21 arrested in Utah human trafficking sting, some victims trafficked through social media

Utah authorities have arrested 21 people concerned in a large-scale human trafficking sting. 

The Utah County Sheriff’s Workplace (UCSO), in collaboration with seven different Utah police departments, Federal Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) and the Utah Lawyer Common’s Workplace, rescued three trafficking victims throughout their operation carried out between Feb. 14-17.

Some victims have been trafficked by way of social media, although UCSO instructed Fox Information Digital it couldn’t disclose which platforms resulting from ongoing investigations. The sheriff’s workplace famous that some are “less-known or less-used” social platforms.

One of many three rescued victims included an 18-year-old Honduran immigrant.

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He had sought assist from suspects who finally “took his passport and his cellphone and compelled him into human trafficking intercourse operations and wouldn’t let him go,” Utah County Sheriff’s Workplace Public Data Officer Sgt. Spencer Cannon mentioned.

“This younger man thought he was working to earn his freedom. He spoke nearly no English and felt trapped with no manner out,” Cannon continued.

Among the male suspects concerned within the case traveled to satisfy youngsters for intercourse. One suspect had ropes, intercourse toys and lingerie in his possession when he was arrested, FOX 13 first reported.

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A forensic examination of eight cell telephones allowed regulation enforcement to determine a number of potential victims, traffickers and a witness who cooperated with authorities.

Comply with-up forensic examination of eight cell telephones recognized a number of potential victims, traffickers and a cooperating witness in a present human trafficking case being investigated by Unified Police Division.

Utah County Jail.
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Utah Lawyer Common Sean Reyes’ workplace issued a press release Thursday saying it’s “observing a rising variety of teenagers are placing themselves at risk” on social media “by getting concerned with strangers who fake to be pleasant however who’re, in actuality, harmful.”

“Younger individuals will not be totally conscious of the danger concerned,” the discharge states.

The first focus of the operation was to determine and rescue victims of human trafficking or intercourse trafficking, USCO mentioned. An investigation into the trafficking case is ongoing.