Department of Justice

The Department of Justice enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice.

Texas Man and Woman Indicted for Human Trafficking Offenses
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Texas Man and Woman Indicted for Human Trafficking Offenses

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on September 9, 2022 GREGORY MASSEY, age 28, and PATRICIA HART, age 24, were charged in an 11-count indictment by a federal grand jury for violations of the Federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, specifically, conspiracy to entice individuals to travel in interstate commerce…

Man Who Trafficked 13-Year-Old Out of Irving Hotel Sentenced to 11+ Years in Federal Prison
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Man Who Trafficked 13-Year-Old Out of Irving Hotel Sentenced to 11+ Years in Federal Prison

A 36-year-old man who trafficked a 13-year-old girl out of a hotel room in Irving was sentenced Wednesday to more than 11 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham. Curtis Vance Mathis was indicted in December 2019 and pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of children in…

Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking
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Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 6, 2022 ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, in August 2020, Charles William Dexter III, 41, recruited a 14-year-old minor to engage in commercial sex acts for his benefit. Dexter…

Fugitive Extradited from Mexico Sentenced for Role in Prostitution Scheme
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Fugitive Extradited from Mexico Sentenced for Role in Prostitution Scheme

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A man who was extradited from Mexico to face charges in the United States was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for aiding and abetting the transportation of a woman for purposes of prostitution. According to court documents, from 2009 to 2010, Ramon Raudel Campos Murillo, 45, of Michoacan, Mexico, along…

U.S. Attorney Charges Former Rockland County Coach With Transporting Minors To Engage In Illegal Sexual Activity
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U.S. Attorney Charges Former Rockland County Coach With Transporting Minors To Engage In Illegal Sexual Activity

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging VICTOR BYRNE, 56, with transporting two minors to engage in illegal sexual activity in 2006 and 2008.  BYRNE was arrested this morning in Orlando, Florida and presented in Orlando federal court. U.S. Attorney Damian…

Jury convicts final defendant in Scioto County human trafficking operation involving drugs exchanged for sexual access to children
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Jury convicts final defendant in Scioto County human trafficking operation involving drugs exchanged for sexual access to children

COLUMBUS, Ohio – All 11 defendants charged federally in a Scioto County child sex trafficking operation have been convicted. A federal grand jury originally indicted Larry Dean Porter, 71, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and several of his family members and associates in June 2020. Porter exchanged drugs obtained in Columbus and elsewhere for sexual access to…

Washington residents convicted of transporting Mexican nationals who crossed illegally into United States from Canada
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Washington residents convicted of transporting Mexican nationals who crossed illegally into United States from Canada

MISSOULA — Two Washington residents suspected of picking up six Mexican nationals who crossed illegally into the United States from Canada through a remote area in Lincoln County were convicted of charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. A federal jury convicted Miguel Angel Medina, 62, of Seattle, Washington, on Aug. 23 of transportation of…

Illinois Family Charged with Kidnapping, Forced Labor, and Conspiracy for Coercing Two Minors and a Third Victim in Years-Long Forced Labor Scheme
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Illinois Family Charged with Kidnapping, Forced Labor, and Conspiracy for Coercing Two Minors and a Third Victim in Years-Long Forced Labor Scheme

A federal grand jury in the Central District of Illinois returned a nine-count indictment charging Domingo Francisco-Juan, Lorenza Domingo-Castaneda, and Catarina Domingo-Juan, siblings and Guatemalan nationals, with conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and kidnapping. According to the allegations set forth in the indictment, between December 2015 and March 2021…

Connecticut Man Indicted in Human Smuggling Conspiracy
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Connecticut Man Indicted in Human Smuggling Conspiracy

BOSTON – A Connecticut man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Worcester for conspiracy to commit human smuggling offenses. Fagner Chaves De Lima, 41, of East Hartford, Conn., was indicted on one count of attempted human smuggling. De Lima was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint with one count of attempted…

FBI Announces Results of Nationwide Sex Trafficking Operation
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FBI Announces Results of Nationwide Sex Trafficking Operation

The FBI, working with its state and local partners during two weeks in August, identified and located 84 minor victims of child sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation offenses and located 37 actively missing children during a nationwide enforcement campaign, dubbed “Operation Cross Country.” “The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power…