11 Men Arrested in Sting Operation Targeting Human Trafficking through Prostitution in Dubuque

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• 11 Men Arrested in Prostitution Sting in Dubuque
• The NAHT Needs Your Help to Ensure the Iowa Legislature Passes the Safe Harbor Bill (HF 2464)
• New Human Trafficking Trainer at Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
• Iowa Faith-Based Conference on Human Trafficking Draws 300 Participants
• Backpage Prosecutor Gives Insider View
• Report on the Role of Technology in Trafficking
• Information, Articles, and Resources

11 Men Arrested in Prostitution Sting in Dubuque

As part of a two-day sting operation targeting human trafficking through prostitution last month, 11 men were arrested.

The Dubuque County Treasurer Randy Wedewer was one of the 11 men arrested during the Dubuque Police, Dubuque County Sheriff, and Iowa State Patrol joint operation.

Court documents state that the operation consisted of undercover agents posting advertisements on social media sites offering sexual services for money and providing a location to the individuals that answered the advertisements.

Reports also indicate that at least one of the men was also charged with possession of drugs.

Others arrested include Vincent J. Hanson Jr., 59, of rural Dubuque; Timothy J. McAndrews, 57, of rural Dubuque; Kevin M. Bockenstedt, 41, of Sherrill, Iowa; Joshua J. Vondran, 40, of Epworth, Iowa; Ryan P. Besler, 21, of Farley, Iowa; Timothy Murphy, 55, of Peosta, Iowa; Jordan H. Watkins, 38, of Bellevue, Iowa; Timothy A. Griffin, 32, of Dickeyville, Wis.; Kevin Stanton, 63, of Cuba City, Wis.; and Craig A. Mason, 57, of Stoughton, Wis.
The criminal complaint about Wedewer said he paid $75 for a sex act after responding to the social media advertisement. He was then arrested after arriving at the hotel at 4:51 p.m.

Authorities noted that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges related to the sting are possible. For a KCCI 8 TV report tap here:  https://www.kcci.com/article/11-men-arrested-in-prostitution-sting-operation-in-dubuque-randy-wedewer/39058247

Iowa House advances Safe Harbor and Expungement legislation for trafficking survivors

Thanks to the House Judiciary Committee, Iowa is one step closer to enacting Safe Harbor legislation! This legislation is one of three NAHT legislative priorities for 2022. Thirty-one states already have passed Safe Harbor laws. Maggie Tinsman and the NAHT Legislative Advocacy Committee are working hard to make Iowa the 32nd Safe Harbor and expungement state. This bill will prevent the harmful and re-traumatizing effects of arrest and prosecution for crimes committed while a survivor was subject to human trafficking. This bill will help trafficking survivors ability to rebuild their life!

The Network Against Human Trafficking especially wants to thank Representative Steve Holt for his outstanding leadership on House File 2464. Today we were informed that Representative Holt has made this bill his number 1 priority! We ask all blog subscribers to please reach out and thank the following House members who have already voted ‘yea' to advance this bill to the House floor:

We ask all anti-trafficking advocates to help keep the momentum going!

The NAHT urges you to contact your state representative and ask them to support HF 2464 when it goes to the House floor for a vote. Identify your House representative and their contact info by entering your address here.

Key Talking Points to legislators:

• HF 2464 will prohibit the criminalization of survivors under 21 for prostitution and other offenses, ensuring they cannot be arrested, detained, or prosecuted for such offenses.
• To prevent the harmful and re-traumatizing effects of arrest and prosecution for crimes committed while they were trafficked, Iowa must enact comprehensive non-criminalization laws.
• “Non-criminalization” reflects the concept that “charging a child with a crime related to their own rape is not properly enshrined in the criminal code.”
• Sex trafficked youth are commonly compelled to commit juvenile and criminal offenses during their victimization. Criminal and juvenile records present detrimental challenges to the restoration and healing process for survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation.
• Juvenile records may result in school expulsion, denial of professional licenses, and denial of access to public benefits. Criminal records hinder survivors from obtaining employment, securing safe housing, taking out loans, and seeking education.
• These collateral consequences result in further victimization, including psychological harm, that may hinder a survivor's ability to rebuild their path into society.
• 31 states have already passed Safe Harbor laws including Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and North Dakota. Iowa must join this list! Please help the NAHT to get this legislation to the Governor's desk.

New Human Trafficking Trainer at Iowa Law Enforcement Academy

Jacqueline White is the newly hired Human Trafficking Instructor at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. What follows is Jacqueline's self-introduction:

“I am a former Military Police Officer, Correctional Officer, and Officer for the City of Huxley, IA with a combined experience of 8 years in Law Enforcement. I was the Grant Writer and Social Media Coordinator for the Huxley Police Department. I was one of 2 Officers in the department to coordinate, interview and investigate sex crimes for adults and children. I have been on the SART and DART Teams in Story County since 2017. I have a Bachelor of Social Work with Clinicals at Blank's Children's Hospital STAR Program in Forensic Interviewing. I assisted in the introduction of Protocols for Polk County Human Trafficking for Law Enforcement. I am involved with my community and I have volunteered with the YSS Shelter, CISS, Ballard School district, and have assisted in gathering diaper donations for Ruth Harbor. “

Jacqueline White's email address is [email protected].

Faith-Based Conference on Human Trafficking Draws 300 Participants

On Saturday, Feb. 5, Iowa's largest church, Lutheran Church of Hope (West Des Moines campus), sponsored Hope Against Trafficking Conference offering age-appropriate panels and breakout sessions on sex trafficking in Iowa. Special guests included Dorothy's House, Garden Gate Ranch, Wings of Refuge, Hope for Justice, Set Me Free Project, the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking, the Safe at Home-Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT), and author-speaker Raleigh Sadler (founder of Let My People Go). Around 300 people attended the conference. Dr. Joe Moravec, NAHT Board member, and Christy Johnson, Administrator of the Safe at Home/IBAT Programs are pictured at their exhibitor table.

Backpage Prosecutor Gives Insider View

The California prosecutor who initiated trafficking and money laundering cases against Backpage.com released a book in January about her experience. Full of details about legal strategies and how to build a team to go after the illicit ad sites used by traffickers, our analyst took a lot of notes! Read the full story here:
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/12/1072372496/new-book-details-how-california-prosecutors-took-down-sex-trafficking-site-backp

OSCE Report on the Role of Technology in Trafficking

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) just released a report on the need for modern policies and laws to catch up with the ways technology is used to facilitate trafficking. Much of the content applies to the U.S. as well, including the premise that self-regulation by online platforms has fallen short of what's needed to protect victims. To read more, tap here: https://www.osce.org/cthb/512281

Information, Articles, and Resources

• Article about human trafficking in China, in which Dr. George Belitsos is quoted. Click here to read the article. https://truthusa.us/opinions/behind-eileen-gus-smile-a-chained-woman-cries/
• Chained Chinese mother of 8 confirmed to be a human trafficking victim. Click here to learn more. https://www.yahoo.com/video/chained-chinese-mother-8-confirmed-223943100.html
• 11 men arrested in Dubuque for buying sex. Click here to read more. https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/breaking/article_5e754647-ef29-585b-bfb0-3fcdf3185a77.html
• Journal article: Trauma-coerced attachment and complex PTSD: informed care for survivors of human trafficking. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2021.2012386
• One-month-old HTTF arrests 3 IMI Leaders. Click here to learn more. https://www.kwch.com/2022/01/26/multiple-human-trafficking-suspects-taken-into-custody-after-warrants-served-six-shawnee-co-spas/
• CNN opinion: How doctors can help stop human trafficking while treating Covid. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/22/opinions/hanni-stoklosa-doctors-stop-human-trafficking-while-treating-covid-spc-intl/index.html
• Canadian 2 and a half minute video and information about a national child anti-trafficking campaign. https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/knowhumantrafficking-in-hot-spot-london-police-launch-awareness-campaign
• Operation targeting Arizona human trafficking-related crimes leads to 118 arrests. https://ktar.com/story/4896822/operation-targeting-valley-human-trafficking-related-crimes-leads-to-118-arrests/
• The role diversity, equity, and inclusion play in combatting human trafficking. https://www.unitedway.org/blog/the-role-diversity-equity-inclusion-plays-in-combatting-human-trafficking#
• Man faces nearly 40 charges in human trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. Click here to learn more. https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2022/02/flint-man-faces-nearly-40-charges-in-human-trafficking-of-15-year-old-girl.html
• Human trafficking under-reported. https://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/local/human-trafficking-under-reported/article_dc6414c8-9464-11ec-84e8-ab93a1cde45c.html

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