. Children s Cabinet On February 1, 2017, the Children s Cabinet Center for Aspiring Youth and Cottage of Change will hold its grand opening in Sparks. The event will be attended by Governor Brian Sandoval, First Lady Kathleen Sandoval and Children s Cabinet Executive Director Michael Pomi. Invitations have been sent to other state offices and law enforcement agencies. The Center is a collaborated community effort to protect and provide youth who are homeless, aging out of foster care, neglected or in a threatening situation with a family-friendly living environment and wraparound services. E. Clark County Department of Family Services Collaboration The ongoing goal of our collaboration with the Department of Family Services (DFS) is to proactively investigate sex trafficking cases relating to children under DFS s care who are at risk of becoming victims. To further this goal, the OAG through its partnership with the LVMPD and in cooperation with DFS was able to coordinate training for DFS staff. The training improved overall understanding of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC), sex trafficking of juveniles in Clark County, the most common risk factors for CSEC victims, and effective screening tools to evaluate victims. LVMPD provided the training to 500 DFS staff members in December 2016 through four sessions that lasted four hours each. Additionally, a meeting will be held in the coming weeks to discuss the development and implementation of the screening tool that DFS will use during their initial contact with juvenile victims. Once DFS has developed and implemented an effective screening tool, it will be used to assess the needs of children brought to Child Haven. The screening tool will aid intake staff in determining an individual s risk of becoming a victim of sex trafficking, as well as identifying children who have already been victimized. The information obtained can be forwarded to the Southern Nevada Children s Assessment Center for use when a forensic interview is requested. 5