University of Rhode Island From the SelectedWorks of Donna M. Hughes October 18, 2014 Presentation, The Persistence of Slavery in Rhode Island: Human Trafficking in the Ocean State Donna M. Hughes, Dr., University of Rhode Island Rachel Dunham, University of Rhode Island Lucy Tillman, University of Rhode Island Available at: https://works.bepress.com/donna_hughes/39/
The Persistence of Slavery in Rhode Island: Human Trafficking in the Ocean State New England American Studies Association Roger Williams University, Oct 11, 2014 DONNA HUGHES, FAITH SKODMIN, RACHEL DUNHAM & LUCY TILLMAN (PRESENTERS)
University of Rhode Island Researchers Left to Right: Jessica Wainfor, Faith Skodmin, Lucy Tillman, Donna Hughes, Rachel Dunham
Introduction & Background Theme of conference: Emancipations: Lineages, Legacies, and Limits Our paper addresses the limitation of emancipation(s) Persistence of the act of forcing another person to perform labor or services for the benefit of another Today, slavery-like practices are called human trafficking Sometimes called modern-day slavery 2000: U.S. passed a federal law Trafficking Victims Protection Act Defining human trafficking in two forms --- forced labor & sex trafficking
US Federal definition of human trafficking Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000 The term severe forms of trafficking in persons means (A) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age (sex trafficking) B) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery (forced labor) Commercial sex act means any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.
Three New Laws Passed in Rhode Island in 2009 In 2009, three laws passed aimed at reducing human trafficking Prostitution recriminalized Comprehensive human trafficking law, including sex trafficking and forced labor Employment law banning hiring a minor for work in an adult entertainment establishment Enabled local, state, and federal law enforcement to investigate sex trafficking
Methods Primary Documents Police Departments Statements by police officers, defendants, & witnesses Court Documents U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island & the Superior Court of Rhode Island Indictments, plea agreements, & sentencing memoranda Media Newspaper and TV new coverage of cases Press releases from Rhode Island Attorney General s Office & the U.S. Attorney s Office All public records
Background of Victims 10 Victims of Sex Trafficking 5 minors, 5 adults Police indicated more victims in some cases, but did not identify 4 of 5 minors were runaways or reported missing 4 cases involved inter-state transportation 2 cases were intra-state or Rhode Island domestic trafficking 1 victim of forced labor Adult woman from Philippines
How victims were recruited in sex trafficking cases 2 cases, the traffickers recruited victims through online communication (US v Ardrey; US v Pope & Wales) 1 case, the trafficker promised the adult victim to find her a job (RI v Fakhoury & Defeis) 1 case, the trafficker convinced a runaway teen to engage in prostitution, even though she was a minor (RI v Frails)
How victims were recruited in sex trafficking cases 1 case, the trafficker recruited underage girls to work as exotic dancers, he later used them for prostitution (RI v Footman) 1 case, the trafficker recruited a runaway teen with the offer of a job (RI v Ferreira)
How victims were recruited in forced labor case Victim previously worked for accused trafficker in United Arab Emirates Accused trafficker brought the victim to come to RI
How victim were exploited: Forced labor case Only case of forced labor Federal criminal case and civil suit U.S. v Arif Mohamed Saeed Mohamed Al-Ali (2011) Accused trafficker brought victim to the U.S. to work as a domestic worker Care of 5 year old son Work 40 hours / week Paid $1600 / month
How victim were exploited: Forced labor case Forced to work 119 hours/week Maintain a 5 bedroom home & Care for 5 children Take out trash & wash the car; Clean the garage & yard Victim not allowed to leave the house without an escourt Passport seized Trafficker told her he would report her to the U.S. Navy if she ran away Paid her a total of $410 Trafficker was making $32,000 / month
Cases of sex trafficking 6 cases of sex trafficking 2 federal cases U.S v Nathan Pope & Jan Wales (2009) U.S. v Stephen Ardrey (2013) 4 state cases R.I. v Andy Fakhoury & Joseph DeFeis (2010) R.I. v Brandon Frails (2011) R.I. v Troy Footman (2014) Initially a federal case (2013) R.I. v Nicole Ferreira (2013)
How victims were exploited: Sex trafficking cases All 6 cases: the online prostitution ads used to solicit sex buyers 5 cases, traffickers used Backpage.com Prostitution advertisements: Sexually explicit photos Fake names False ages --- all older than the victims
How victims were exploited: Sex trafficking cases Ethnicity of a minor victim was advertised: Capverdian Paradise $50 Special Hello, My name is Jessica...I am 20 years old and willing to make your night wild...hit me up if u down to handle what I got (RI v Frails) A pretty and petite blond, age nineteen, available all day for upscale gentlemen looking to spend some time together (Fakhoury & Defeis) One case, the trafficker sold a 14 year old victim 45-50 times in 30-45 days Trafficker used violence, sexual violence, threats and psychological manipulation
How trafficking cases identified 6 cases of sex trafficking identified by professionals, citizens and mothers of victims 1 citizen recognized a missing teen from a missing person alert (U.S. Ardrey) 1 citizen complained about a disturbance in a hotel room; police later identified this as a case of sex trafficking (U.S. v Pope and Wales) 2 mothers contacted police, daughters were recognized on prostitution sites (R.I. v Fakhoury and DeFreis; R.I. v Ferreira)
How trafficking cases identified 1 staff member at a group home alerted police to runaway teen being trafficked (R.I. v Frails) Out-of-state police contacted local police about missing teen being trafficked at a Providence strip club (R.I. v Footman) 1 case of forced labor identified when victim escaped from trafficker &came police (U.S. v Al-Ali)
Outcomes of prosecutions Out of 6 cases of sex trafficking, 2 are still pending Out of 4 completed prosecutions, 6 traffickers were sentenced Longest sentence 20 years Federal case of labor of a domestic worker Criminal prosecution, accused trafficker found not-guilty Civil suit Defendant ordered to pay $1.2 million to victim Judges in criminal and civil case had differing opinions on the credibility of the victim
Conclusion Forced labor and sexual exploitation still exist in Rhode Island Now called human trafficking forced labor and sex trafficking Still requires passage of new laws to ensure the end of slavery Recriminalizing prostitution Passing new anti-human trafficking laws From 2009-2013 7 cases prosecuted, 6 sex trafficking, 1 forced labor Many other cases of sex trafficking known to exist Need increased awareness of forced labor, among citizens and law enforcement
Conclusion Role of the Internet in sex trafficking cases Online recruitment of victims; Use of online prostitution advertisements No sex buyers arrested in connection with sex trafficking cases More awareness about the importance of focusing on the demand men who buy sex