DOJ

Understanding and Pursuing Labor Trafficking Cases Collaboratively – MDPI
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Understanding and Pursuing Labor Trafficking Cases Collaboratively – MDPI

1. Introduction The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was introduced in 2000, defining sex and labor trafficking and creating criminal statutes to facilitate investigations, prosecutions, and provide victim services in the United States [1]. Despite the TVPA, most local law enforcement agencies required years to begin investigating street level prostitution and residential brothels as potential…

Philippine multi-agency effort vs human trafficking lauded
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Philippine multi-agency effort vs human trafficking lauded

MANILA, Philippines — The recent move by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other government agencies to undertake an intensified effort for the country’s fight against human trafficking that victimizes overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is being lauded as a “welcome development”. According to lawyer Jose Vicente Salazar, the multi-agency effort comes at…

Micronesian Couple Sentenced for Withholding Passports to Coerce Labor of Two Men in Meat Processing Plant
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Micronesian Couple Sentenced for Withholding Passports to Coerce Labor of Two Men in Meat Processing Plant

U.S. District Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced defendants Nesly Mwarecheong, 46, and Bertino Weires, 51, U.S. residents and Federated States of Micronesia citizens, to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and nearly $70,000 in restitution to the victims for withholding passports to coerce labor of two men in a…

Superseding Indictment Charges Wisconsin Man with Sex and Labor Trafficking, Production of Child Pornography, more
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Superseding Indictment Charges Wisconsin Man with Sex and Labor Trafficking, Production of Child Pornography, more

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin returned a superseding indictment charging a Wisconsin man with labor and sex trafficking, production of child pornography and money laundering. The superseding nine-count indictment charges Austin Koeckeritz, 29, with forced labor, sex trafficking by force, sex trafficking of a minor, interstate travel with the intent…

Owner of Boston Pizzeria Chain Arrested on Forced Labor Charges – Department of Justice
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Owner of Boston Pizzeria Chain Arrested on Forced Labor Charges – Department of Justice

BOSTON – The owner of Stash’s Pizza was arrested this morning on forced labor charges for allegedly employing a victim who lacked immigration status and forcing him to work for years while threatening him with deportation and subjecting him to repeated verbal and physical abuse.   Stavros Papantoniadis, a/k/a “Steve Papantoniadis,” 47, of Westwood, was…

Massachusetts pizza shop owner arrested for forced labor charge
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Massachusetts pizza shop owner arrested for forced labor charge

BOSTON (WWLP) – The owner of a Boston pizzeria chain was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly forcing an employee that lacked immigration status to work, threatening him with deportation as well as verbal and physical abuse. Stavros Papantoniadis, 47, of Westwood, owner of Stash’s Pizza, has been charged with one count of forced labor. He…

DHS and DOJ Announce Historic Guatemalan Human Smuggling Extraditions
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DHS and DOJ Announce Historic Guatemalan Human Smuggling Extraditions

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security joined the U.S. Department of Justice yesterday to announce the first ever extraditions from Guatemala to the United States on charges of human smuggling resulting in death, and the first Guatemalan human smuggling extraditions to the United States of any kind in nearly five years. This announcement…

Leader of Waycross-area drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to decades in federal prison
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Leader of Waycross-area drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to decades in federal prison

WAYCROSS, GA:  The leader of a south Georgia fentanyl- and heroin-trafficking operation linked to drug overdose deaths has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison. Eric Lashawn Hayes, a/k/a “Pee Wee,” 39, of Blackshear, Ga., was sentenced to 262 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in…

IBP confers lifetime achievement award on former president | The Manila Times
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IBP confers lifetime achievement award on former president | The Manila Times

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has recognized the distinguished leadership of one of its former national presidents, Jose Vicente Salazar, who was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the group. A known anti-human trafficking advocate, Salazar was recognized for his “selfless, dedicated, and invaluable service rendered to,…

Mercyhurst senior makes worldwide impact through Anti-Human Trafficking Club
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Mercyhurst senior makes worldwide impact through Anti-Human Trafficking Club

Samantha Strom is working toward becoming a real-life David Rossi. Or at least, she was inspired by the fictional FBI agent’s work on the crime drama “Criminal Minds” to pursue a career in federal law enforcement. “I loved watching all the crime shows growing up and I figured that was going to be a way…