MillionKids.org: Recent Episodes
Million Kids
The global authority on news, trends, technology and the impact on human exploitation and trafficking. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/million-kids/support
Million Kids has been educating the public about sex trafficking for over 14 years now. We have seen many changes taking place in how predators and pimpsoperate, how they recruit innocent victims, and how they control a victim once they have brought them into a life of sex trafficking. During the past 12 months, we have witnessed historic changes in the crime of sex trafficking in ways that we could not have imagined even three years ago. The scale and scope of sex trafficking in California has reached a level that simply overwhelms the mind.
There are several factors driving these changes. Over the past 3 years we have experienced an onslaught of sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence, mass audience live streaming, global digital currency, geolocation software tied to dating sites, and offshore (bulletproof hosting) servers that masks the identity of site hosting. Each of these technologies empowers the criminal element, and increases the likelihood that a young person can be accessed, groomed, recruited and exploited by pimps, gangs and predators.
At the same time, California created legislation that made it difficult for law enforcement to intervene in loitering for street prostitution as well creating an open border environment where literally millions of individuals are entering our country without proper vetting. Simultaneously, California is host to some of the largest homeless populations in the nation, creating an environment where homeless individuals can be easily exploited by pimps and cartels.
Million Kids is committed to continuing to educate and combat sex trafficking in our communities. With the financial assistance of our donors and their prayer support, together we form a team of experts and advocates, that say enough is enough.
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Sextortion has long been recognized as a hideous crime where individuals are lured into sending a nude or illicit image to a salacious new friend online and theblackmail begins. Historically, sextortion often focused on young girls and that were coerced into continuing to send nude and erotic photos to their online blackmailers. Those photos were used by underground pedophiles tobuy, sell and trade images of pedophilia in the dark web or peer to peer networks.
With the onset of global 5G High Speed Internet connection, the crime of sextortion has become prolific and egregious almost beyond comprehension. Young and old alike are the latest victims of digital financial sextortion. The financial blackmail often targets young teen males with devastating impact onthe victim and their families. However, elderly individuals seekingonline relationships or to sell timeshare investments can also be easy targets.
A recent Threat Intelligence Report, issued by Network Contagion Research Institute stated that "they have observed an exponential increase in sextortion cases targeting minors and youth on social media platforms over the past 18 months. " One of the statistics they quoted was based on a national survey in the U.S. "51%of Gen Z teens and young adults said they or their friends were catfished in online sextortion scams resulting in theirintimate photos being used against them"
The Million Kids Team find this new development greatly concerning. There is an urgent need to educate youth and adults about the devastating nature of global digital financial sextortion rings originating out of poor third world countries. During this podcast, we will address specific activities and how global criminal organizations use apps like Instagram, Snapchat and Wizz to access, groom, entice and exploit young and old alike.
The audience will also be invited to join forces with Million Kids to create programs for prevention and intervention of sextortion.
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THE ACCELERATING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY AND MAKING SENSE OF : MASS AUDIENCE LIVE STREAMING GLOBAL DIGITAL CURRENCY GEO LOCATION SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Gone are the days when our kids talk to only people they know online. The past several months have seen an expansion (and explosion) of technologies that it is hard to keep up with. Mass audience live streaming, global digital currency, artificial intelligence, geo location software impacts our kids and puts them on a global stage communicating with thousands of people they will most likely never meet. To get a grasp of just how big the global online community is Opal did some research. Check this out. Fortnite has 500 Million active accounts.Roblox has 70 million active daily users.Roblox has 300 million monthly active users60% of Roblox users are under 16 yrs old - 52% are males.Tik Tok has 1.2 Billion users- 150 million users in the U.S.20% of Tik Tok users in U.S are under 17 yrs. old = 30 million usersX (Twitter) has 368 million active users.Reddit has 430 million active users.Snapchat has 750 million active users. This generation of young people will have the greatest challenge to parent of all time. Everyday, our kids go online where they are connected to hundreds of people they have never met. How can they tell if they are talking to a good guy or a bad guy (or girl)? What is the likelihood that child will meet up with an online predator and even more important, what are the chances they will recognize they are talking to a potential criminal and know how to protect themselves?
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Recently, the DEA, along with Law Enforcement Agencies in Riverside City and County, announced a major fentanyl bust worth more than $16 million. "Operation Hotline Bling" dealt a major blow to the Sinaloa Cartels culminating in at least 15 arrests and a monumental seizure of illicit drugs.
According to the DEA, for the first time in history, fatal overdoses reached 112,000 deaths. Young people and people of color being among the hardest hit. According to an article published by Michael McManus for FAIR, fentanyl is rapidly replacing heroin as the drug cartels are using to make money. Fentanyl is attractive to the cartels because of the massive profit margin, with just $50,000 in production costs, generating more than $ 20 million inincome.
This week's episode looks at the impact of fentanyl, meth and other illicit drugs on our communities, our kids and the homeless population.
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The past two years has brought a plethora of technological advances that is enough to make our heads spin. Only when you step back and examine all the typesof technology advancements can you begin to understand the impact on our day to day lives and how to prepare our young people to live in a global online community.
The FBI and Child Crime Prevention and Safety Center state that there are over 500,000 pedophiles online at any given time. They also state that more than 50% of victims are ages 12-15 years old. Approximately 90% ofcontacts with victims of online sexual exploitation where contacted through chat rooms and instant messaging apps.
This episode, Opal Singleton, the host of "Exploited: Crimes and Technologies" explores the vast array of technology advancements that impact our day to day lives. These include, artificial intelligence, geo location software, digital currency, mass audience live streaming and the explosion of the number of new young users of inexpensive tablets.
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Did you know that every week Million Kids publishes all the latest information, stories, trends, technologies, legislation, arrests and prosecutions etc related to sex and labor trafficking and social media exploitation. It is one of the most comprehensive information resources available for anyone interested in combating these crimes. To sign up to receive this resource, simply go to www.Millionkids.org and subscribe.
Opal Singleton, Host of Exploited: Crimes and Technologies is going to talk about several intriguingscenarios that are in the news.
The BBC just released information gathered by the IWF(Internet Watch Foundation) that discovered more than 2000 remotely filmed child abuse images of three to six year old children online. Many of these images were self-generated where a child is persuaded, coerced, or tricked by a predator into carrying out acts via webcam or handheld device.
The research further reveals that a third of parents whosefive to seven-year-olds browse social media are allowed to do so alone. The watchdog group “Ofcom” revealed that almost one quarter of children aged five to seven have a smartphone of their own.
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Opal Singleton is the author of a book with the same title that shares about how predators use online relationships to create a false narrative about engaging in a caring and supportive relationships, then using that fantasy to groom and exploit their victims. The basics of online seduction are still the same but technology transformations have greatly accelerated the access to victims, facilitated payment processes for blackmailers, and artificial intelligence now allows the ability to alter images erotically and begin a blackmail process for completely uninvolved and innocent victims.
Global technology connections means that cartels around the globe can access, groom, recruit and exploit our kids. There is an urgent need for parents and grandparents to help teens (and anyone with an online device) to understand how sending ANY kind of image/video or erotic live streaming can change their lives forever. What looks like a cute young guy/girl can easily be an organizedcriminal unit consisting of a chatter and a group of thugs looking to destroy their lives forever. We must educate everyone, that ANYONE WHO IS ASKING FOR A NUDE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.
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Fear is an interesting emotion. Fear can be a greatmotivator or it can paralyze you, or even seduce you into making questionable and knee jerk decisions. With informed and well thought out solutions, fear cankeep you safe. Fear can be generated from your own “self talk” like “I am not good enough or I will probably screw this up again”.
With 24 hour news and social media we are bombarded by the minute with fear based headlines.
Media of alltypes have perfected a fear based dictionary using familiar phrases like:
A Tragic End
No one is Safe
Deadly car crash.
Celeb speaks out on divorce.
Threatens to ouster
Shuts down production
Inflation is soaring
Cost of living is skyrocketing
Cancer scare
During this weeks show, Opal Singleton examineS the power of fear. We talk about the need to teach ourkids the positive and negatives of fear and how to use it wisely in decision processes. This is especially importantfor a generation of young people online that will seduced, manipulated and even threatened online. Making the right decision online, especially in a time of crisis or threats can be the difference in staying safe online or being compromised.
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There is a new phenomenon that will eventually affect most of our lives, and yet it seems to be getting little attention. We now live our lives on a global level and while that may have many good advantages, it also comes with a high level likelihood that all of us, including our kidswill be exposed to global organized criminal organizations without ever leaving our homes.
In the past few months, we have read about thousands of cases where people are being scammed by nefarious telemarketing scams from Mexico, Philippines, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Pakistan. Few of us understand whothey are, how they operate, how to tell if you are talking to a scammer and most important what to do or not do if you become a target of their operations.
This week, Opal will discuss four different cases of overseas telemarketing scammers that has changed peoples lives forever.
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Never in our lifetime have we as a society experienced so much change related to technology. The past two years are unprecedented for a technology transformation.
Over the past twenty-four to thirty-six months, we have watched as new technologies like mass audience live streaming, artificial intelligence, digital currencies, geo location software, and global 5G high speed internet have created global access to our children, and created a technology complexity that challenges even the most tech savvy parent.
During this week's podcast, Opal Singleton discusses a variety of topics, techniques and challenges in creating healthy and informative dialogue about technology with your teenager. We discuss topics, like: “If your child sent or received a nude image from a someone they know or even a stranger, would they tell you?”.
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Tonya Holt is a very special lady who has worked alongside Million Kids for several years in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators. Tonya lives in the Bakersfield, CA area and she and her husband David serve in Oildale at the Church Without Walls. Tonya is a Pastoral Counselor and the area the church serves is rampant with drug use, homelessness and many challenges related to mental health and addiction. Tonya shares her experiences and perspective about how to assist others that may seem challenging to most of us.
Tonya is also a credentialed life & recovery coach, and she shares some ideas for parents in how to interact with young people so they will be able to grow up with good cognitive thinking skills and have empathy for others.
Here is a list of values that Tonya feels is important to have conversations about with your kids.
Key Things to TeachKids:
Empathy
Values
What are their Strengths?
Dignity
Respect for themselves
Respect for Others
Intuition
Finding Purpose & Meaning
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Adults all over the world ask the same question. What is it about today’s young people that makes them think it is ok to send a “nude” to a total stranger.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reports that they have processed more than 30 million potential reports of online child nudity or sexual abuse materials. After researching many of those report NCMEC states that they researched around 13,000 cases of online blackmail (sextortion) related to images, videos or live streaming of minors with potentially harmful materials online.
With the onset of Artificial Intelligence (AI), anyone andeveryone is at risk of having a perfectly innocent photo of themselves altered in such a way that a pedophile, predator or organized crime can demand a ransomto remove it. But the scenario becomesexponentially worse if the young person is seduced into sending or sharing an erotic image or live stream. As theentire world is connected by high speed 5 G internet, criminal individuals and organized crime can access, groom, recruit and exploit any young person in theU.S.
At Million Kids, we have been combating sex trafficking and social media exploitation for nearly 15 years.
We want to share with young people everywhere the following message...
IF SOMEONE IS ASKING FOR AN IMAGE OR VIDEO OR LIVESTREAM THAT WOULD EMBARRASS YOU OR YOUR FAMILY IF IT WAS SHOWN ON A BILLBOARD IN YOUR HOMETOWN OR SCHOOL –
DON'T DO IT - THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!
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According to California Senator Shannon Grove:“California is a hot bed for human trafficking and consistently ranks number one in cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Human trafficking is among the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150 billion-a-year global industry”.
Southern California often leads the nation in the number of cases.
After the passage of SB357 introduced by Senator ScottWeiner (D) and signed by Governor Newsom, California has experienced a huge increase in the number of individuals being brought in from other states andcountries to solicit for commercial sex on the our streets, This solicitation often takes place in front of businesses, schools and places of worship. This bill was labeled the California Safer Streets Act, and frankly nothing could have been further from the truth.
Senator Shannon Grove is asking for individuals,organizations and corporations to join with them to help Sacramento legislators understand and support the effort to make it a felony to solicit, agree to engage in, orengage in any act of commercial sex with a minor. SB1414
Senator Kelly Seyarto has introduced SB 1219 which will establish the act of loitering in a public place and impeding traffic with the intent to direct or solicitprostitution forms of disorderly conduct.
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Many people are not aware of just how violent and serious sextrafficking is in the Inland Empire. During this week's show we examine the latest case involving serious injury to young girls that were being coerced and exploited by a now convicted pimp, 35 year old Christian Scott Meeks.
During the testimony at the sentencing hearing, it was disclosed that Meeks assaulted vulnerable young women who refused to work for him in commercial sex. Multiple victims testified to having received violent attacks includingone victim who said that Meeks beat her so bad she was unconscious.
This case is a great example of the excellent work of theRiverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force, led by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the Riverside County Prosecutors and District Attorney's Office to take a violent menace off the streets and ensure that heis prosecuted and sentenced for very heinous crimes. Great work!
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This week, Opal Singleton has an exceptional guest, Michelle Balderas, Rock Church in San Bernardino. Together they talk about the plans for an event to educate parents and teens about raising the awareness onthe dangers associated with social media. This event is designed to provide breakout sessions for teens and parents from some of the leading experts on human trafficking, social media exploitation, sextortion, self-defense, andtechnology hazards and safeguards. Most important, the event will open the eyes of the participants about how to live powerfully and with hope in a world that is experiencing a technology transformation. Participants will leave withknowledge, tools, resources and a message of hope from the Rock Church leaders.
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In this show we continue our series on sharing our research on the latest trend in sextortion schemes that mercilesslytarget our teens, most are males. The perpetrators are from third world countries that now have sophisticated high-tech apps, dating sites, video gaming chat rooms and money transfer capability, where they can meet kids and seduce them intoexchanging illicit images. This is all about making money and lots of it.
Opal Singleton has been conducting research and comparative studies of these cases, where some of the victims have panicked and taken their own lives. Once the victim has shared an illicit image the blackmail begins. In some cases, the victim actually sent the money and/or blocked the communication, but thecriminals are brutal. They continue to demand money, suggest the victim should take their own lives, and promise to destroy the victim if they don’t comply.
These cases are heartbreaking. As technology capabilities expand to poor countries around the globe and as AI will be used to alter images, this type of blackmail will become common place. It is CRITICAL, that we understand this crime, and educate parents, grandparents and school personnel about how this crime takes place and how to help a potential victim so they are empowered to report and provide information so lawenforcement can educate and prosecute predators, even if they are halfway around the world. Most important, we must prepare our kids so that when they become a victim, they will not panicand make life-changing decisions.
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This episode is about young male victims of sextortion. They will panic and take their own lives. In the case of Tevan Tobler, he was being black mailed by a global underground criminal organization from the Ivory Coast. This trend has and willbecome more prevalent as the entire world is connected by internet
We are also seeing Al used to alter images and voices to exploit our youth.
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Foster youth are some of the most creative and resilient youngpeople in our communities. They often overcome incredible odds. However, foster youth also face some of the greatest challenges of any one in our society. Most foster youth experience feelings of abandonment, trauma, and struggle to find the important feeling of inclusion and stability that manyof us take for granted.
This week our guest is Deena Murray. For many yearsDeena has provided marketing and events planning services to Million Kids. Even more awe inspiring is that Deena and her husband Bob, have raised and adopted 12 foster kids. Deena will share with us some of the challenges in raising foster kids and help all of us understand why foster youth are so vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking and socialmedia exploitation.
If you want to make a difference in a foster youth's life,consider supporting the Million Kids Foster Youth Bedding Program. A $50.00 donation will provide a brand new comforter, with matching sheets and a fun toy or decorating item. Go to MillionKids.org and donate.
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HOW TO HELP A FOSTER CHILD:
Join the bedding drive with Million Kids- either donate orhelp us shop!
Subscribe to MillionKids MissingKids at Millionkids.org
Support foster families in your church or socialorganization
Purchase sporting outfits or dance outfits for foster kids-as directed by the foster parent.
Help the foster parent throw a big birthday bash for theirfoster child.
Decorate an apartment for a transitioning foster teen.
Help a transitioning foster teen get a job or apply for ascholarship.
Provide scholarships for a foster child.
Foster Kids are one of the most vulnerablepopulations for trafficking or online exploitation. This program is one way to make life easier for them.
Last year, Million Kids supporters donated cashfor bedding for foster kids and it was a raging success. We want to out- do ourselves this year. With each $50.00donation, each child will receive a very special twin comforter, matching sheets, a decorator item and an “Ibelieve in You” challenge coin. That will be sure to bring a smile. Please consider donating or helping us shopand let’s break the record for number of kids we can make happy. For questions contact Opal at Opal@Millionkids.org.
DON’T WAIT! TODAY IS THE DAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
GO TO MILLIONKIDS.ORG AND DONATE
BE SURE TO PUT “FOSTER CHILD BEDDING PROGRAM” IN THE NOTES.
THE FIRST NIGHT IN FOSTER CARE IS REALLY SCARY. THESE COMFORTERS WILL HELP THEMFEEL SAFE. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
According to several human trafficking experts,more than 50% of youth in sex trafficking came from the foster care system. According to Childrens LawCenter, on any given day there are nearly 437,000 children in foster care and approximately 60,000 foster children in California.
Childrens without family support are easy preyfor sex traffickers. Foster kids often feel detached and have a hard time feeling as if someone really cares aboutthem or that they are “special”. At the same time, they are losing connection with their family, they also losematerial goodies that makes them feel successful.
While we may not be able to change their lifecircumstances, Million Kids feels that making a child feel valuable and recognized is one of the keys to helping them navigate the challenges of their lives. That is why we conduct the “Foster Child bedding program each year”. A $50 or $75.00 donation allows us to shop and buy really, really “cool” stuff. Each child will receive a Twin (or Twin XL) decorator comforter with complimentary sheets and a unique and very special decorator item.
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Have you ever wondered how some folks seem to be healthy,mature adults with great attitudes and excellent decision-making skills and then others seem fearful, anxious, immature, dominating or extremely negative and seem to make poor choices? Another scenario is when parents are frustrated and concerned that their child will be easily groomed for sextortion or sex trafficking because they seem needy anddependent on others for happiness and insist on choosing very manipulative relationships.
Life is about choices. Life is certainly unfair. Some people seemingly are given everything while others are born into unstable situations where it is a daily challenge just to survive, let alonethrive. Having worked with thousands of individuals (parents and kids) one thing I have learned is that today is achoice.
One of the greatest gifts a parent/grandparent can give a child is helping them understand how to make solid cognitive decisions that will be healthy for them and their future. Every day is a gift. We can choose to be happy. We can choose that we are going to make the most out of each day. We can choose to be valuable. Once a child understands that self esteem is a decision THEY make, a gift THEY give themselves, they are much more likely to make healthy decisions and willbe far more difficult to be recruited or groomed into exploitation.
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Human trafficking often strikes us as being rare and extremely and many people believe that mostly happens in third worldcountries. Certainly, it is true that for many third world countries, many people live in poverty and often their children are kidnapped or seduced into situations where they believe everyone will have a better life.
However, human trafficking is also very prevalent in the U.S. and California is most often the number one state for cases. The victims and perpetrators are diverse in how they operate, but the one thing every case has in common is that victims are exploited in ways that makes it very difficult for them to recover.
During this show we will talk about the many types of trafficking and pimping. We will look at family pimping, guerilla pimping, boyfriend pimping, that takes place here in the Inland Empire. We will also explore how foreign national trafficking is taking place in our communities. And we will look at how foreign national trafficking is often connected to other crimes including minor labor trafficking, fraudulent credit card trafficking, large scale shop lifting rings, stolen vehicles, and illegal potgrows.
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January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Human Trafficking is the commercial exploitation of individuals through force, fraud or coercion. The most common type of trafficking encountered is sextrafficking. Nearly half of people trafficked in California are U.S. Citizens. However, the foreign-born share of trafficked people has risen dramatically from 36% to 54%.
For the past ten years, Million Kids has served as the Training and Outreach Coordinator for the Riverside County (Sheriff) Anti Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT). We believe it is important to educate parents and teens about how predators access, groom, recruit and exploit unsuspecting youngpeople.
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As we prepare for 2024, we are all acutely aware that our world and nation is in a place that most of us have never known before. Nations around the globe are at war. Our owncountry is literally without borders and we wonder how long we can remain a sovereign nation as millions of unknown people from all over the world enter our country. As we look around or read social media it seems that homelessness is everywhere and crime is surging in our stores and neighborhoods. Some times we wonder where this is headed and how it will affect our personal lives.
The "Unknown" has been with us since birth. It can create anxiety and stress, but it can also be exciting and challenge us to new heights. The year 2024 will bring opportunities and implore us to find the best in ourselves and others. It is a time to identify our values as individuals, and as a family. It is also a time to make a list of all that we are grateful for.
Million Kids is grateful for each and every one of our followers and supporters. We appreciate your prayers. We appreciate your support. We are excited as we go into the Unknown in 2024.
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Cell Phone Forensics Services
Social Media Analysis Services
Million Kids started the Missing Kids program in 2014 and since then we have sent out tens of thousands of flyers and been involved in the location and return of many missing kids. When a child goes missing, it is one of themost dangerous situations for everyone involved.
Parents feel angry, helpless and frustrated that they do not know how to locate the child. They fear potential situationsthat the child might be facing. The missing minor is often in real danger whether they are with someone they metonline or trying to find their way out on the street without awareness of just how devastating pimps, pedophiles and predators can change their lives.
Million Kids will be expanding our services for parents who want to have a cell phone analyzed for potential blackmail, negative communications or use of apps or direct messaging that may represent danger to their child. We will also offer a social media analysis services to helpparents understand all the social media communications their child is engaging in that might represent danger to themselves or others.
Contact us at info@millionkids.org for more information.
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Holidays are important in our lives. It is a timeof assessment, a time to look around us and realize all that we know and love and how much people mean to us. For some, it is a time of seriousness as we miss those that are no longer in our lives. We take stock of what is importantand what we would like to change.
Gratitude is one of the most powerful anecdotes to stress and fear. It is the expression of appreciation for what one has. Not necessarily for what we “possess” but rather a recognition that God has blessed us greatly far beyond what we deserve. One of the most important values parents and grandparents can instill in their children is the gift of gratitude.
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Sometimes I hear people say the world is becoming a scaryplace. Working in a world where we combat sex trafficking and social media exploitation, I could not agreemore. The Federal Trade Commission states that older adults (55-64 yrs. old) lost nearly $139 million in romance scams in 2020.
Almost daily we hear new dire warnings about protectingourselves from “deep fakes” created by global predators using AI -artificial intelligence, to alter the image or voice or online content to blackmail and extort innocent individuals all around the world, as technology progresses it is critical to educate our kids (and our parents) about how foreign national criminal organizations will use AI to exploit young and old alike.
What to do if you think you are being blackmailed.
Agree on a family code word so you can verify it is who youthink you are reporting to.
Block the app or online access and stop all communication.
Do not alert the potential predator you are going to reportit.
Do not delete the photos or videos. If possible, screen shot them.
Even if the images are embarrassing or incriminating, it isimportant to save them.
Never pay blackmail money as you will never HAVE enough money to appease them.
Never send money to someone you met online, no matter howlegitimate it sounds.
Change all your passwords immediately.
Do not accept emails or text messages from someone you don’t know.
Predators have many personas, email addresses, and ways toimpersonate others.
Never click on a link or attachment from someone you don’tknow.
Do not send more photos, as the predator will insist on moreincriminating materials.
Go immediately to law enforcement and ask to open a report.
Get counseling for yourself and if appropriate other familymembers including children.
Tell another person what is happening and where you are atall times.
Take extra precautions for your own personal safety.
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WARNING:THE FOLLOWING LINKS CONTAIN DISTURBING MATERIAL AND SHOULD ONLY BE VIEWED BYADULTS.
MILLION KIDS SAYS THIS IS THE “PERFECT STORM” FOR HUMAN EXPLOITATION.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Nb30xZyMg Prostitution in National City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Y8zVE7Yns
PROSTITUTION IN LOS ANGELES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A91O7DtxXVc
Prostitution in Salinas, California
History of SB 357, what it is and what it was representedas:
Understanding the difference between commercial sex andvictims of sex trafficking.
Any attempt to repeal it will be met with strong opposition– Senator Weiner.
Problem when combined with an open border:
Asian Brothels
Hispanic Brothels
U.S. Women being brought in from out of the area.
Our kids being recruited by gangs who are connected tocartels.
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According to the California Attorney General’s Office therewere on average 450 missing children in Riverside County last year. There are many factors on why teens run away from home including online enticement, bullying, family conflict, pregnancy, to be with a friend or romantic interest, gang involvement, sexual abuse, or lack of acceptance of gender identity or sexual orientation. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children states that 77% of runaways were between 15-17 years old.
For over ten years, Million Kids has operated Million KidsMissing Kids. This service is designed to assist law enforcement and supportfamilies in the first critical hours when a child goes missing. We have sent out millions of flyers and been involved in helping the family locate the victim and in some cases, bringing the child home. This weekend was one of those situations as we assisted a family in another state to help law enforcement to locate and rescue a young lady who went missing.
Your generous donations make this possible and we thankyou.
This week we will talk about why kids leave home and whatneeds to be done immediately to enlist the publics help in locating your child.Additionally we will talk about just how well you know your child and how to create a social media contract that will help keep your kids safe online so they will not be tempted to meet up with a stranger they met online.
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If you asked your child to name five life values that are important to them, would they be able to do it? What about yourself?
As a parent, you don’t have to have all the answers, but there is nothing more insightful than an open discussion with your child about what they believe in. Someone once told me that if youdon’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
As the world seems in historical turmoil about decency, atrocities, and justice, it is a great time for parents to have open and honest discussions about what they believe in. Our world is changing fast and most of the day our kids are influenced online, in schools and through media about so many things that families used to hold sacred.
Right and Wrong have not changed, but it certainly has been “repositioned” by millions of individuals we have never met. More than ever, it is important for parents to have clear goals for parenting and developing a strategy that will provide valuable input about old fashioned v0alues like honesty, justice, and empathy, whether it is in person, or online.
Your child’s future is at stake.
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Our hearts bled at the sights and scenes taking place inIsrael. Nearly every news outlet immediately questioned how Israel could be so caught off guard. Only time will tell and history will decide what the contributing factors were. But we do know that many of the enemy attacked from INSIDE of Israel supporting the attack that took place outside the borders. And that allowed quick and easy access to over 1000 victims.
Watching these scenes unfold, many news outlets turned theirattention to the issues related to the U.S. and their open borders. During this week's show Opal talks about how individuals who have negotiated an illegal entry into the U.S. are in danger of being trafficked on U.S. soil. So many of us believe that as long as individuals get across the border they are safe. The reality is that human trafficking, both sex and labor trafficking takes place to the most vulnerable INSIDE the borders and on U.S. soil.
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According to the California Attorney General’s Office therewere on average 450 missing children in Riverside County last year. There aremany factors on why teens run away from home including online enticement,bullying, family conflict, pregnancy, to be with a friend or romantic interest,gang involvement, sexual abuse, or lack of acceptance of gender identity orsexual orientation. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Childrenstates that 77% of runaways were between 15-17 years old.
For over ten years, Million Kids has operated Million KidsMissing Kids. This service is designed to assist law enforcement and supportfamilies in the first critical hours when a child goes missing. We have sentout millions of flyers and been involved in helping the family locate thevictim and in some cases, bringing the child home. This weekend was one ofthose situations as we assisted a family in another state to help lawenforcement to locate and rescue a young lady who went missing.
Your generous donations make this possible and we thankyou.
This week we will talk about why kids leave home and whatneeds to be done immediately to enlist the publics help in locating your child.Additionally we will talk about just how well you know your child and how tocreate a social media contract that will help keep your kids safe online sothey will not be tempted to meet up with a stranger they met online.
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STING IN MORENO VALLEY
On September 20,2023, the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station Problem Oriented Policing (POP) andGang teams, along with the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force(RCAHT) conducted a comprehensive “John” prostitution sting in an effort toreduce the demand for sex trafficking in the city of Moreno Valley. Theoperation resulted in 14 arrests, 11 males for solicitation of prostitution, 2females for prostitution, and one additional male for pimping. The females werelater identified as potential victims of human trafficking and provided victimservices and resources.
SB14 SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM
This bill has had it's challenges but in the end, our community,our families and especially our children are much safer today. SB 14 willinclude human trafficking of a minor within the definition of a serious felony,enhancing the punishment for felonies pursuant to existing sentencingprovisions commonly known as the Three Strikes Law.
ASHTON KUTCHER STEPS DOWN AS BOARD CHAIR OF THORN:
Ashton resigned as Chairman of the Board of Thorn along with hiswife Mila Kunis. This was the result of outrage over the couples supportfor Danny Masterson, their friend, who was convicted of raping two women. Certainly, we understand the issue especially for victims of violent sex crimessince Million Kids has spent the last 15 years in prevention and interventionrelated to all sex crimes.
However, Million Kids wants to recognize the incrediblecontribution that Thorn has made over the past few years in supporting thedevelopment of technologies like Spotlight and generously sharing thattechnology with law enforcement across the nation. Because of theircommitment to funding of this technology, thousands of young people around theworld have been identified as victims or potential victims of online sexcrimes. This technology has allowed law enforcement to quickly locate potentialpedophiles and provide the information that helps sex crimes investigations tobe successful in an expedient manner in getting the bad guy off the street andhelp bring critical assistance to victims. We are grateful for thecontribution Ashton and Mila have made.
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I recently returned from vacation in Scotland and Ireland. Such beautiful countries with lots of open spaces and sheep and cows andhomemade cheese and mile upon mile of green grass, rolling hills and beautifulseaport villages. The people seem to live a simple life with wonderfulhospitality, and old fashioned friendship. It was delightful.
Immediately upon my return I was blasted with stories of how thereare more than 75,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County. During mytrip back from LAX we encountered trash in the streets, drug addicts sleepingon the sidewalks and graffiti seemingly on every unoccupied space.
We read about how teenagers create "swarms" and go intoNordstrom's or invade convenience stores and steal and demolish anything theychoose. I wonder what in their background or upbringing makes them feelthat these actions are OK?
The headlines today on Fox News showed that more than 8 millionpeople have crossed the border illegally in the past three years and now thereare large caravans of people moving across the Rio Grande en mass. Today's story focused on more than 2500 people charging through the bordertogether at Eagles Pass (only 1 entry at the border and there are many) and itsimply overwhelmed any security personnel that might be able to demandorder. I wondered: What if 10% of those individuals were connected toorganized crime? That means more than 800,000 potential criminal elementshave entered our country in the past three years and we dont know who they areor how to protect ourselves against them. I could not help but noticethat while there are many women and children a large number of those coming inwithout documentation are military aged males.
Million Kids is a non profit organization that combats humanexploitation and fights to keep kids safe from predators. Anyone who owesmoney to organized crime, are not safe, even if they are on U.S. Soil. Homelesspeople (especially women) are especially vulnerable to being exploited. The challenge to assist the vulnerable is sometimes overwhelming.
During this weeks show, we discuss the need for families and youngpeople to get back to the basics. To have joint discussions aboutpersonal values and what we believe. When everything feels like it is outof control, we start at home by defining our values and standing up for what isright and doing our best to help others.
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This is a fast changing world and sometimes, at least to me(Opal) it seems like everything is upside down.
We are witnessing corruption in this country at the veryhighest level through the media. Is ittrue? How can anyone know?
I remember an America where we could “be all we couldbe”. That we are proud to take the highroad, and if you committed a crime, there were consequences.
How does ANYONE know what to believe?
How do we teach our children that they have to obey MOSTrules, but they don’t have to obey rules that others say are not fair. Who gets to decide?
Daily we witness literally thousands of people from allover the world enter our country without documentation and the majority arepaying cartels (organized crime) to get in. We have no idea who they are, what their intents are, and if they willrespect and abide by our laws, since they have already been told by ourpoliticians that we welcome them, even if they are breaking a federal law.
What about the people who came in legally and made thesacrifices to become US citizens?
We see how AI is used to make deep fakes where totallyinnocent kids are subjected to ridicule and rejection when the child isperfectly innocent, in fact, they are a victim. At the same time, we see, overseas telemarketing organization trick andblackmail our kids and now many of the young males are taking their ownlives.
There seems to be a different standard for just abouteverything, depending on who is making the rules.
With that in mind, how do we teach our children aboutfairness, honesty, justice, integrity, and doing what is right.
For me: I believe we are all better off taking the highroad.
For our kids: Ibelieve it is more critical than ever to teach our kids about integrity, prideof self, doing what is right instead of what is easy. Even more important, we have to teach ourkids how to protect themselves, because it is obvious we cannot depend onpolitical leaders to set the example.
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There is real excitement withmovie goers about the Tim Ballard's latest movie project filmed in SouthAmerica. It is called Sounds of Freedom and it is indeed riveting andinsiteful about human trafficking in foreign countries.
However, trafficking andsocial media exploitation in the U.S. present quite differently. Duringthis week's show of "Exploited: Crimes and Technology", Host OpalSingleton talks about how victims become victims of sex trafficking in the U.S.and how it differs from trafficking as portrayed in the film. We alsotalk about online social media exploitation and what parents should look for ifthey believe their child is at risk of being exploited online and the"do's and don'ts" for parent to intervene if their child is beingexploited.
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Many people have contacted me (Opal Singleton) regarding the film, Sound of Freedom and wanted to know my thoughts about it. Congratulations to Tim Ballard of Underground Railroad and lead actor Jim Caviezel for delivering a powerful message about how foreign national trafficking and global child CSAM rings operate. These folks created a riveting story that will open the eyes of people around the globe.
Million Kids actually started by serving with Rapha International in Cambodia and we have first hand knowledge of how truly devastating it is for families and victims of sex trafficking where innocent children are often taken to far away places and exploited. As the film portrays, there are literally millions of kids around the globe that have been used in sexual exploitation, that have never been identified or rescued. This film also addresses the critical need for law enforcement around the globe to have better technology and more funding so they can dedicate the resources necessary to take on the evil of global sex trafficking.
What is also important to recognize is that trafficking in the U.S. is usually very different than the scenario portrayed in this film. Many victims in the US meet their perpetrator through social media or a community location like a mall or school , and are seduced into believing they have a relationship. They are then sexually violated, physically exploited, and sold by gangs and pimps for commercial sex.
Million Kids has spent years educating the public, schools, law enforcement, social workers, and the faith based community so young people will understand the grooming and recruitment process so we can keep our kids safe from predators. We appreciate each and every person that has been on the journey with us. And we appreciate the movie "Sound of Freedom". We hope everyone goes to see it.
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DATING SITES AND HOOK UP SITES.
Victim conned out of $55K in romance scam on Plenty of Fish speaks out | Fox Business
Most programs provided by Million Kids are focused on educating parents and first responders about young people staying safe online and preventing sex trafficking and sextortion. However, recently there has been a recent series of cases announced in the media where adults have become victims of romance scams or online dating scams.
During this week’s broadcast Opal Singleton, President of Million Kids will interview a guest by the name of “Carol” who is a an attractive, very successful, single, middle- age woman who has had a lot of experience with online dating sites. Carol will share with the audience about signs to look for, that the individuals they meet online might be scam artists, blackmailers or overseas telemarketing centers looking to seduce single adults into believing they are in a legitimate relationship while conning them out of thousands of dollars.
Opal and Carol discuss various schemes used by con artists to coerce the individual into believing they are in a real relationship and seducing them into sending money or arranging a dangerous meet up. They also discuss signs to look for if you believe you are being “catfished. This is an entertaining and powerful broadcast that every single adult, regardless of age, should hear and share with friends.
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Recently the FBI and ICE released a public service announcement alerting the public about “malicious actors manipulating photos and videos to create explicit content and sextortion schemes”. Commonly known as “Deep Fakes,” individuals with criminal intent will electronically manipulate benign photographs or videos of individuals from images captured from an individual’s social media account, open internet, or requested from the victim.
The perpetrator then creates sexually themed images that appear true to life in likeness to the victim, then circulates the fake images through social media, public forms, or pornographic websites. The victim is then blackmailed into sending actual erotic images they made or coming up with large sums of money to stop the blackmail and harassment.
Historically these sextortion efforts are generated by foreign national telemarketing centers located in poor, third world countries and are operating to generate millions of dollars in illegal funding for organized criminal enterprises.
As technology becomes more complex, and the entire world is connected by 5G high speed internet, and more young people have access to online communications, it is more urgent than ever, for young people to understand what is at the heart of the “deep fakes” sextortion scheme, and learn to take every precaution so they will not become victims.
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Everyday we make decisions. The big decisions are obvious such as college, marriage, divorce, career paths, having kids or buying a house.
Most of us put significant time and effort into evaluating all the "what if's" before making a choice. However, often times it is the small decisions that can change our lives forever. The decision to do what is right rather than what is easy, or what satisfies a tempting desire to get something we should not have or do something that we know might be harmful, can change our paths for the rest of our lives.
For Opal Singleton, a small decision made on a lonely night in December 1966, changed the trajectory of her life. She was new to California and struggling to find her way, when one night she called "Dial a Prayer" and that connected her to Rev. Richard and Marsha Huls. These folks were and are simply amazing. They took her in to their lives and it began a 58 year friendship. Over the years Rev Huls and Marsha were Opal's true family and they became serious and dependable advisors to Million Kids.
On June 16, the Huls' family experienced a major tragedy as their home caught fire at 2 AM. Marsha did not survive. Rev. Huls is in critical condition in the hospital with burns to his face, hands, chest and lungs. At this writing he appears that he will survive but cannot communicate. Please pray for this family. Rev. Huls was a minister, a Navy Chaplain, A Police Dept Chaplain and served several care homes as a chaplain. They are some of the most giving people on earth.
For Opal Singleton, that fateful night of making the decision to call a stranger and ask for help, changed the trajectory of her life forever.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FAMILY OF REV. RICHARD HULS AND MARSHA
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Recently we saw the news release from two major news companies, The New York Post and The Washington Post that addressed the issues of how artificial intelligence and software algorithms expose "vast pedophile networks" to our children and what is being done about it by big tech companies. Frankly, this is not news to Million Kids as we have been educating on this for years. Instagram is not the only app company that uses the algorithms for the purposes of abusing children. The challenge is for parents and minors to understand how all of these apps operate and WHY they are an open invitation for pedophiles to target innocent and naive children.
Over the course of the next two radio shows, we will look at how large scale pedophiles operate, why they want to secure your child's illicit photos and what app companies could do to make your child a little bit safer online. We look at how Instagram, Tik Tok, Discord, Grindr and Roblox are used by bad guys to connect with your child . We will also discuss possible avenues of communication to educate your child, including a discussion on how "deep fakes" work and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
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When most people hear about online sexual exploitation of minors or sex trafficking of minors they are appalled and want to do whatever they can to stop it. Certainly that is a good thing as it important that we all educate each other, including parents, kids, educators, civic leaders and the faith based community so we can prevent exploitation and intervene if we see a situation when a child might be in danger of exploitation.
Recently we have encountered several private groups and even some dramatic television shows where non law enforcement individuals have taken up themselves to pretend to be a minor online and see if they can find pedophiles and shame and even threaten them. Some of the vigilante groups provide their information to law enforcement asking them to investigate it. While all of this certainly has good intentions, most people don't understand that it can in fact, hinder prosecutors and law enforcement from actually being able to investigate, arrest, and prosecute child abusers especially if they are part of large scale child pornography ring. One such ring was "Welcome to Video" that had between 500,000 and one million paid subscribers.
During this show we examine the potential danger an individual can put themselves in, and some of the challenges for law enforcement to be able to properly investigate what might be a large scale underground pedophile ring. Equally important, these private investigations can be disruptive and even harmful to investigations conducted by law enforcement where they may have put in thousands of hours of investigations and identified hundreds of potential pedophiles that could be prosecuted if it is done within the rule of law with search warrants, subpoenas and court orders.
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Lately it seems like the world is centered on corporate and political campaigns that force values on the public that many find offensive and in several cases, and the public is fighting back by refusing to support their businesses. There is also a trend where state and local governments simply announce that they are not going to enforce laws on the books that they don't agree with while at the same time passing laws that allow convicted felons to get out early and refusing to enforce laws that are on the books. The result is chaos.
During this week's show, we are going to discuss the importance of raising children to have strong moral values and embrace efforts to help others who are less fortunate. Million Kids is grateful for law enforcement and prosecutors that put their lives on the line to investigate and prosecute criminal activity. Law and order and community safety is not free and it is not easy.
It happens when you have a community and families committed to doing what is right and embracing activities that are bigger than self.
Continuing “Operation Consequences” Leads To More Felony Arrests and Ghost Gun Seizure | Crime Voice
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There is a trend in California legislation to introduce and pass bills that have less accountability and less punishment for those that break the law. At the same time many bills that would make crimes like domestic violence, sex with a child, rape of an unconscious or intoxicated victim and human trafficking are immediately shot down in the Public Safety Committee as being unnecessary. Usually there is no explanation just a yes/no vote and the bill is dead.
At the heart of the matter is an effort by many activists (including Million Kids) to make human trafficking and child sex crimes to be consider "serious" and "violent". Most people do not realize that human trafficking and child sex crimes are not considered "serious" or "violent". These classifications are not feel good terms but rather would allow for enhanced sentencing or qualify for the "Three Strikes Law". This is resulting in a revolving door practice of allow sex offenders and those that commit crimes against women and children to be released back into the communities where they reoffend.
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A recent research survey from Statista indicates that 77 percent of teen respondents aged 19 years and older have sent a sext or nude images in the US and 88 percent have received a text. Compare this with a survey in 2018 published in JAMA Pediatrics that indicated 15 % of teens say they send sexts and 27% receive them. Equally concerning is a headline from Thorn that indicated that the number of pre-teens sharing nudes on line doubled in 2020.
During this week's show we are going to discuss some of the driving forces behind this behavior and explore why so many young people are willing to take chances by sending nudes and sexual images to individuals they met on line. We will discuss how parents can intervene and the conversations that are critical to have with teens and pre teens before they are given cell phones or other devices. We will also talk about how to report instances where your child may be being blackmailed by an online predator.
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Sharing the realty of social media and the choices young people face that can impact the rest of the life.
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Sheriff: ‘Safe schools’ initiative ravaged California with drug addiction and fueledhomelessness | Fox News
SB 14 Fact Sheet as amended.pdf
Recently, Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco was interviewed onFox News. He discussed Prop 47 which was passed by California voters in2014 and was labeled as the "Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act" .This bill re- categorized some nonviolent offenses as misdemeanors, ratherthan felonies including crimes of shoplifting, grand theft, receiving stolenproperty, fraud and personal use of an illegal drug.
Sheriff Bianco stated that "a large portion of California'shomeless population is suffering from severe drug addiction, which has mademany individuals unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Further on,Sheriff Bianco said that the inability to force people into substance abusetreatment has led to a 'drastic increase in health issues and drug relatedcrime'.
Opal Singleton, Host of "Exploited Crime and Technology"agrees heartily with the statements made by Sheriff Bianco in the interview.Proposition 47 and Proposition 57 and SB 357 which made it so law enforcementcannot intervene if a person is loitering to solicit for streetprostitution, has seemed to have a extremely negative impact on ourcommunities and our personal safety.
Currently there is new legislation being offered by SenatorShannon Grove which should get our attention and support. California SB14 is a bill that would make human trafficking a serious felony and makeit eligible to be considered for the California Three Strikes law. Million Kids encourages everyone to look at the link above andlearn more about supporting SB 14.
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The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to chose"
j.Martin Kohe
The past few weeks our nation has witnessed hundreds of youngpeople across the U.S. forming social media driven mobs to riot, charge into awide variety of business and loot and steal at will, often endangering theresponsible people who work there. This past week Los Angeles witnessedone such event as a large number of teens with hoods hiding their faces as theyforced their way into a gas station, smashed the glass and demolished theinside. All of this for a couple of six packs of beer and some Twinkies.This took place while the young man who worked there, locked the front door andhid in the bathroom while calling the police.
This week on "Exploited: Crimes and Technology" we lookat the need for our society to return to the basics. Every time we dowhat is right instead of what is easy we gain character. We discuss theneed for parents to talk with kids about digital morality and to reflect ontheir own digital character. We discuss the need for leadership in makingstrong moral decisions regardless of what is being fed on social media. The young man in the gas station chose to get up, come to work and earn anhonest living. He is to be admired. The young people in the mobchose to loot, destroy and take what is not their's and there should beconsequences. Even if they are not identified and arrested, they have chosen apath that will lead them to be adults without character. Our society willultimately pay a price for that.
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It feels like there are so many changes taking place in oursociety, there are times it is just overwhelming. Because of technology we reachmore people but talk less. Intimacy is replaced with a smiley face on a text. Everythingis on an “App”. It seems that personalrelationships lose the nuances of affection in a text. Although it does help us communicate moreoften with many people
Lately, I have felt there is also a cycle of 24-7 negativity,almost an assault on our values. Conflicts seem to loom at every turn.
This week’s show is focused on how to be responsible foryour own happiness. We also look at the intricate value of a grandma andgrandpa with old-fashioned values and the way they are so important in helpingyou laugh when everyone else is throwing stones. .
I believe the greatest power a person has is to choosehappiness and gratitude. I love the thisquote from Asma Naqui: “Happiness inyour heart is directly proportional to the quality of thoughts in yourmind”.
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Social media often offers a diversion to bored and lonely individuals, whether they are an 11-year-old young person seeking attention or a 45-year-old divorcee looking for a relationship or A 70-year retired person with time on their hands. Dating apps, hook up apps, and mass audience live streaming apps like Tik Tok, Instagram or Discord, or Web Cam Sex Sites connect our world to millions of individuals we know nothing about. This can lead to hooking up with total strangers, which can be exciting and stimulating and provide relief to a life of boredom and loneliness. It can also be very dangerous.
Fantasy relationships with people we meet online, allows us to control the narrative, and fill in the blanks that satisfy our perceived wants and needs. Fantasy relationships tend to ignore the imperfections in real life.
The challenge is there is little verification that what you are perceiving has anything to do with reality. It develops interactions based on your idea of what that person is, or may look like, and how they will meet your needs and wants. We have a tendency to develop feelings and responses based on the “ideaof a person” rather than a real interaction of a real person. Adults and kids alike are vulnerable to being groomed and seduced by individuals with less thanscrupulous desires for your wellbeing. Individuals that live in a fantasy world, have a hard time coping with honest relationships that are based on truth, acceptance, and intimacy. Even more dangerous is the inability for a person who is caught up in a dream world to validate the dangers and warning signs that emerge in an online relationship.
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Often people ask me what they can do to keep their family, their community safe from predators. The answer is “KNOW” your community. Get to know everyone on your block and look out for each other. During this show we will discuss signs and indicators that a structure may be being used to exploitation. This will include drug stash houses, illegal pot grow houses, buildings used to house undocumented people until they raise the funds to pay their captors, and buildings used as commercial and residential brothels. Most important we will talk about how to report a suspicious activity in your community without putting yourself and others in danger.
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Running away is a serious problem. According to the National Runaway Switchboard, an organization that takes calls and helps kids who have run away or are thinking of running away, 1 in 7 kids between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away at some point. And there are 1 million to 3 million runaway and homeless kids living on the streets in the United States. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has stated that they believe that 1 in 6 kids who run away are at risk of being a victim of sex trafficking.
For nearly ten years Million Kids has operated the Million Kids Missing Kids program to assist parents in locating and the return of runaway and missing kids. We have sent out hundreds of thousands of flyers and been involved in the location or return of many missing teens.
Over the next two broadcasts of Exploited: Crimes and Technology program we will explore why kids run away and what parents can do to intervene. This week we will look at what kids are running “from”. There can be many factors that kids want to escape from. Perhaps they are being bullied at school, or the home is not safe from sexual or physical abuse, or the homelife is unstable for the minor, and sometimes it is because they are dealing with issues of abandonment, drug and alcohol use, or feeling the family unit is not stable.
The second part of this series we will examine what kids are running “to”. This can often be a fantasy relationship whether real or perceived, a new friend that is influencing them, or they are being groomed a new online relationship. Some kids fantasize about a life of freedom living on the streets and going where they want without supervision which works until reality sets in. Other teens hook up with people they have met on a dating site or video game chat room and just want to see what the person is really like but unfortunately they disappear.
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Running away is a serious problem. According to the National Runaway Switchboard, an organization that takes calls and helps kids who have run away or are thinking of running away, 1 in 7 kids between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away at some point. And there are 1 million to 3 million runaway and homeless kids living on the streets in the United States. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has stated that they believe that 1 in 6 kids who run away are at risk of being a victim of sex trafficking.
For nearly ten years Million Kids has operated the Million Kids Missing Kids program to assist parents in locating and the return of runaway and missing kids. We have sent out hundreds of thousands of flyers and been involved in the location or return of many missing teens.
Over the next two podcasts, we will explore why kids run away and what parents can do to intervene. This week we will look at what kids are running “from”. There can be many factors that kids want to escape from. Perhaps they are being bullied at school, or the home is not safe from sexual or physical abuse, or the homelife is unstable for the minor, and sometimes it is because they are dealing with issues of abandonment, drug and alcohol use, or feeling the family unit is not stable.
The second part of this series we will examine what kids are running “to”. This can often be a fantasy relationship whether real or perceived, a new friend that is influencing them, or they are being groomed a new online relationship. Some kids fantasize about a life of freedom living on the streets and going where they want without supervision which works until reality sets in. Other teens hook up with people they have met on a dating site or video game chat room and just want to see what the person is really like but unfortunately they disappear.
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The FBI says there are about 500,000 pedophiles online at any given time. What are the odds that they will connect with your child? Lately there is a new and terrifying trend that seems to make that statistic obsolete.
Father warns of Instagram 'sextortion' scam targeting teen boys after son's suicide: 'Evil' | Fox News
Dana Perino on Fox News recently interviewed Brian Montgomery. He is the father of Walker Montgomery, a totally successful, engaging young man who took his own life after being sextorted by a Nigerian telemarketing scam. It was a powerful interview that ever parent and teen needs to hear.
Late last year, the FBI issued a warning to parents, teens and educators of a scary new trend. As the entire world is connected with technology, overseas telemarketing companies are using their poor teens to use video games and chatrooms to connect with unsuspecting young guys in the U.S. and seduce them into sexual interaction through live streaming. It usually starts out looking like they are a “friend of a friend”. The interaction turns sexual very quickly. The young men fail to realize they are being filmed and the black mail for thousands of dollars is inhumane.
As in so many of these cases, the teen is hammered with ruthless threats in a short period of time and the teen panics, threatens suicide and like Walker Montgomery, they actually end up taking their own lives. This is tragic beyond words.
Our hearts go out to the Montgomery family. As they deal with their loss, their message to others is clear. Talk with your kids and let them know they are never alone and they cannot fight this alone. Check their phones and make sure they understand how sextortion works and how they can stay safe online. To learn more: Follow Million Kids on Facebook or go to Millionkids.org. To report sextortion, contact your local law enforcement or report 1-888-373-7888.
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This week we have had the opportunity to work with some of the most dynamic individuals leading the charge to support victims of sex trafficking. During the show we talk about the services they provide. We also provide an update to what is happening in our communities as a result of the implementation of California SB 357. Literally vans of young girls are being brought in from out of state and loitering to solicit prostitution in front of Catholic schools and blocking the driveways for private residences.
Operation Reclaim and Rebuild: Riverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) announced a successful operation working with the FBI where 31 individuals were arrested on a variety of charges including solicitation of prostitution, prostitution and pandering. Most important there were 31 arrests, and 7 potential victims of sex trafficking were rescued. This was part of a Statewide program where there were 368 arrests and 131 potential sex trafficking victims were rescued. RCAHT is victim focused and the Task Force works closely with victim services providers to ensure they are provided with resources to escape and heal.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Victim Advocates: Million Kids had the opportunity to meet many of the Victim Advocates serving San Bernardino County and share about the crime of sextortion. These are extraordinary individuals who work diligently to provide specialized services for victims of crime.
Mama’s House: Desert area. Mama’s House held a fundraiser to expand their campus. What an incredible event. Dr. Ben Carson was the key note speaker and he mesmerized over 1000 people with inspirational stories of his life. It was heartwarming to see so many highly successful individuals willing to support a program that makes it possible for pregnant teens to deliver and keep their babies when they find themselves in a situation where they have little structure or financial support. Congratulations Jan Lupia. It was a fantastic experience.
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WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CHANGE CALIFORNIA LAW SO HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS LEGALLY CLASSIFIED AS A “VIOLENT AND SERIOUS CRIME”
WITH FEATURED GUEST Tyson McCoy, Deputy District Attorney, Homicide and Human Trafficking Prosecutions, Kern County District Attorney’s Office
DDA Mc Coy is leading the efforts to educate the public about California SB 14 that would make human trafficking in California a “Violent and Serious” crime. It is time to stop the early release of convicted felons charged with human trafficking offenses.
We are seeking the public’s assistance to sign a petition supporting SB 14. Click on link below: SB 14 Human Trafficking | Senator Shannon Grove
Tyson McCoy is the Director of the Kern County Human Trafficking Task Force and oversees human trafficking prosecutions in Kern County. Mr. McCoy has trained hundreds of law enforcement personnel from across California on the topic of human trafficking. In addition to training law enforcement personnel, he has also trained doctors, nurses, social workers, military personnel, and various community organizations on the topic of human trafficking. Mr. McCoy is also a human trafficking instructor for California’s statewide prosecutors’ association, CDAA. He has also assisted state legislators in efforts to make human trafficking a serious and violent crime.
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Links to two stories:
Wanted Ore. Man Accused of Torturing Woman Is Still on Dating Apps (Benjamin Obadiah Foster)
Texas man who met woman on Bumble kidnapped and tortured her for 5 days, authorities say (Zachary Mills) .
News releases this past month featured two separate but horrific stories of women who met up with men they encountered on a dating site and were brutally tortured, held hostage and sexually assaulted. Both situations began with a romantic encounter online. Law Enforcement is warning the public that Foster may still be actively seeking online relationships through dating apps to help him evade police. If you believe you have encountered Benjamin Foster online, report immediately to : 1-541-237-5607
Foster had two prior offenses and should never have been cleared by a dating app to post and seek new online encounters. Foster was convicted for kidnapping a woman in 2019, holding her for two weeks including assaulting her. The victim had two black eyes, 7 broken ribs and was bound at the wrists and ankles with zip ties. This took place while he was awaiting trial for a 2018 domestic abuse charge.
Zachery Mills was charged with felony aggravated kidnapping where he allegedly held his victim captive for five days, beating her with his fist, attacking her with a screw driver.
Dating sites is the 21st Century way of meeting new people for both adults and teens. The reality is that when strangers meet online there is always a possibility of hooking up with a predator.
Here are some suggested tips to stay safe online.
Create a separate email address if you are using a dating site.
Never give out personal information such as location, workplace, phone numbers, financial information, children’s names or photos.
Trust Your Instincts – if it is too good to be true, it probably really is.
Use photos that will only appear on a specific dating site.
Investigate – Do a google search of the individual. drag and drop the individual’s photo on Google Images and look to see where else they appear online and if it is really their name. Predators often use other’s photos and fictious names.
Never – ever send money to someone you met online that you have not met in person, regardless of how believable their story is.
Do not be lured off the dating site to another app or private messaging or texting.
Never get in a car or be alone with someone you met online. If meeting them, meet in the morning in a public place, bring someone you know with you. Share the dating site photos and contact and personal data with those close to you. Tell others where you are meeting, the time leaving and expected return and keep the meeting very public.
Ask a lot of questions and verify the answers if possible.
Block anyone you are suspicious of and report them to the dating site.
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Human Trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world and California is almost always the number one state in the nation for cases. During this weeks show we are going to look at the many ways sex and labor trafficking takes place in the Inland Empire. We look at how individuals from outside the U.S. are being trafficking here in our communities as well as how our kids end up being seduced, groomed and recruited so they become victims of trafficking. We talk about signs to recognize and how to report it. We also talk about ways to talk to young people so they will not become victims of trafficking.
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FILM-SEXTORTION THE HIDDEN PANDEMIC- Now available for public download- go to Sextortionfilm.com to find streamers. This film was shown at the Pentagon this week and was “in the running” to be considered for an Oscar. Every parent and young person should see this film.
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STOP TRAFFICKING NOW! - HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 1/27/2023. RCC Digital Library-Sponsored by Soroptomists of Riverside. 6:00-9:00 PM. Register: http://bit.ly/3Ayq6IH. Free to the public.
The Guests on today’s show are Soroptomist’s President Melanie McKee and Chairman of the Human Trafficking Conference for Riverside Soroptomists, Irma Flores. They are excited to share about this exciting event and are asking the public to attend and bring parents and teens. This event will feature DA Mike Hestrin, Sheriff Chad Bianco, and members of the Riverside Co Human Trafficking Task Force as well as Chief Gonzales, Riverside Police Dept.
- SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SOCIAL MEDIA EXPLOITATION presented by the Parent Engagement team for Beaumont Unified School District and organized in conjunction with the local Rotary. This event is for parents, grandparents and guardians and teens. It is open to the public regardless of whether or not you are connected to the School District. This will be a 90- minute presentation by Opal Singleton, President Million Kids and will focus on how to keep kids safe from exploitation both in person and online. Spanish translation will be provided. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023, 39139 Cherry Valley Blvd, Beaumont High School Theater, 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
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The number of online exploitation has exploded dramatically since the Covid lockdown. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (which is an amazing organization) reports processing more than 80,000 potential instances of online child exploitation every day in 2020. That is more than 29 million in one year. So how do predators recognize when a child might be easy to groom and exploit?
Predators look for young people who are available and vulnerable. They pay close attention to kids that are easy to seduce and manipulate. If often starts with making them feel special, unique and seeking approval or inclusion. They look for posts that the young person might make, that indicates they are lonely or stressed due to a life event such as Mom and Dad fighting, breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend, or not succeeding at school. They become a sympathetic friend and will quickly attempt to isolate the child by getting them to go to private chat rooms, or by instant messaging. They may share suggestive videos of others or tell dirty jokes to lower their defenses. They often develop a secret bond with the child creating an "us against them" scenario with the family.
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As we were all preparing to celebrate the holidays, 16 people were found being held captive in Bakersfield.
It all started when a Hispanic man, in the middle of the night, started pounding on neighbors' doors begging for help. He said he and his wife and child were being held captive after being smuggled in from Mexico.
As police investigated, they found no one inside the house. While the neighbors had called police, the remaining victims in the house had been loaded into vehicles and moved.
Detectives identified two other Bakersfield drop house locations. They rescued 16 individuals (ages 8 to 66 and included seven females and nine males) who were being held and threatened by their captors. They arrested 9 individuals for a wide variety of charges including suspicion of human trafficking for labor purposes, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy.
There are several important educational factors to learn about how to recognize a drop house and what to do if you think you have a house in your community that is being used to house individuals or may be being used for an illegal pot grow.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call KCSO at 661-861-3110 or the secret witness line at 661-322-4040.
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California Senate Bill 357 promoted by Sen. Scott Weiner and signed by Gov. Newsom takes effect January 1, 2023. Million Kids believes this bill will single handedly change our communities and the safety of our families. SB 357 rewrites the penal code defining loitering for street prostitution and makes it so law enforcement will not be able to intervene when an individual is loitering for the purposes of soliciting for street prostitution. There are no limits on this bill.
Shortly you will see a major increase in the number of prostitutes loitering in your community. It is already happening in major cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco and Fresno. Here are the predictions of how this will affect you and your community.
1.) Homeless people will be tempted to earn cash for sexual activity.
2.) Undocumented individuals who owe money to coyotes will be coerced into prostitution to earn funds to pay off their debts.
3.) Gangs and pimps are already bringing you girls and guys to California to make money through prostitution.
4.) Foreign National cartels will bring in large numbers of individuals from S.E Asia, China, and Latin and South America to make money and launder the money back to their homeland.
5.) Prostitution solicitation will take place in front of homes, businesses, church, schools. It will change the complexion of our communities.
6.) Our kids will see this solicitation and be tempted to make what appears to be easy money and will lured or coerced into prostitution.
Be sure to listen to learn about the Impact of this bill on the future of our communities. More important we will talk about what individuals can do to support law enforcement in finding victims of trafficking that are being sexually violated or physically abused.
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As the Year 2022 comes to a close we look at all the blessings we have received. So many good people came together and helped us raise the funds and the film "Sextortion: the Hidden Pandemic" was finally released. The film was a participant in the Santa Barbara Film Festival and the Academy Awards has announced it is in the consideration for an Oscar (sadly it didn't receive a nomination but that's okay). We are grateful but more important we want parents, grandparents and teens across the nation to view this film. Sextortion is a crime affecting millions of kids across the nation, changing their lives and the lives of their families forever. Please join us in the year 2023, as we renew our commitment to keep our kids safe from predators.
Links for the film are at https://sextortionfilm.com
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It is Christmas Time. A time of joy, a time of sadness and loss, a time of angst, a time to laugh, a time to share, a time to get and a time to give and for some, a time of unrealistic expectations. As we get older it is a time of retrospection. Looking back on our lives, there is gratitude for all the good that we have enjoyed. People we know, people we have loved and lost, and people who have set high standards to challenge us as we grow. But I believe the greatest gift of all, is the gift of “inclusion”.
Grandparents and parents have an opportunity to do what so few other people can do. That is to find the that special trait in our children and brag about it. Help our children understand the value of “morality”. It is not what they own that defines them but rather what they decide to become in life. Every time they do what is right, instead of what is easy, they gain character. That happiness is a decision they make. Self esteem is a gift they give themselves. The legacy of “inclusion” of “acceptance” is the greatest gift of all.
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The tragic death of Sharie and Mark Winek and their daughter Brooke Winek seems so senseless. Most of us are still reeling as small pieces of truth come out about what lead up to the deaths of some of the finest people of our community.
For the public, we all stop and pause and think that these kinds of things simply could not be happening to those we know and love. Most of us are aware that online sexual exploitation happens but we assume it happens to “others”.
But for Million Kids Team members, we know all too well the many ways the travesty of online social media exploitation can play out. Our heart bleeds for the young victim who met this wretched predator online and had a fantasy relationship that he was perhaps someone who would care for her and admire her. Few adults, let alone adolescents, can visualize the many ways this can go horribly wrong.
We hope every parent, grandparent and teen will listen as Million Kids shares the many ways online sexual exploitation takes place so we can say, “Never Again” to these kinds of events.
Sextortion is the most prolific crime in the world facing our youth. Social media exploitation can be perpetrated by individual pedophiles, or groups of pedophiles who are gathering erotic photos for child pornography rings. Recently there has been a major increase in sextortion rings from third world countries, tricking our kids into sending illicit materials and then demanding large sums of money. Our naïve kids have no idea they are victims of predators from Pakistan, Philippines, Ivory Coast or Belize. Many of those victims take their own lives before a parent or loved one can intervene.
THIS TRAGEDY MUST STOP. Please listen to this show and share it with everyone you know. Our hearts bleed as we try to comprehend this horrific crime suffered by the Winek Family.
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Thanksgiving time is a great time for reflection. We so much appreciate those that join with us in our fervent commitment to do what it takes to keep our kids safe in an ever-challenging world. This is tough business. We appreciate the prayer warriors that pray for our protection and guidance. We appreciate those that support us financially as we simply would not be here without their ongoing and consistent generosity. We praise God for those that helped fund us for the movie Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic. It is now available at Sextortionfilm.com. We are grateful to Giving University and Stephen and Maria Peek that created a film that is action filled and a must see for every family in America. We are grateful to Riverside County Human Trafficking Task Force for 12 fantastic years of combating trafficking in our county. We are grateful to our Board Members that understand the challenges of this business and provide sage advice. And we are grateful for our spouses and family that allow us the time and energy to do the research, tell the story, and provide intervention services for parents and kids in crisis.
THANK YOU – WE LOVE YOU ALL !
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In September 2021, California SB 357 was passed by the House and the Assembly and for reasons unknown was held on Senator Weiner's Desk in Sacramento. The Gov. Newsom recall election came and went and then the June 7th Primary Elections were held. Almost ten months after the passing of the bill it was sent to Governor Newsom's desk and it was signed. It is scheduled to become effective January 1, 2023. Already our communities are seeing the negative effects of this bill.
SB 357 is called the Safer Streets for All Act. The bill rewrote the penal code of "Loitering for purposes of soliciting prostitution" and stated that law enforcement can not intervene with individuals who are loitering for the purposes of soliciting for prostitution (it does not define if you are soliciting to buy or sell). The ACLU made this statement when proposing the bill: "SB357 will move California one step closer to acknowledging sex workers as deserving of full dignity and respect."
During this show we will discuss the impact of that bill which will go into effect in six weeks. Pimps are already starting to bring their girls into California for solicitation. In many of our cities we have started to see a significant increase in the number of individuals soliciting sex walking the streets in scantily clad outfits . We are greatly concerned that while this bill does protect the sex worker from being targeted by law enforcement, we are concerned about who is going to protect the sex worker from pimps, gangs and organized crime? Who is going to protect our children and neighborhoods from being invaded by street sex sellers?
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WITH GUEST APPEARANCE BY LYNDA BERGH HERRING - PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR SPECIALIZING IN CHILD EXPLOITATION CASES
As parents, most of us think we know our child pretty well. Lynda Herring is a Private Investigator that works with parents when a child goes missing or is involved in some sort of crisis or online exploitation. These situations are difficult for everyone involved and they often require that a parent shares that information with a third party such as law enforcement or a private investigator.
During this interview Lynda talks about the importance of being prepared to share with others about your child. For instance:
Do you know what your child was wearing today when they left home?
How tall is your child, how much do they weigh and color of hair and eyes?
What social media apps do they have- all of them?
What are the passwords for each app they have?
Do you have a sample of their DNA?
Do you have a recent photo of them?
Do you know their blood type?
Can you name their closest friends and how to reach them?
Have you and your child agreed on a code word, in case they need to communicate with you and you may not recognize their social media or proof during a phone call?
Be sure to join us this Saturday, November 12th, at 3:00 PST on AM 590 The Answer or Log onto AM590Theanswer.com at 3:00 PST if you are out of the Southern California area.
To contact Lynda Bergh Herring Private Investigator
Email- lynPI@aol.com
Website: www.LJBInvestigations.com
Phone: 714-313-7371
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This week is election week, and we take a look at a variety of issues affecting crime, prosecutions and early release of prisoners in Southern California. Many media outlets reported about the challenges of having over 2800 court cases at risk of not being heard in Riverside County due to a heavy backlog of cases and a shortage of Judges. Over 200 of those cases were thrown out by Presiding Judge John Monterosso over the objection of Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin. Several press articles indicated that many of the cases not being heard were related to domestic abuse.
Hundreds of criminal cases dismissed in Riverside County due to court backlog - ABC7 Los Angeles
We also look at the impact of an older Proposition 57 which has resulted in the early release of tens of thousands of prisoners in California. Starting January 2023, California will implement SB 357 which redefines the California Penal Code related to loitering for the purposes of soliciting for prostitution and removes law enforcement’s ability to intervene when an adult is loitering for the purposes of soliciting prostitution.
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The election season is upon us. Million Kids is not a political organization, and we have no desire to influence an individual’s voting decision. We do believe it is important to understand new laws and situations taking place that will have a major impact on our kids, especially if you live in California. This week we will look at several new laws that have been signed that will affect our families and children.
SB357: The California Safer Streets Act. This bill is signed and will go into effect January 1,2023. This bill has redefined the California Penal Code related to loitering for the purposes of soliciting for prostitution. The bill states that law enforcement will not be able to intervene with adult individuals that are loitering to solicit for prostitution. Million Kids believes that without intervention we will see an increase in the number of individuals who may be exploited through commercial sex. Additionally, without law enforcement being allowed to intervene, it will be difficult and near impossible to tell if a solicitor is an adult or minor, or if the person is soliciting of their own free will or being exploited by a trafficker or pimp.
SB 107: This bill is categorized as the “Data Sanctuary” legislation. It is designed to protect transgender youths and families living in states that do not provide transgender medical services for children 12 and older and allow them to come to California to receive gender affirming care without the consent of their parent or guardian. Gov. Newsom signed the bill in late September. The law prohibits California courts and attorneys from enforcing subpoenas requested by other states about gender affirming care for minors, and health care providers from releasing medical information. This would include legal actions taken by the minor’s family to intervene in gender affirming care in California.
The Fentanyl Crisis- According to a recent article published by Brietbart and reaffirmed by other reporters, fentanyl seizures tripled nationwide in July, enough to kill 469 million people. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Recently the DEA reported intercepting brightly colored fentanyl, referred to as rainbow fentanyl that looks like chalk or candy. The fentanyl drugs have increased dramatically as foreign nationals cross our borders in record numbers. Cartels are using Facebook and Tik Tok to recruit kids to come to the border and bring in drugs and participate in human smuggling in return for large amounts of cash.
It is hard to comprehend the challenges today’s youth and families and we believe it is more important than ever to get back to the basics in training our kids to have strong values and open conversations with family.
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Every where we look there seems to be bad news. Perhaps it is the election. Starting in 2023, California has passed two important bills that will greatly impact our families and communities. They are SB 357 and SB 107. If you are not familiar with them, please read them and share your thoughts with us at info@millionkids.org. With the passage of these bills, Million Kids spent a lot of time reflecting in how to keep our kids safe from predators in light of these changes. Some days it has been discouraging but we strongly feel that when things become challenging, we HAVE to rise to the occasion and do what it takes to protect our kids. With that in mind, here are five programs outlined below that will equip you and support our work so that we can do what it takes to combat child sex crimes.
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Investigating online child sex crimes are some of the most challenging types of investigations in the business.
To be effective:
Law enforcements needs you first and foremost to make leaders of your children so they will not be victims.
Law enforcement needs quick and thorough information related to actual cases. Do not delete the photos or conversation. Do not alert the pedophile you know. Do not share it with everyone you know but take the victim and the electronics to cyber crimes locally.
In Riverside :951-955-5520 Nationally: 1-888-373-7888
The victim may be in your area but perpetrator is thousands of miles away. Most often cases are multi-jurisdictional .
The perpetrator may be one deranged soul, a ring of pedophiles coming together, or even large scale telemarketing centers in foreign countries.
Victims are as varied as any crime ever investigated
Could be prepubescent.
Could be toddlers
Could be teens playing in a video game
Could be teens doing self-made pornography – amateur pornography, or naïve kids doing sexual acts in front of webcams.
At any given time, the FBI states there could be as many as 500,000 pedophiles online.
Most important, talk with your child BEFORE they go online. Follow MillionKids.org and educate your child and prepare them to become leaders to live in a world with millions of bad guys. At Million Kids we believe online child sex crimes can be avoided if we prepare our young people to be hard to groom and recruit.
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Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic is an investigation into the world of online grooming and sextortion--a present-day reality for one in seven children online. By unsealing the federal case of a top-gun pilot with hundreds of victims, and interviewing survivors and their parents, this true-crime piece exposes an often-overlooked crime against children, the tactics of online predators, and the voices of parents and law enforcement poised to stop online child exploitation in its tracks.
Global Child Pornography Rings- one photo can go to 1 million pedophiles
Third World Telemarketing Centers-ruthlessly preying on US young people
Pornhub: Child Pornography Case – took down 9.3 million images of child pornography
Individuals who Perpetrate – Daniel Harris- had many victims in US and overseas.
Sextortion creates sexual shame and an emotional devastation unlike any other crime.- few understand the life long emotional damage experienced by sextortion victims.
58% of kids who are being blackmailed will try to meet up with their predator
Many kids who are being sextorted have taken their own lives or have been murdered.
Many kids who meet up with their predator are put into forced prostitution or pornography production.
We believe that online child exploitation does not have to happen. Most kids want to be leaders and influencers but we must educate parents and youth about how the Internet is used by bad guys and how to protect themselves so they will not be a victim of exploitation.
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OUR CHILDREN ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR
I saw a great bumper sticker this week: You have to fight like the third monkey going into the ark and it is starting to rain!
Life seems more complicated these days. This generation of young people will have access to more information than any generation before them, but perhaps they will have less truth. With 24 hour news, world wide social media connections, mass audience live streaming apps that chat rooms connects us to millions of individuals it is sometimes hard for adults as well as young people to decide if the new relationship is empowering and beneficial or exploitative and dangerous.
As California begins to implement SB 357 that will mean law enforcement can no longer intervene for soliciting for street prostitution we are ALL challenged on how to keep our kids safe from being seduced into a world of easy money and exploitative sexual experiences.
After much soul searching, Million Kids leadership believes it is time for parents, grandparents and leaders to return to the basic principals to keep our kids safe from predators. We are in the fight of our kids future. It is time to "make time" for strategic discussion within families related to old fashioned values, doing what is right instead of what is easy, believing in self, the cost of taking the low road, and standing up for truth, honesty, and sexual self respect.
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"Grandparents are voices of the past and the door to the future. They provide us with the wisdom from a lifetime of experience that should never be undervalued." - Author Unknown.
This generation of young people will be the first generation in all of history that will be able to reach the entire world (through electronic devices) and the entire world can reach them. This generation will have more access to more information than any generation before them, but may have trouble discerning what is true. They will have relationships online with millions of people they don't know, but will struggle to find intimacy and in depth, reliable friendships they can trust. This generation will crave safe haven and inclusion while trolling across the web through apps that do not value their worth or vulnerabilities.
This generation of grandparents has one of the greatest missions of all time, but also one of the greatest challenges in crossing over the digital jungle to build trust, empathy, exchange humor and build pride between themselves and their grandchildren. Grandparents can get away with things parents can not. They can listen, and laugh and provide gentle guidance. They can tell stories of their lives so kids will know they are part of a long line of successful people. Grandparents can provide safe haven and inclusion and teach a young person how to relax and accept their own flaws while practicing self discipline, setting goals and developing a strong self image.
At Million Kids, we believe informed and prepared grandparents are the greatest weapon against a child becoming a victim of sex trafficking or social media exploitation. You are never too old to make a difference. We need more grandmas and grandpas, omas, opas, grammys, papas, nanas, grannys, pops, memaws, grams and gramps (or whatever affectionate term your grandchildren call you) to build a generation of young people who know who they are and what they stand for. They are more likely to have grandkids who are leaders and will educate others against taking short cuts that will lead to exploitation.
TO ALL THE GRANDPARENTS OUT THERE
MILLION KIDS SALUTES YOU!
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Every year approximately 1.3 million kids run away from home. Research indicates that about 1 out of 6 kids who run away will be a victim of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation within the first 48 hours. In 2014 Million Kids developed the MILLION KIDS MISSING KIDS program to support parents, law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. We get the word out about local missing children and teens, and help accelerate the location and return of runaway and missing kids. Thanks to Million Kids followers, we have been involved in the location and return of many kids who otherwise might have not been found. We could not do this without your prayers and financial support.
On this weeks show we will explore why kids run away. Often it is out of curiosity to meet up with someone they met on a chat room, dating site or hook up app and an anticipated quick encounter turns to heinous exploitation. Sometimes a young person develops a deep seated fantasy about a person they have been connected to online and they are convinced they are in love, but they are unable to realize the devious nature of the person they are meeting. Sometimes it is an escape from abuse or violence in the home. Sometimes it is because of alcohol and substance abuse. Sometime it is out of feelings of fear, anger or feelings of failure.
It is every parent's worst nightmare. Thank you for support the work of Million Kids Missing Kids so we can support the parents and grandparents who are praying for a child's safe return.
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This week we examine the case of missing 16-year-old teen, Kaylee Jones, who may be in a dangerous situation after meeting strangers on the hook up app, Omegle, and exchanging personal information including where she lived.
On June 14, Kaylee climbed out of her second story window of their home in the middle of the night, purportedly to meet up with individuals she met online and she has been missing ever since. According to Fox News, her parents believe their daughter may be a human trafficking victim.
We will also look at the potential dangers when parents post cute and entertaining videos of their toddlers on live streaming apps like TikTok. The mother of 3-year-old "Wren Eleanor" had made her little daughter into a TikTok star with over 17 million followers.
But wait!
Suddenly when looking deeper into her following, she discovered that videos of the 3 year old girl in a cropped shirt was specifically saved 45,000 times and videos of her eating a hot dog or pickle was saved 375,000 times. According to an article on Fox News, videos and photos can be saved on Tik Tok and other social media accounts, but predators can use a smartphone's screen recording feature to record and screen shot content directly to their phones without being traced.
Few parents and grandparents understand the world of online pedophilia and realize how vulnerable our kids are to being accessed, groomed, recruited, and exploited. In the case of toddlers and small children, predators and pedophiles are experts at obtaining seemingly innocent photos and photo shopping them to be bought, sold and traded to global pedophile rings operating in the Dark Net.
HELP FIND KAYLEE
Kaylee is described as 5 ft. 8 in. tall, weighing 135 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Her mother believes she may have a dark blue book bag "with a horse on the front." She may be wearing black tennis shoes or converse sneakers, according to authorities.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about Kaylee's whereabouts to contact Investigator Kim Biggs at 770-830-5916 or kbiggs@carrollsheriff.com.
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It seems like everyday we are inundated with riveting videos of the latest smash and grab at a big retailer, or a shooting at a public event, school or mall, and or thousands of foreign nationals crossing our border illegally. Social media, video on demand, and being globally connected has changed our world completely. Graphic and immediate images from around the globe, impact how we perceive crime, how individual criminals find each other online and join a "swarm" to loot an upscale retailer. It also changes how law enforcement agencies use technology to investigate and prosecute criminals.
This week's broadcast focuses on the psychological impact of being globally connected. Terrorists no longer just plant a bomb and run away. Rather, they film themselves in the act so individuals around the world are instilled with the fear and reality of the power of terrorism.
Large scale smash and grab rings often begin by a posting on social media and hundreds of individuals will show up to stores like Nordstroms or Best Buy to create a "swarm" of looting. Earlier this year over 80 individuals showed up at Nordstroms to loot and devastate the store as Security Personnel had no choice but to watch. The entire event was over in under 5 minutes. The criminals were recruited online using social media. These criminal activities are far different than organized crime where criminals had personal relationships which law enforcement could build a case and prosecute.
Using social media to recruit individuals to join a smash and grab operation means that the individuals will not know each others names or contact information and they are most often only together for under 20 minutes and quickly disperse. Impromptu mass criminal operations are difficult for law enforcement to investigate since most often the criminals don't know each other and have no obvious connection except for responding to a social media announcement.
This week we look at the power and challenges of social media in crime and crime solving.
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So often we hear older people today long for a world that is more certain, more predictable, more in line with the “Old Fashioned” values. Technology has brought the world closer together than at any time in history. It can be both good and bad. Social media allows friends and families enjoy the details of a life, even if they live thousands of miles away.
However, it can also be unsettling and even offend our sense of right and wrong. When a terrorist throws a bomb, they no longer instigate the destruction and walk away. No, today, we live in an instantaneous world where criminals film their acts as they are running away and hundreds of media outlets play and replay scenes of destruction, so we all can experience it firsthand, as if it happened to us. It disrupts our sense of safety, security and most important it disrupts our sense of predictability.
Twenty-four-hour live streaming and a saturation of social media and barrage of new and violent sexual images buried in our children’s online gaming means that our families are no longer just influenced by “family values” but rather strive to compete in a world of animation and competition to be a rising Tik Tok star or global gaming champion.
This brings us to the question: Is there such a thing as “Digital Morality”? There is a feeling in our society that if it is done online it does not count. It does not have to be true. It doesn’t have to be real. It doesn’t matter if it is fair or unfair. There is no right or wrong. It is only a game. It is only a video. In a world of “likes” and “shares” and “tweets” and “avatars” parents are challenged to raise young people with solid moral values. This is a discussion every parent should have before they are given devices where they have to make decisions about their moral code nearly every day.
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HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE THE WORLD BUT JUST DID NOT KNOW HOW TO
USE YOUR TALENTS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?
YOU WILL WANT TO HEAR OUR GUEST LINDA LATTIMORE
LINDA@LINDALATTIMORE.COM
Linda is a seasoned lawyer, C-Suite executive, global business strategist, author and social entrepreneur. Linda provides personal counseling, corporate counseling and group training programs to help individuals understand their strengths and talents and how to use those assets to make a positive difference in the world around them.
She believes that you can fill your heart account as full as your bank accounts! Linda has authored a best selling book sold on Amazon titled "Solutionaries, You are the Answer!" This book takes you through the process to help you discover your talents, gifts and skills, ones that make you uniquely qualified to lead and pursue your passion. Linda also works with corporations and philanthropic foundations to assist them in defining social impact strategies that support their business strategies. Linda is the founder of Cross Sector Institute, Solutionaries Academy and the WGN Global Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit supporting women and teen girls interested in social enterprise as a vehicle for change.
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California SB 357 had passed the House and the Assembly last October and was held for nine months on Sen. Weiner's desk because of the controversies surrounding the bill. The bill is sponsored in part by groups supporting gay and transgender rights and Sen Weiner said that he waited to send the measure to Gov. Newsom until Pride Month. The bill was also created to protect women of color that may be loitering for the purposes of prostitution from being targeted by Law Enforcement according to many supporters of the measure. SB 357 is designed to repeal the penal code and make it so law enforcement will not be able to intervene in any situation where the individual may be loitering for the purposes of soliciting prostitution.
THIS BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED BY GOV. NEWSOM WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS, IN ESSENCE LEGALIZING STREET PROSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
Please listen to this important broadcast. (being sent later by AM 590) Million Kids predicts that this bill will change the very fabric of our society. There are no provisions for truly protecting anyone, man, woman, gay, trans or straight. It simply states that law enforcement will not be able to intervene when someone is loitering to sell sex on the streets of California.
That means that sex sellers (and pimps) from all over the world can come to California and sell sex (and send the money back to China or Eastern Europe). Homeless people will be the most victimized as they are desperate for income and living on the street. With open borders, foreign nationals in need of immediate capital will be targeted. Most important there are no restrictions on where the loitering can take place. Loitering for prostitution will be legal in front of schools, churches, private businesses, schools and our homes and in front of our children.
Million Kids has been educating and combating sex trafficking in California for over twelve years. Never in our lifetime did we think we would see so many people who will be at great risk of exploitation. And this bill means, law enforcement will not be able to intervene. Our hearts are saddened at the number of people who will be exploited all the while telling the public they are "SAFER".
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Let’s face it. We are all guilty of checking our phone or doing a sneak peak at our texts on a regular basis. So, at what point does it move from over usage into a full-blown addiction? Researchers indicate that 83% of teens sleep with their phone and there is an older UK study that say as many as 25% of adults will answer their phone while having sex. The same study indicated that one in five people would rather go without their shoes for a week rather than take a break from their cell phone. Another study states that people touch their cell phone more than they touch their partners.
Really? Why is this?
Whenever you get a text, email or comment on a posted selfie, your dopamine signals in your brain increase. These neurotransmitters are associated with pleasure. However, the positive reaction is only temporary and as the feel-good dopamine wears off, you will go back to the source. Remember the story of Pavlov’s Dog. Every time we hear the buzz of a text or magical music of an incoming call, the sounds take us out of our mundane lives and reenforces our sense of importance. It is no wonder Sean Parker when he was Facebook, described it as a “social validation feed back loop”.
Get this! There is even a vocabulary for it.
Nomophobia: the abbreviation for “no-mobile-phone” phobia. The fear of going without your phone
Textraphrenia: A stage of thinking where you believe you heard a message come in or a device vibrate when it actually did not.
FOMO: Fear of Missing out.
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For years Million Kids has been educating parents and teens about how not to be blackmailed or scammed on dating sites, hook up sites and mass audience apps. Lately, it seems that there are more and more cases where adults experience the same kind of exploitation when they turn to the Internet to find their one and only love, or at least a BFF.
During this week’s show we explore some of the hot buttons that will alert you to sit up and be careful with an online relationship.
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When you meet on a dating site, they quickly want you to go off the chat and go onto a private chat.
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When you meet on one app, they quickly move you to another app.
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They very quickly accelerate the relationship, falling in love
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They suggest that the relationship is secret and not to tell
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They start sending sensuous photos and asking for yours.
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They start acting sexual while you are live streaming.
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They ask your age and suggest they might be older (for kids).
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They ask all the questions, and you give all the answers.
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They want to meet up.
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They start sending you gifts or money.
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They ask you for money.
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They ask you for preloaded gift cards.
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They look just too good to be true or may be using a fake identity.
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This is one of the most important shows we have ever produced. We are asking YOU to contact Gov. Newsom and stop the defunding of the Crimes Against Children’s Task Forces all over the state. That’s right. We must raise our voices and tell the Governor how important it is that our state fund child sex crimes investigations. Currently the 2022-2023 state budget EXCLUDES funding for California ICAC Task Forces.
Our guest today is Chief Billy Green, Fontana Police Department. The Fontana ICAC unit has conducted over 800 criminal investigations related to child sex crimes, served hundreds of search warrants and investigated nearly 700 cyber tips related to online child exploitation cases connected to the Inland Empire. They have just learned that their Task Force (and five other California ICAC Task Forces) have been omitted from Gov. Newsom’s new budget. Without funding, the unit will not be able to continue their important work.
Why is ICAC so critical? The California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces investigates child abuse cases, online sextortion (blackmail) cases, child pornography and pedophilia cases. Never has this been more needed.
The past two years, literally millions of young people went online, many without supervision and many too young to understand why a pedophile wants to connect with a naïve child and groom them to send an illicit photo. At the same time, large scale, global pedophile rings developed in the Dark Net using the internet to connect and share images of violated children. Pedophiles use technology to access, groom, and exploit millions of kids through apps, chatrooms, dating sites, hook up sites and online gaming. A suggestive photo sent by a child to what they believe to be a new friend, can be shared with over 500,000 pedophiles in less than a day. The child will never be able to get the photo back. It will change their lives (and the lives of their family) forever.
Without the proper funding for technology, resources and training, these cases may not be investigated and prosecuted effectively. Please listen to this show and contact your legislators to let them know just how critical the ICAC funding is to keep our kids safe from predators. Thank you.
HELP US TAKE ACTION TO STOP THIS TRAVESTY!
PLEASE PHONE OR EMAIL ASAP!
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Leg.unit@gov.ca.gov
916-445-2841
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CA State Assembly
Committee on Budget
AsmBudget@asm.ca.gov
916-319-2099
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CA State Senate
Budget Committee
SBUD.Committee@senate.ca.gov
916-651-4103
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SEEKING MORE INFORMATION: DE WAYNE WILLIAMS, CODY HANSEN, CHRISTOPHER LAUDERDALE
This week we will be looking at several new human trafficking and potential child pornography cases from Riverside County and surrounding counties and asking the public to come forward if you have more information regarding the individuals or potential cases.
Please note: These charges are alleged, and each individual deserves due process before determining guilt or innocence.
DeWayne Williams
Accused of sex trafficking at least 7 juvenile victims, Indio suspect nabbed at border checkpoint – Riverside County News Source
DeWayne Williams was apprehended at the San Ysidro border crossing attempting to cross into Mexico. Riverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) had been conducting a sex trafficking investigation that occurred in the cities of Palm Desert, Indio and Desert Hot Springs, Mr. Williams has been arrested and charged with human trafficking of a minor, pandering of a minor, lewd acts with a minor and inducing a minor to consume narcotics. He is being held in lieu of $1 million in bail or bond. During the investigation seven young victims of trafficking were identified but authorities believe there may be more individuals involved. If you know anything regarding this case, please contact: RCAHT Task Force Investigator Damien Butvidas 760-836-1600 or call anonymously at 760-341-STOP (7867) and refer to the DeWayne Williams file.
Cody Hansen Desert Hot Springs Man Accused of Human Trafficking a Minor
DESERT HOT SPRINGS (CNS) – A 31-year-old man accused of human trafficking and giving fentanyl to a minor, among other crimes, was arrested
and remained jailed today on $1 million bail. Cody Hansen of Desert Hot Springs was taken into custody at about 6 p.m. Thursday in the 11700 block of Upland Way, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Anyone with additional information about the case was urged to contact Investigator Aron Wolfe of the sheriff’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force
at 760-836-1600 or call anonymously at 760-341-STOP (7867) and reference incident #R220270002.
Christopher Lauderdale
Christopher Lauderdale, (35 years old) Yucaipa resident, was arrested and accused of downloading and distributing child pornography over the Internet.
Detectives with the Fontana Police Department served a search warrant at the home of Lauderdale where they seized multiple electronic devices from the home. Lauderdale was not home and was later arrested a few days later in Huntington Beach for possession and distribution of child pornography. Detectives discovered evidence that Lauderdale may have had access to a child during the search.
If you have any information regarding Mr. Lauderdale or this situation, please contact the Fontana Police Department- Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. You may email them at JDRODRIGUEZ@FONTANA.ORG.
Again: All should be considered innocent until they have received due process and a final verdict.
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SB1042: Defining human trafficking as a “serious” and “violent” crime was voted down by Democrats in the Public Safety Committee of the California Senate.
Thank you to Senator Shannon Grove for proposing it and to Senator Bogh for standing up for it.
BUT WE CANNOT QUIT NOW: PLEASE READ: CALIFORNIA AB2223
Read the Bill Text related to Reproductive Health. This bill will redefine the Mother’s role in abortion or death of the child up to 7 days after birth.
Read more on it:
AB2223 | California 2021-2022 | Reproductive health. | TrackBill
AB 2223 - California Family Council
Planned Parenthood unveils package of sponsored CA bills | The Sacramento Bee (sacbee.com)
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This week has been unsettling to good people around the world. Live streaming of heinous war crimes permeate our living rooms each night and we experience it like we were actually there. A most common comment is "how can this be happening in this day and age".
Many of us have watched the Supreme Court Confirmation hearings as we hear legal opinions about global online child pornography rings and we examine sentencing guidelines for perpetrators who engage in possession, manufacturing and distribution of images or live streaming of child exploitation. The candidate and indeed, some 70% of judges across the U.S. have supported leniency in sentencing of child pornography cases siting the impact of the Internet and how it has changed pedophilia behavior.
This week we will explore how world wide internet connection has brought together online pedophile groups on a scale hard to imagine. Law Enforcement has just announced the investigation and take down of a dark web pedophile ring called "Boystown" that had over 400,000 members who bought, sold and traded gruesome images of children and teens being sexually exploited.
The Internet does make it easier for pedophiles to access child pornography and share it with others.
But lost in this discussion is that there are now more victims than ever before, and the very nature of the world wide web means that their exploitation will be viewed by millions of people for years to come.
Boystown bust: German prosecutors say child porn platform had 400,000 members | CTV News
Boystown: Dark Web Child Abuse Image Site Immediately Taken Down | Dark Web Link | Deep web Onion Links | Darknet News
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The vetting of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court Justice this past week has brought to light many issues related to sentencing in child pornography cases (also known as CSAM - child sexual abuse materials). Depending on your political affiliation, her sentencing history either shows a leniency towards less severe sentencing, or sentencing completely acceptable according to U.S Sentencing Commission guidelines, acknowledging that Judge Brown was Vice Chair of that commission from 2010-2014.
Opal Singleton shares with you about how CSAM has changed over the years based on advanced technologies such as encryption, peer to peer networking, live streaming, crypto currency, the dark net and bulletproof hosting all of which is the basis for the global explosion of large scale CSAM rings.
Last year, law enforcement discovered a Dark Net child pornography ring with over one million paid subscribers using bitcoin to buy, sell and trade horrendous images of small children and teenagers who were being sexually exploited and many were being blackmailed. That means that the sexual exploitation was documented (via photo, video or watched through live streaming) by over a million pedophiles who not only used it for their own gratification but the exploitation the victim experienced will be shared by millions of perverts around the world forever. The victim will not be able to get the image back or stop the circulation of these degrading acts around the globe. Some organizations are actually trying to normalize pedophilia calling it MAPS, Minor Attracted Persons.
Simply stated: Our legislators need to take a whole new look at the heinous, far reaching and eternal impact of the crime on the victim based on modern day technology. With advanced technology our sentencing guidelines are no longer applicable or appropriate.
Why Child-Porn Laws Might Be Too Weak | National Review
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URGENT- IF YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA WE NEED YOUR HELP BEFORE MARCH 28, 2022 If you believe human trafficking should be prosecuted as a "Serious" and "Violent" crime in the state of California, you have a chance to be heard. Currently human trafficking is defined as a non-violent and non-serious crime in California. So acts of human trafficking cannot be considered under California's three strikes law.
This Insider Alert Broadcast educates the public about what makes up a violent and serious crime in California and what individual citizens, corporations and organizations can do to change it.
Acts of Human trafficking are not included in those penal codes. We believe they SHOULD be. We know that victims of trafficking, both minors and adults, male and female experience horrendous acts of violence that changes their lives for ever. The perpetrators MUST be held accountable.
If you live in California, we need you to get involved before March 28, 2022. Sorry, it is for California residents only. Please go to this link and research the law and look at other leaders who have decided to support this legislation.
SB 1042 Human Trafficking | Senator Shannon Grove
If you believe Human Trafficking should be considered a Violent and Serious crime in California, there are two ways for you to help.
1.) Click on this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8n-PYYdh0y9y_jibkq01WKxIRkpsNyUIMJOHQvEVukKpm7A/viewform and sign your name. Then share it with friends and family and ask them to do the same.
2.) If you, or your organization, would like to write a letter of support for the bill, below is a sample letter of support that you can recreate or use it as a guide as you share your own thoughts, opinions, knowledge and concerns. You can also add your own template, corporate logos etc.
Address the letter to:
Senator Shannon Grove
1021 O Street, Rm 7150
Sacramento, Ca 95814
Then scan the letter and email to Elizabeth Watson, Senator Grove's Legislative Director, at: Elizabeth.Watson@sen.ca.gov
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CARING.
Opal Singleton
President and CEO
Million Kids
SAMPLE SUPPORT LETTER
DATE
Senator Shannon Grove
1021 N Street, Room 7150
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Senator Grove:
I (for individual) or We write in support of your legislation, SB 1042. This important bill will include human trafficking in the lists of crimes that are defined as serious and violent under California law, making the crime a strike under the Three Strikes law. It will also help strengthen protections for the millions of victims of sex and labor trafficking.
California consistently ranks number one in the nation in the number of human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The California Attorney General notes that California is one of the largest sites for human trafficking in the United States, recognizes the serious nature of this crime, and has defined it as “modern day slavery.” Human trafficking is among the world's fastest growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150 billion-a-year global industry. It is a form of modern day slavery that profits from the exploitation of our most vulnerable populations.
SB 1042 will give a voice to the millions of victims that have suffered from this horrific abuse. This bill will fight to protect victims, strengthen prevention and increase the prosecution of those who buy and sell human beings. It is about time that California starts to prosecute these horrendous acts as serious and violent crimes.
For all of the reasons stated above, I support SB 1042.
Sincerely,
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Over the past few days I have had the incredible privilege of meeting with a variety of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the profession of investigating child sex crimes. Few of us understand the complexity of these investigations and emotional strength it takes to go after some of the most vile people on earth. These pedophiles troll the internet looking to access, groom, seduce, recruit and exploit our children.
The opportunity to meet these heros came out of the time we spent at the Santa Barbara Film Festival preparing for the release of the film "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic". When a child is seduced and exploited, it affects the entire family and changes the life of the young person forever. Most of these predators never have just one victim. So educating parents and teens to report crimes like sextortion is critical and saving the evidence and working with investigators is imperative to being able to identify the predator.
The men and women who conduct these very challenging and complex investigations are truly saints on earth. So proud to know them.
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OPERATION RECLAIM AND REBUILD 2022
FOUR COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARRESTS AND RESCUES
Every year leading up to the Superbowl and following January (National Human Trafficking Awareness month) we are bombarded with publicity about how large events attract pimps and traffickers and human trafficking activities see a significant increase. Now that the events are over, we have the facts. If you participate in a sex trafficking operation during this time - you will get caught!
California Statewide:
Authorities made almost 500 human trafficking arrests in California during Super Bowl week – White House Wire
Law enforcement agencies in California made nearly 500 human trafficking-related arrests and aided more than 80 trafficking victims in the state in a sex trade crackdown executed during Super Bowl week, authorities announced on Tuesday.
The statewide effort, called Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, was coordinated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department but involved agencies from Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and seven other counties.
Riverside County:
Press Releases • Riverside County Sheriff, CA • CivicEngage
For this year’s operation, RCAHT task force officers and our allied Riverside County law enforcement partners held operations in the cities of Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Riverside, Palm Desert, San Jacinto and Temecula. Over the span of four consecutive days, the task force arrested 31 males and 7 females for solicitation of prostitution to include 4 adult victims rescued.
Task force officers also made contact with two adult females believed to be victims of sex trafficking. Initial investigations led the task force to believe these subjects were being forced to engage in acts of prostitution against their will. The identity of these victims will not be released pursuant to state confidentiality laws. The victims were referred to victim services for assistance as the investigation into their sex trafficking continues.
San Bernardino County:
Stop the Violence: Operation Reclaim and Rebuild Results in 12 Victims of Human Trafficking Located & Rescued, 36 Suspects Arrested
36 suspects arrest for violation associated with prostiution and other crimes.
12 victims of human trafficking were located and rescued
Four sex traffickers (pimps)
Orange County
56 arrested on suspicion of human trafficking in Orange County during Super Bowl week
56 arrests rescued 16 victims of trafficking just before Superbowl Sunday
Two of the rescued victims were minors.
Los Angeles County
LA human trafficking operation rescues more than 80 victims | AP News
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said 74 adults and eight children were rescued, while 34 suspected traffickers were arrested. About 200 sex buyers, known as johns, were also taken into custody as part of the operation.
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SEXTORTIONFILM.COM
See the trailer for our new film about to release
Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic
This week we announce the release of the trailer for the film about sextortion that we have all been waiting for. Sextortion - blackmail where predators threaten to publish private images or videos online unless the victim meets their demands have become a global crisis for young people and adults alike. It is difficult to determine just how big the issue is because there are multiple reporting hot lines but last year the The New York Times reported that technology companies identified a record 45 million online photos and videos of minor sexual abuse (in 2020).
Predators use a wide variety of seduction and technologies to exploit their victims. Sometimes it is a dating site and a fantasy relationship, sometimes it is a video game chat room where live streaming records a moment of weakness as kids play games that include pornography. Sometimes it is a porn site user exchanging fetishes without realizing that live streaming works both ways. Once the victim is compromised the extortion begins and their lives are changed forever.
Million Kids has been educating and combating the crime of sextortion for 12 years and we are proud to announce the release of the trailer of our upcoming movie project with Aurois Media. Go to Sextortionfilm.com and watch the trailer.
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SENTENCE GIVEN TO FONTANA, CALIFORNIA MAN FOR SEX TRAFFICKING OF GIRL HE MET ONLINE This is a local case of a 42 year old man who met a 15-year-old girl online. She initially lied about her age but he acknowledged that he knew she as a minor and liked that. She borrowed a friends phone and later arranged to meet up with him twice, taking her from the Inland Empire (California) to Santa Barbara. He secured a hotel room and had sex with the minor and agreed to pay the minor $600 for the sex. There is much to learn by understanding this case. Any time a minor in the State of California is engaged in commercial sex, even if it is willingly, it is a case of sex trafficking.
Another important take away from this case is how the family and family friend handled it. Mistakes were made but in the end the evidence was preserved. This Insider Alert shares how to handle it if you believe a minor is being exploited (either because they have been groomed and coerced or if they are a victim of sextortion or social media exploitation).
Fontana Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Underage Girl He Met on Internet | USAO-CDCA | Department of Justice
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WHY WOULD GOV. NEWSOM WANT TO SIGN CALIF. SB357 LEGISLATION TO BASICALLY LEGALIZE STREET PROSTITUTION?
The Superbowl brings lots of hype about sex trafficking. It is good that we have awareness to the fact that large scale events attract all kinds of people including sex buyers and sex sellers.
It is also interesting that the Superbowl this year is being held in Los Angeles, one of the largest homeless populations in the U.S. and they are being moved away from the Superbowl so as to not distract from International event. But a homeless woman is a trafficked and exploited woman. Homeless woman are exploited for drugs, cigarettes, food and sometimes they are raped while they sleep. The question is who is going to address this?
At the same time of all the Superbowl hype, Gov. Newsom has a bill he is considering signing (SB 357) that would make it so law enforcement cannot intervene in loitering for prostitution in California. In essence, it will legalize street prostitution. It is called the "California Safe Streets Act".
Supporters say it will help sex trafficking victims as law enforcement cannot intervene in their solicitation and thus they will not get arrested. But the bill has few limitations. Solicitation for prostitution will take place everywhere including in front of your home, your office, your business, your school and your church because they can.
The Superbowl is a one time a year event. Loitering for prostitution without intervention will attract pimps and predators and their victims from all over the world and the most vulnerable will be Los Angeles female homeless population. Where is the hype for that?
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CASE STUDY: FOREIGN NATIONAL VICTIMS TRAFFICKED IN A STRING OF BROTHELS - DEFENDENTS CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING, TAX FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING
California Attorney General Bonta secures guilty pleas in statewide sex trafficking bust. Jing Chiang Huang, "aka Lili" pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison. She was ordered to pay $557,391 in restitution to the California Franchise Tax Board. There are six defendants charged with multiple felonies including tax evasion and money laundering.
This case is an excellent case study in how foreign national massage parlor brothels are used to deceive and recruit more than a dozen females from China and exploit them by forcing and coercing them into providing commercial sex acts in multiple locations throughout California. The dollars generated by the sexual exploitation of these females are then laundered and sent to China. Victims of foreign national trafficking on U.S. soil fear they will be deported, often their documents are held by their captors and often they are told that their family back home will be harmed.
We use this case study to help identify when a business might be a front for an illicit commercial sex business and to recognize indicators that an individual may be a victim of foreign national sex trafficking rings.
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Federal Reserve Begins Discussing “Government Digital Currency” | Informing America
The U.S. Government announced this week that they are exploring the possibility of issuing a Government digital currency with many corporations and agencies including big tech companies. Currently crypto currencies like Bitcoin are used in online video gaming, the pay per view porn industry and other online subscriptions. About 18 months ago China released the People's Republic of China's "Digital Yuan" and they have been slowly implementing it throughout their society and other cooperative countries.
Over the past three years, Facebook owners have proposed a digital currency called Libra and later the Diem to the U.S. legislators but the Senate Finance Committee rejected it stating that it might put pressure on the U.S. Dollar.
One of the important considerations in this discussion is that digital currency is most often used in social media and online gaming where the big tech companies gather significant personal data on the user. Social media companies track users searches, clicks, locations, music tastes, preferances in celebrities, medical inquiries, and yes pornography engagement and sell that data to millions of ad buyers and marketing corporations.
The question is: if the U.S. Government provides a federal crypto currency, who will get access to the data gathered in the buy/sell/search transaction? And what if the user is a minor? And what if it involves a sex act? Or a sex act involving a minor using crypto currency?
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LA County Sheriff says Super Bowl draws human traffickers – Daily News
Sex Trafficking Bust During Super Bowl Week In Tampa Results In Record Arrests – CBS Tampa
Man gets 25 years for sex trafficking at 2020 Super Bowl - ABC News
Superbowl 2022 is upon us, and the subject of human trafficking connected to the event is already being publicized. Today the headline reads “LA County Sheriff says Super Bowl draws human traffickers”.
Any time, there is a major sporting event that draws individuals from out of town to party in large numbers, there is bound to be an increase in people who buy sex from commercial sex providers, buy drugs from undercover dealers and commit offenses they would normally never do in their own communities.
It seems there is a sense of freedom, a naïve belief that they won’t get caught, and even a sense of entitlement that embellishes the belief that sex buying is a victimless event. At the same time, law enforcement is gearing up to bring in hundreds of officers, investigators and preparing prosecutors to ensure that victims are not sold and exploited at this event.
How real is this? Last year Super Bowl 2021, Tampa law enforcement arrested a total of 100 people who were seeking to either buy or sell sex. According to ESPN, it is not just the Super Bowl, in 2019 officials arrested 58 people in a sex trafficking sting operation during the NCAA (Basketball) Tournament that included 47 people being charged for felony solicitation of a minor and 11 people for sex trafficking or promotion of prostitution.
It will be interesting to see how this works out in LA as Los Angeles is well known to have several tracks or blades where prostitution is conducted in broad daylight everyday. There is even a bill (SB 357) that has passed the Senate and Assembly that would make it so law enforcement could not intervene in loitering for street or car prostitution. This in essence legalizes street prostitution. The bill is on Senator Weiner’s desk waiting for Governor Newsom’s signature. All very interesting.
Stay Tuned.
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For many years, Million Kids has been combating child exploitation including sex trafficking, sextortion, social media exploitation and child pornography. In the course of that work, we have met an exceptional private investigator that is passionate about helping parents and young people that may be at risk. For many parents, a private investigator is a critical resource to gain insight into a situation they are concerned about.
Lyn shares with our audience her experience working with families of young people who are being exploited online, some are being blackmailed and some of the young people meet up with strangers and disappear. Lyn shares about indicators for parents that the young person is into risky behaviors or who has had a significant personality change.
We talk about cases involving divorce where children are at risk, or when a family member suspects that someone is involved in child pornography or is soliciting minors online. Every case is different. Sometimes it is trying to locate an adult (child) that is missing or suspected to be a victim of sex trafficking. Sometimes it is assisting a parent that has a child that may have sent an illicit photo and is being blackmailed but the parent does not understand how to search social media.
Lyn also works to educate and train parents and young people about how to stay safe online.
In a world without borders and a home without walls, you are never sure of who you are conversing with.
Lyn can be reached at: OCLadyPI@gmail.com
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As the year comes to an end, we reflect on the amazing gifts God has given to help Million Kids educate schools, parents and kids for prevention and intervention of online child sexual explotiation. Many of our supporters are listeners to our show "Exploited: Crimes and Technology" which airs every Saturday afternoon at 3:00PM on AM 590 (The answer).
Sextortion has become the TRUE pandemic. Last year National Center For Missing and Exploited Children fielded more than 20 MILLION calls for child sexual exploitation reports.
The reasons for the massive increase in reporting is varied. Over the past year we have had more young people online for more time than ever before. An unsupervised child online is a available and vulnerable child to a predator or pedophile. As technology becomes more complex it allows pedophiles to form large scale rings hiding in the dark net or using bulletproof hosting to find, groom and exploit innocent young people. Tech companies and law enforcement are developing specialized technology to identify pedophiles online and seek out illicit images that may be a case of child sexual exploitation.
Online Child Sexual Exploitation is the true pandemic. And few people realize it or are talking about it. Million Kids is dedicated to keeping our kids safe from predators.
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Michael Stephen Autry and six others sentenced for administrating a child pornography ring using Kik Messenger.
Autry was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography. Autry created a group called "Taboo Train 2.0" using the Kik Messenger app.
Autry told the group it was meant for members to share pic and videos of all things taboo, incest, young, your own family members and discuss taboo fantasies and real life stories.
Unbeknownst to Autry an FBI undercover agent had joined the group and was even invited in to a specialized group called "The Common Interest" which Autry was the administrator. In addition to Autry, there are eight other defendants who have been identified as participating in the online child pornography ring.
Take away: child pornography rings, whether they are operated through a public platform such as KIK or in the Dark Net, are extremely destructive to the minor victims that have their photos taken during exploitation and shared with thousands, even millions around the globe.
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This case is an important reminder that all pimps do not look like a 20 something gang guy. And all grooming and seduction does not look the same.
Ratliff was convicted of six counts of human trafficking and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a minor. For a period of over seven years, Ratliff owned a restaurant and rental properties where he would provide conduct parties and provide minors with marijuana and Xanax in exchange for sexual favors.
Evidence indicated that he then would obtain sex acts for his friends and from adult women using force and coercion. As the case was being investigated, many minors came forward with evidence that the commercial sexual exploitation of minors had been taking place by Ratliff over a period of nearly seven years.
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With so many kids online due to distance learning and the age of the kids using the Internet is getting younger and younger, sextortion (black mail with a photo) and social media exploitation is being a global pandemic. Most kids believe it will never happen to them or if it does they will be able to identify a predator before they become exploited.
It simply does not happen that way. This week we will discuss what behavioral changes to look for in young people who have become victims and most important what to do about it. As technology turns more towards global connectivity, and mass audience live streaming, and virtual reality, it is imperative to prepare the next generation of young people to live in a virtual world of strangers.
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MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GENERATED THROUGH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY GO?
California AG, authorities announce sentence for defendants in major retail crime case in San Mateo County | KRON4
Five people charged with conspiracy, organized retail theft, possession of stolen property, and charging enhancements for aggravated white-collar crime. Mass theft of over $8 million dollars in over-the-counter drugs and merchandise stolen in the U.S. and sold overseas. One of the major cases happened in Walnut Creek Ca when 80 people raided a Nordstrom and a San Jose jewelry store. It was the target of smash and grab burglars.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said that when Sheriff’s Deputies and State Department of Justice Agents searched a Concord warehouse and storage units, they found massive amounts of merchandise stolen from retail thefts of stores like CVS, Target and Walgreens as well as commercial burglaries, resident burglaries and auto burglaries. The stolen goods are sent offshore and converted into legitimate revenue.
Human Trafficking Gang Washed Millions Through Hard Rock Tampa: Feds
A violent human trafficking gang smuggled more than 100 Mexican and Central American laborers into the U.S. to work in “brutal conditions” on farms in Georgia, Florida, and Texas, federal prosecutors said this week. Victims were kept in horrendous conditions, some were raped, kidnapped, and beaten, and their lives and the lives of their families were threatened. This transnational Criminal Organization generated more than $200 million through exploitation. Much of it was laundered by buying and selling commercial properties and millions of dollars were laundered through the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.
The Bicycle Casino Fined $500K for Federal Anti-Money Laundering Violations
The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California, was fined $500,000 by federal authorities on Friday for failing to file proper anti money laundering reports. The Bycycle Casino failed to report a Chinese national high roller who visited the casino about 100 times during a nearly 8 month stretch in 2016. The high roller employed an assistant who handled more than $100 million in cash transactions at the casino.
Members of hacking group sentenced for stealing millions in cryptocurrency
An international hacking group stole millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Six members were sentenced in connection with a multi-million-dollar SIM hijacking conspiracy. Criminals do not have to be on U.S. soil to exploit victims and they laundered nearly $20 million dollars out of the country. SIM hijacking or SIM swapping is an identity theft technique that exploits mobile phone numbers resulting in text messages controlled by “The Community”. Once “The Community” had control of a victim’s phone number it was leveraged as a gateway to control online accounts such as email, cloud storage and cryptocurrency exchange accounts. “The Community’s” scheme resulted in the theft of tens of millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency.
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Thanksgiving and Christmas time often brings our life into perspective. We might find ourselves looking at what is important in our lives. We recently saw a poem that was forwarded to us by an old friend. It is called "Winter of my Life". It reminds us all of how finite our lives are and how critical it is to live a life of gratitude.
Granny&Grampsplace: Winter of my Life
This poem reminds us of what is important. Family, friends, honesty, values, truth, forgiveness, and health are some of the critical elements of a life well lived. It also reiterates to us how important it is to educate our young people that each decision they make will build the character they have chosen.
I am reminded of a sage piece of advice given to me by Dr. Gary Jorgensen in Utah. You are responsible for your own happiness. A thousand times a day you get to decide. Be responsible and build character or blame others and reap a life of misery. As we go into the holiday season, we realize that gratitude is the gift from God that makes our lives complete.
We are grateful to all of Million Kids followers who support us with the prayers and donations each and every day.
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California has passed and implemented a wide of legislative reforms that seem to be have a vastly negative impact on crime and community safety. Starting with Prop 47 and 57 which has resulted in emptying out our prisons and letting sex offenders out early. These bills redefined "violent" crimes in the California Penal code and the result is that even human trafficking of a child is not considered a "violent" crime. At the same time thousands of sex offenders are being considered for early release from incarceration.
Prop 47 raised the theft threshold to $950 per location and made it a misdemeanor. The result is a raging increase of home burglaries and shoplifting crimes. Several stores are having to close as they are losing an average of $25,000 a day through organized criminal shop lifting rings.
Major stores like Nordstrom's have been looted and vandalized with rioters brandishing bar crows and weapons. All of this is happening as new bills are introduced such as the California Safe Streets Act (Prop 357) that will in essence legalize street and car prostitution making it so law enforcement will not be able to intervene.
By overlooking Federal Immigration processes, California has determined itself to be a "Sanctuary State". The result is millions of people who are at risk of exploitation by organized criminal coyotes, now reside among us and little can be done to protect them from ruthless predators seeking to retaliate while they are trying to settle in to the American Dream.
On a stand alone basis, each bill will negatively affect our community and family's safety. But on a cumulative basis it will change our society in a way, that we will hardly recognize it a few months from now.
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There is much publicity these days regarding the crimes of sex trafficking and sextortion (blackmail with a photo). These crimes often take place in the shadows and are hard to identify. Even more concerning for parents are what signs should they look for if they believe a loved one is being trafficked. Especially if that loved one is a minor.
This weeks show we will discuss in detail signs of trafficking and behavioral indicators related to sex trafficking and sextortion. These will include some of the following:
A sudden fantasy relationship.
Becoming secretive
Depression and low self esteem.
A sudden need for money.
Coming home with new gifts, bling, nails etc.
Spending a lot of time on dating sites and hook up sites.
A female with a new girlfriend that seems not quite right
Change in school attendance and a drop in grades
Running away or spending time away from family without explanation
Receiving an offer regarding modeling, dancing, etc.
Sudden extra money with no obvious source
New Tattoos especially with someones name, or a rose made out of dollars
New bite marks, bruises, cigarette burns, scratches and cuts
One or more prepaid phones that the parent did not provide to them
Unable to sleep, anxious, agitated, highly emotional
Very withdrawn, not willing to communicate.
Cutting
Older Boyfriend or Girlfriend.
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This case begins with 39 yr old Joshua Henry Punt who lives in Washington State. He is charged with :
· PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
· ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR
· DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
· ADVERTISEMENT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Mr Punt was a serial sextortionist with 8 young female victims ranging from 12 yrs to 16 yrs old. The victims were from all over the U.S. Mr. Punt used Kik and Snapchat to connect with the innocent girls and he used photos and videos from You Tube to pretend to be a good-looking young guy. He would seduce the girls into sending illicit photos and he used a second phone to record videos the girls were sending.
Once the girls began to be reluctant to send more photos, he would threaten them with posting the previous images online and share them with their friends, teachers, coaches, family and schools. He would demand more photos and more explicit photos.
Mr. Punt was not only sextorting these young girls, but he was also an administrator of a child pornography ring where the participants were pressured into sending weekly illicit photos of young people. He demanded new members share content and banned users that failed to share child pornography. He also shared the photos he obtained through threatening his young victims with a large number of other pedophiles in the ring.
One of the victims, a 15 yr. old girl in New York finally refused to send any more photos in spite of his threats and told her parents. Together they reported the case in New York. Once Law Enforcement became involved, they were able to identify the pedophile as Joshua Punt in Washington State and subsequently arrested, prosecuted and sentenced him. The brave actions of this young girl resulted in stopping the online sexual exploitation of many other young girls across the U.S.
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Brendan Eardly was a convicted sex offender at the time of his arrest for online sexual exploitation of nearly 60 young males across the U.S. Recently, Eardly was sentenced to 29 years in prison for soliciting and producing child pornography from teenage boys on social media.
Many people think that online social media exploitation is mainly focused on girls but truthfully, males are also often exploited. Regardless of gender, little attention is given to the vulnerabilities of individuals in the gay community in seeking online relationships. Brendan Eardly used popular social media apps, KiK Messenger Facebook and Instagram to meet and seduce more than 60 young males offering to be their "Gay Mentor" and building relationships based on trust.
Eardly often would send images of child pornography obtained from one victim to other victims with whom he was communicating. In one case he purchased gifts and built a relationship with a 13 year old boy in Utah. Most victims were not aware that Eardly was a child pornographer and the images would be shared with others. At the time of his arrest, Eardly has multiple electronic storage devices holding thousands of photos of young males.
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Over the many years that Million Kids has worked with families and kids who have been victimized through online sexual exploitation or have become victims of sextortion or sex trafficking we have observed many indicators in behavior that made a person more likely to be a victim of exploitation or not. The one key insulator that seems to protect naïve and perhaps risk-taking young people is character.
Video games and live streaming often contain interactive and extreme pornography. Kids will tell you that sex on the internet is not really sex and killing is not really killing. But many video games use sex as a weapon, sex without consequences, sex as a score, sex used as domination and exploitation.
Many apps now connect our kids to millions of people they will never meet and they now can text directly to your child. A percentage of them are pedophiles. Some look like friends, some look like someone you might hook up with. How do we teach young people to discern between empowering relationships and exploitative relationships with thousands of people they have not met.
The key is talking about “character” with your child. Get your child to write down their “core values”. What do they believe is right. What traits do they admire in themselves and others. What traits do they not like. Talk about pedophilia and why people want to become friends or ask for photos. Talk about digital morality.
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CALIFORNIA'S SENATE BILL 357 HAS PASSED THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY AND NOW ON GOV. NEWSOM'S DESK FOR SIGNING
Hosts: Opal Singleton and Nancy Aguirre
California SB 357 is a very controversial bill that is now on Gov. Newsom's desk for signing.
The bill is called "The California Safe Streets Act". The bill was authored by Sen. Weiner and is focused on redefining California Penal Code in the definition of loitering for the purpose of prostitution. Those supporting the bill actually call it a "human trafficking" bill. Their position is that many individuals engaged in prostitution are of people of color and they are unfairly targeted by law enforcement. This bill will make it so law enforcement cannot intervene with individuals who may be loitering for the purpose of prostitution. This will in essence legalize street prostitution.
The bill was passed with votes along party lines in both the Senate and the Assembly. Sen Weiner decided to hold the bill until after the recall election before sending it to the Governor for signature. The bill is highly controversial and many legislators have been contacted by individuals asking them to not sign the bill. Many survivors of sex trafficking have protested in Sacramento saying the bill will create many more victims of sex trafficking if law enforcement cannot intervene.
Million Kids has issued multiple press releases indicating their concern about this bill. Unlike other states that have legalized prostitution, this bill has few restrictions. We are greatly concerned that California is about to experience thousands more victims of sex trafficking as word spreads around the country that loitering for prostitution in California is legal. Additionally, thousands of vulnerable individuals will be at risk including homeless, undocumented individuals owing a debt to a trafficker, massage parlor workers that will now solicit on the street, and our kids who will witness street sexual solicitation.
This week we will discuss the issues at hand if Governor Newsom decides to sign this bill.
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**HEADLINE: Former California Youth Soccer Coach Faces Child Pornography Charges, Feds say.
Mark Phillip Oster – 62 (Huntington Beach, CA), Ex-Referee and Coach, American Youth Soccer Organization
Four count Indictment for distributing, possessing and producing child pornography. Subsequent evidence was uncovered that indicated Oster had engaged in illegal conduct with minors. Contact: FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565
**U.S. DOJ HEADLINE: Inland Empire Man That Worked At Group Homes and Mental Health Facilities Indicted on Series of Child Exploitation Offenses
Steve Jackson Rodriguez - 37 (Pomona, CA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are seeking the publics assistance to identify potential victims of a CNA who worked at a Southern California group home for the severely disabled. Rodriguez was indicted for multiple child exploitation crimes – including filming himself sexually abusing children at the group home facility. Rodriguez was indicted on six counts including four counts alleging he produced child pornography with three minor victims being housed at the Inland Empire Group Home. One of the disabled victims was 8 years old when Rodriguez filmed the illegal sexual conduct. If you have any additional information regarding Steve Jackson Rodriguez or any possible victims related to this case, please contact: HSI Tip line at 866-347-2423
**LOS ANGELES TIMES HEADLINE: Coach Arrested on Suspicion of Placing Camera in Girl's Bathroom at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga
David Riden - 52 (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), Former Assistant Football Coach, Boys Locker Room Attendant
David Riden has been charged with child pornography after school officials discovered a hidden camera in a girl’s restroom at Los Osos High School. Riden’s home was searched by detectives, and they seized multiple digital media devices. The hidden camera, which was discovered by another school staff member, looked like a cellphone charger that had been plugged into a bathroom wall. But the gadget was actually recording images in the locker room and near the pool of female students, including members of the girl’s water polo team. Riden has pleaded “not guilty” to charges of felony possession of child pornography and two felony counts of using a minor for sex acts. Following his arrest, Riden resigned from his position and is no longer employed by the school. An attorney representing several families who may have been recorded said there could be “hundreds of young women on the video”.
If you have any information about this case, please contact: Rancho Cucamonga Police Department. 909-941-1488
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The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center warns about a huge increase in the number of cases involving children and teens being threatened and coerced by adults into sending explicit images on line. According to the report, most victims report that the initial contact with the perpetrator is mutual after meeting on a dating website and chatroom apps. Very quickly the perpetrator starts the exchange of sexually explicit materials and encourages naïve young people to encage in video chat or exchange illicit photos or videos.
With online learning we are seeing a significant increase in the number of people spending many hours using Internet devices making them much more available to be contacted by someone with ill intent. Additionally, with the implementation of stay at home online learning the average age of internet users has dropped significantly, which now includes millions of prepubscent children.
On this weeks podcast, Opal Singleton discusses the challenges of preparing very young people to recognize when they are dealing with a predator and what to do about it.
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There is so much going on in the world that feels out of control. The situation in Afghanastan, Hurricanes, Fires, political unrest, changes in school policies, and now California is on the verge of passing SB357 which will make it so law enforcement cannot intervene in case of loitering for the purposes of prostitution. It is hard not to feel overwhelmed.
I believe that never before in history is the role of the Parent or Grandparent been so important in influencing our children about values. This generation of young people will live in a technology advanced world where they will be connected to millions of people they have never met. It seems almost hourly the media is filled with stories that simply offend our values. Our role at Million Kids is to prepare adults and teens to live in a world where they know who they are and what they stand for. That they have strong self worth and become leaders to teach the next generation how to live in a world of technology with respect and responsibility.
This week on our radio show we will talk about 5 important principles:
You only have one life and every day you make decisions of what you want that life to look like. Are you going to be:
DEPENDENT OR INDEPENDENT
HELPLESS OR HELPFUL
CARING OR SELF CENTERED
VICTIM OR VICTOR
Self Esteem is a gift you give yourself - a decision you make - never let someone else determine your value and self worth.
Relationships can be empowering or exploitative.
There is no such thing as damaged goods. Learn from your mistakes and take control of your life.
You cannot do it alone. There is a Higher Power than can fill in for your weaknesses.
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THE DARK NET
BULLETPROOF HOSTING
VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS
Have you ever wondered how law enforcement investigates crimes in the underworld?
This week Opal takes you on a journey of understanding how the Dark Net is different than the Surface Web and "where naked photos go when you hit send". We will explore how cartels and pedophiles have moved off shore using heavily encrypted technology to operate
organized criminal enterprises involved in child pornography, ransomware, money laundering, and the sale of illegal guns and drugs.
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Our guest is Jeremy Kraus sharing about the upcoming Thrive Justice School which they are holding August 27, 28 and 29 in Rancho Cucamonga, California. This is a kind of "boot camp" for individuals seeking to be trained in sex and labor trafficking, sextortion, social media exploitation and combating CSAM (child pornography).
The event features national experts from across the country, and is an intense training to prepare individuals to be leaders in combating human exploitation in the US and Internationally. At the end of the three day training individuals will be invited to explore the possibility of taking missions trips to South East Asia. You are invited to be a part of this fantastic learning experience.
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Quietly making it's way through California legislative process is a bill that will legalize street prostitution. Few people are aware of how drastically this will change our communities and our lives. Million Kids predicts that it will drastically increase the number of sex trafficking victims as pimps and organized crime will bring thousands of people to California to make money. Certainly, they will claim the sex worker is independent but without law enforcement intervention, how can we know?
Opal Singleton is joined by Nancy Aguirre who is a National Human Trafficking Expert with years of experience supporting law enforcement working with gang, narcotics and sex crime investigations. Be sure to join us as we explore the impact on our families and communities if SB 357 is voted into law.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
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There is a bill making its way through California legislation that will legalize street prostitution in California and even more concerning, allow those previously convicted of prostitution or related offenses to have their sentences overturned or dismissed. Almost no one seems to be aware of SB 357 which has passed the Senate and is in the final stages of a vote in the State Assembly.
The fact that few people are aware of it should get your attention. This bill will change the very fabric of our society and our children’s future.
SB 357, authored by California Senator Wiener, repeals Sections 653.20, 653.22 and 653.23 of the California Penal Code, which had defined loitering in a public place for the purpose of engaging in street prostitution and made it a misdemeanor. In plain language, by repealing these sections, it makes street prostitution legal and law enforcement would not be able to intervene whether the behavior is on a street or in a car. The bill would also authorize those convicted of a violation of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution to petition the court for the dismissal and sealing of their case.
The bottom line here is that it leaves almost no restrictions in defining prostitution. In Nevada, where they legalized prostitution in some counties, there are very strict perimeters. The services are in a specified area, the sex workers get regular testing for disease, and the Health Department has regulations and inspections. None of this is true in Senator Wiener’s bill.
Once this bill passes our communities will be changed forever. Pimps from all over the US (and internationally) will be bringing their sex workers to California because law enforcement will not be able to prevent sex workers from soliciting on the street.
Businesses will suddenly find that their regular customers do not want to deal with the sex selling taking place in front of their businesses. Where there is prostitution there are used condoms and drug needles left behind. Children will be exposed to all forms of illicit sex acts. The online sex ads will direct sex buyers to meet on the street where law enforcement cannot touch them. It could be in front of a convenience store, liquor store, school and even your local church.
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This is the continuing series of case analysis involving violent gang members who exploit women and control them through violence. This case is about Dominic Cunningham, a violent pimp who was sentenced on three counts involving forced prostitution. Cunningham controlled his victim by kicking, hitting and whipping her with a belt and threatening to kill her and her family.
This case analysis is shared to educate advocates about the various ways gangs trafficked their victims. Sometimes they operate in large scale multi state rings with dozens of victims such as the Blood case we recently analyzed with "Macknificent". In this case it is an individual pimp who belongs to a gang and is exploiting the victim in extremely violent circumstances.
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A look at a multi state adult sex trafficking ring led by a violent pimp with the gang moniker "Macknificent". There are several unique factors that we should take note of in understanding the many different ways gangs use to exploit women and conduct multi million dollar money laundering operations.
Much of the sex selling took place in upscale mansions in the Dallas Ft Worth area.
There were at least 20 women being coerced and forced into commercial sex.
There may be as many as 100 female victims nation wide.
Obviously there were other pimps working with Macknificent that have not yet been arrested.
The sex trafficking and money laundering was facilitated by two females working with the pimp.
This is organized criminal activity conducting forced prostitution in at least 13 states.
This case is about money laundering of at least $7.3 million made by prostituting women.
Macknificent, the controlling pimp was violent and often threatened to harm and kill the women.
The female victims feared for their lives. They were forced to earn $1000 a day and only received $10 of it to eat. They were beaten, slapped, raped, burned and kicked.
Police received tips of criminal activity prior to this SWAT raid but could not gather enough evidence to justify a warrant.
Initial interviews of the exploited females resulted in denial of any prostitution activity.
Police were called to a home invasion shooting and connected with one of the females.
That female later escaped and went to the hospital after being shot in the buttocks.
The escaped female trusted police enough to confess and her story was corroborated with
prior police investigation details.
The most important take away is that there is no text book case of gang trafficking. It is critical to understand the indicators of each case to educate yourself and others on how individual gang pimps and large scale criminal organizations use and exploit innocent people to make and launder millions of dollars.
Photo Credit: Josie Stephens
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/million-kids/support
This is a case analysis on a multi state adult sex trafficking ring led by a violent pimp with the gang moniker "Macknificent". There are several unique factors that we should take note of in understanding the many different ways gangs use to exploit women and conduct multi million dollar money laundering operations.
Much of the sex selling took place in upscale mansions in the Dallas Ft Worth area.
There were at least 20 women being coerced and forced into commercial sex.
There may be as many as 100 female victims nation wide.
Obviously there were other pimps working with Macknificent that have not yet been arrested.
The sex trafficking and money laundering was facilitated by two females working with the pimp.
This is organized criminal activity conducting forced prostitution in at least 13 states.
This case is about money laundering of at least $7.3 million made by prostituting women.
Macknificent, the controlling pimp was violent and often threatened to harm and kill the women.
The female victims feared for their lives. They were forced to earn $1000 a day and only received $10 of it to eat. They were beaten, slapped, raped, burned and kicked.
Police received tips of criminal activity prior to this SWAT raid but could not gather enough evidence to justify a warrant.
Initial interviews of the exploited females resulted in denial of any prostitution activity.
Police were called to a home invasion shooting and connected with one of the females.
That female later escaped and went to the hospital after being shot in the buttocks.
The escaped female trusted police enough to confess and her story was corroborated with
prior police investigation details.
The most important take away in this case review is that there is no text book case of gang trafficking. It is critical to understand the indicators of each case to educate yourself and others on how individual gang pimps and large scale criminal organizations use and exploit innocent people to make and launder millions of dollars.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/million-kids/support
This week a Riverside County Jury convicted Leonides Edgardo Guzman of contacting a minor to commit lewd acts, possession of child pornography and attempted production of child pornography.
According to Riverside County District Attorney's office, last August, Guzman was using a dating app when he contacted one of the agency's undercover investigators who identified himself as a 13 year old girl from Beaumont, California.
Guzman then sent several pictures of intimate body parts and asked to meet the young girl at Nicklaus Park in Beaumont according to prosecutors. When he showed up he was taken into custody without incident.
Mr. Guzman is awaiting sentencing. If you have any information regarding Leonides Edgardo Guzman please contact Riverside County Child exploitation Team at 1-866-723-3595 or email safe@RivCoDA.org.
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Dillon Jordan, a California based film producer was recently arrested in San Bernardino and made his initial appearance before a Federal Judge in Riverside. The charges are related to allegations that Jordan ran an international prostitution ring under the names of his production company and events planning company. He was charged in an indictment with conspiracy to violate the Mann Act, along with Mann Act and Travel Act violations and money laundering, “in connection with operating a prostitution business and laundering the proceeds of that prostitution business through two front companies – a purported party and event planning company and an actual movie production company,” prosecutors said in the press release.
Dillon Jordan produced "Skin" and "The Kindergarten Teacher" through Paperchase Films. He allegedly disguised payments for prostitution describing them as fees for modeling appearances, consulting, massage therapy and house parties. The indictment accuses Jordan of maintaining a “roster of women” who “performed sexual acts” for Jordan’s clients around the U.S., including in New York, in exchange for payment.
Dillon Jordan used several aliases: Daniel Jordan, Daniel Maurice Hatton and Daniel Bohler.
If you have any information related to Dillon Jordan and an International Prostitution Ring, please contact FBI Special Agent in Charge, George M. Crouch Jr in Newark, New Jersey FBI office or contact the National Hotline 1-888-373-7888 and ask them to refer it to FBI- Agent Crouch- Newark, New Jersey.
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This podcast looks at the intersection of doing away with the rule of law and not prosecuting "low level" crimes. We explore the impact of the millions of dollars that are generated when innocent teens are exploited through commercial sex in the Inland Empire and the proceeds are laundered to Mexico. We talk about the new industry where gangs and cartels use indentured migrants to shop lift and commit home burglaries and the money is used to grow the influence of gangs and cartels both in the US and internationally. We explore labor trafficking where hundreds of Laotians ( Hmong) are used to harvest illegal marijuana grown in California communities and many are living in deplorable conditions and being physically exploited.
Photo Credit: Kat Jayne
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Nearly every day we see a disturbing headline about how some popular social media app is being used by pimps, predators, gangs and cartels to access, seduce, recruit and exploit our kids. The volume of the schemes is sometimes overwhelming and the level of sophistication these groups use to lure kids into easy money or a seductive relationships seems intimidating at times.
Just in the past few weeks we see how India has banned Tik Tok and Likee because thousands of young people disappear after they have responded to offers of becoming a professional movie maker after sending a Tik Tok video. Several headlines in the U.S. announce that cartels and gangs are using Facebook and Whats App to recruit migrants for coyote crossings and even using online apps to pay the coyotes for the illegal crossing. Then another article about how border Cartels use Tik Tok, and social media to encourage American Teens to borrow the family car and pick up migrants for cash after they crossed the border.
The possibilities for exploitation after reading these articles gives you cold chills. But they cannot be ignored. Our kids will live in a world where they will interact with millions of people they have met, offering them a chance to make a quick and easy buck or a relationship where they will find true love and inclusion. It is absolutely critical to educate our young people about how these schemes and scams work and how to be a leader for others so they will not be seduced and violated.
Photo Credit: cottonbro
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These are fascinating times regarding global social media platforms and who is responsible when someone is exploited through a social media post. Whether it is one of our naive and vulnerable kids playing on line or an unaccompanied minor being lured in by a coyote through social media. Have you ever considered when a minor is exploited online, who is responsible?
The parent most often buys the minor a phone and down loads the apps. When downloading an app, you must click on "I agree" to get the app.. Most parents never read the terms of what they agree to including the minimal age requirement of the user. The parent has determined that their child is more responsible than most people their age and overlooks any age requirement believing their child will not violate the terms of the app contract. The child then decides that they are more sophisticated or mature than others and overlooks the rules the parent has agreed to by accessing and downloading apps they are not legally old enough to use. Often they send explicit videos and photos where they end up connecting with a pedophile, pimp or gang member and are violated.
The app platform feels they are protected because the parent has "Agreed" to their terms. Additionally the larger app companies have more than 2 Billion users and their position is that their services are offered with the users agreement to terms and conditions and it is impossible for them to monitor every post to see if it contains sexually explicit materials or exploitation of an underage user.
Social media is a unique phenomenon. Historically, social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and even some of the world's largest porn sites have contended that they are protected under Section 230 - an internet law that says online platforms are not responsible for third party content posted on the service's site.
Social media is not like a public utility where you pay a fee and use the communications device. It is a platform offering the public free access to post a wide range of content words, photos, videos etc provided they agree to abide by their "contract" to use the platform appropriately.
In 2018 Congress passed Fosta/Sesta laws signed by then President Trump. In essence these laws hold social media platform organizations responsible for the content that the public has posted on their site. This law makes it illegal to knowingly assist, facilitate, or support sex trafficking, and amend the Section 230 safe harbors of the Communications Decency Act (which make online services immune from civil liability for the actions of their users) to exclude enforcement of federal or state sex trafficking laws from its immunity.
Texas’ highest court has ruled that Facebook can be held liable for sex trafficking carried out on its social media platforms, after several victims accused the company of knowingly benefiting from its online facilitation. Friday’s ruling by the state’s Supreme Court allows three civil lawsuits by trafficking victims to proceed against the social media giant, after the court determined that current laws do not permit Facebook, or any other website, to act as a “lawless no-man’s-land,” according to the Houston Chronicle.
Photo Credit: Ibraim Leonardo
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San Bernardino County Sheriff, Marc Goodwin (43) was arrested and charged with 16 felonies relating to possession and publication of child pornography. The charges of possession of child pornography and possession of sadomasochistic child pornography are based on crimes committed from around June 8 through June 24, 2021 according to the charging documents.
Sgt. Marc Goodwin allegedly transmitted the pornographic images utilizing the email address of "loweredforlife.com". The charging documents allege that Goodwin exhibited or published material depicting child sexual content at least 10 separate times from August to October 2012, once in November 2014, twice in January 2017 and one in May of 2021.
Sheriff John McMahon said in a tweet. "I find it extremely disappointing when a member of our department acts in a manner that discredits the good work being done daily by our deputies.". McMahon said Goodwin "is no longer employed with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
If you have any information about or have received any pornographic images under the name "LOWERED FOR LIFE .COM" or "LOWEREDFORLIFE.COM" please contact:
Corporal Brad Guith
Fontana Police Department - Internet Crimes Against Children Unit
909-350-7723
BGuith@Fontana.org
PLEASE NOTE: A criminal complaint, an arrest, or an indictment is a formal accusation or allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
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California SB357 has been approved by California Senate and is in the Assembly Public Safety Committee and waiting for a vote. THIS BILL WILL LEGALIZE STREET PROSTITUTION IN CALIFORNIA. Million Kids believes this to be a catastrophe if it passes. Unlike other states that have legalized prostitution, this bill has few limitations on where and how the street commercial sex will take place. Most important it appears to have few protections for the victims of sex trafficking.
At the same time, California Office of Law Administration has declared a state of emergency to invoke the early release of up to 76,000 prisoners of which 20,000 could be prisoners charged with sex offenses. What about the people who testified against them?
Also some good news. Dozens of women sued Pornhub for posting videos without their consent. These women were purportedly offered what appeared to be legitimate "clothed" modeling jobs and when they arrived at the studio they found out they would be doing porn shots. They were allegedly threatened and coerced into meeting the terms of their contract with the false promise that the films would not be distributed publicly. In the end, the films were distributed around the globe.
Photo Credit: Engin Akyurt
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Senator Weiner introduced a bill that would in essence, legalize street prostitution. It has passed the House and is now in the Assembly Public Safety Committee getting ready for a final vote. California SB-357 will make it so law enforcement cannot intervene in street prostitution.
This bill, if it passes will be devastating for communities around California and also to the thousands of victims of sex trafficking. We will return to the days of the "Blade" or "Track" on University (Riverside), Fifth Street (San Bernardino), Holt Blvd (Ontario), Florida Ave (Hemet). Businesses will be affected. Pimps will move in from across the US. Most important, law enforcement will not be able to intervene and assist victims of sex trafficking.
Photo Credit: Louis
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California State Senator Weiner introduced a bill that would in essence, legalize street prostitution. It has passed the House and is now in the Assembly Public Safety Committee getting ready for a final vote. California SB-357 will make it so law enforcement cannot intervene in street prostitution.
This bill, if it passes will be devastating for communities around California and also to the thousands of victims of sex trafficking. We will return to the days of the "Blade" or "Track" on University (Riverside), Fifth Street (San Bernardino), Holt Blvd (Ontario), Florida Ave (Hemet). Businesses will be affected. Pimps will move in from across the US. Most important, law enforcement will not be able to intervene and assist victims of sex trafficking.
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A joint operation named "Operation Intercept" was conducted by the Riverside County DA office - Child Exploitation Team and the Riverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force over the past month that resulted in the arrests of 25 individuals. Members of the Task Force posed online as minors (under the age of 14) and had communications with the 25 individuals who thought they were meeting in person with a minor for lewd sex acts. When the individuals showed up they were arrested. Three of the individuals were in possession of a firearm and one individual was on parole.
This Insider Alert talks about how the operation worked and specifically examines the case of James Renfroe. We talk about how to handle cases of online social media exploitation, behavioral indicators that a young person may be a victim and how to intervene and take it to law enforcement if you know of anyone that may be a victim of sextortion or online social media exploitation.
Photo Credit: Kindel Media
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Brendan Eardly, 50-years-old, was sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for engaging young males into sending sexual photos. Many of the males believed they were gay and Eardly would mentor them in the gay life style all the while sending nude images of himself and coercing the young males to do likewise.
This Insider Alert brings to light the vulnerability of young males who reach out on the Internet to explore the gay lifestyle and end up being exploited. Eardly had more than 60 young male victims around the globe and in the U.S. including California, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada and New York.
Photo Credit: Ibraim Leonardo
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Sextortion - Blackmail based on an illicit photo is one of the most prolific and harmful crimes our young people experience. It usually starts as a flirt or dare with a stranger in mass audience live streaming apps, chat rooms, dating sites or online video game chat rooms. Males are equally vulnerable as victims as young females.
The challenge during Covid is that our kids were introduced to online learning far sooner than most parents would have agreed to equipping their child with technology. With prepubescent children exposed to the world of underground pedophilia, Million Kids has had record number of cases of online social media exploitation. The real challenge is that kids are exposed to online pedophilia before they are old enough to understand adult sex and why an older person is playing games with them and most important "Where those illicit photos GO when you hit SEND".
This week we talk about how to prepare your child with an exit strategy before they go online just in case they fall prey to an exploiter. Most kids think they are playing a game or that the stranger thinks they are special or most often with very young kids (6-7-8) they simply don't want to get the man in trouble.
Many kids panic when the blackmail begins and research indicates that 57% of young people will find a way to meet up with their blackmailer BEFORE they will tell an adult. The result is catastrophic.
Photo Credit: Tima Miroschnichenko
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Advanced technologies such as virtual reality, mass audience live streaming, crypto currency, and artificial intelligence are the driving force into the trend of moving from live commercial sex to interactive pornography or cyber sex on demand. Pimps and child predators are the first to benefit from this trend as they quickly understand the millions of dollars to be made by putting teens and adults in front of webcams to become amateur porn stars or promising they will have millions of followers in chatrooms designed for interactive pornography. This trend is accelerated when schools and media across the nation promote pornography as art. What was once identified as masochistic or a vile fetish is now touted by main stream media and universities across the U.S as being acceptable performance art. Pimps are now called "Artistic Agents" and child pornographers are considered "talent scouts" as millions of young people are being lured into the world of amateur pornography. Driven by a desired to be "discovered" or just make a little extra money on the side Interactive Pornography is now bringing in billions of dollars to online webcam sex providers. Few in our society are understanding the true nature of this exploitation for our young people.
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Advanced technologies such as virtual reality, mass audience live streaming, crypto currency, and artificial intelligence are the driving force into the trend of moving from live commercial sex to interactive pornography or cyber sex on demand. Pimps and child predators are the first to benefit from this trend as they quickly understand the millions of dollars to be made by putting teens and adults in front of webcams to become amateur porn stars or promising they will have millions of followers in chatrooms designed for interactive pornography.
This trend is accelerated when schools and media across the nation promote pornography as art. What was once identified as masochistic or a vile fetish is now touted by main stream media and universities across the U.S as being acceptable performance art.
Pimps are now called "Artistic Agents" and child pornographers are considered "talent scouts" as millions of young people are being lured into the world of amateur pornography. Driven by a desired to be "discovered" or just make a little extra money on the side Interactive Pornography is now bringing in billions of dollars to online webcam sex providers. Few in our society are understanding the true nature of this exploitation for our young people.
Further reading:
Only Fans Isn't Just Porn
Columbia Prep students and parents reel after class on ‘porn literacy’
Photo Credit: Anna Shvets
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The influence of porn is growing as people have 24/7 access and form fantasy relationships. Pornhub is just one example of leading the way in interactive porn and has had a number of actions taken against it. However, porn continues to expand and two of the fastest growing categories are webcam porn with subscriptions and amateur videos.
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What happens when our judicial system begins to minimize criminal acts, while at the same time cutting the budgets for law enforcement?
Over the past several months, we have noticed a very concerning trend in California to minimize incarceration time, de-fund law enforcement budgets and allowing sex offenders currently in prison to be considered for early release.
In each and every case, the decision made by courts and politicians references the statement "The people have spoken" referring to the results of recent elections. While there is certainly an element of truth to that statement, in reality most voters had no understanding of the end results of these measures when they voted on them.
It is my belief that few people understood the cumulative impact on the safety of our community and especially women and children who have been the victims of these sex offenders.
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Who is running the trafficking rings? Do sex buyers ever stop to think about who they are supporting and how that puts them and their family at risk?
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen) released an Advisory on Identifying and Reporting Human Trafficking and Related Activities. It stated that human trafficking is one of the most profitable and violent forms of international crime generating an estimated $150 Billion worldwide per year. That begs the question: Where does this money go?
Most of us think of trafficking as the pimp and a couple of sex providers operating down on the blade in the poor part of town, or maybe it is a mom-pop style massage parlor down the street. Almost no one stops to question if it is a small, stand-alone private enterprise or perhaps connected to some of the largest global cartels in far off lands. Sex buyers seem totally oblivious that they are supporting global criminal organizations and even worse, exposing themselves and their families to foreign national crime rings.
Dirty money gained from illicit criminal activity in large quantities has to be sanitized (cleaned up), and recirculated before it can end in the hands of organized crime. Often vulnerable foreign national victims provide the sexual services in our own neighborhoods and those funds end up in Thailand, China, Malaysia, Albania or Belize.
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Analysis of five cybercrime focused Dark Web forums showed they grew by 44% during the spring of 2020 with the increase reflecting a trend toward higher participation overall.
The Dark Web is a somewhat unmonitored part of the world wide web. While there are legitimate uses for the Dark Web, it is also a haven for money launderers, hackers, drug and gun dealers, and child pornographers. For several years law enforcement has develop specialized technology to penetrate these organized rings, especially those sites that have activity involving child sex crimes. Last year, a subscription based child pornography site called "Welcome to Video" was found to have over one million paid subscribers to access CSAM (child sexual abuse materials). This article reveals that during a time of isolation and social distancing, more pedophiles and predators are turning to the Dark Net and the number of participants in dark net online chat rooms is surging.
This should challenge all of us, including Million Kids, to escalate our education programs for teens, parents, grandparents, schools, churches, and the public for prevention and intervention of social media exploitation.
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How does a sex trafficking ring in NYC impact those outside of that area? What can we learn from this group of indictments?
GANG TRAFFICKING:
You may think that a gang's activity in New York has nothing to do with your life. Theoretically it doesn't. But there is much to learn from this article.
1.) GANGS USE TRAFFICKING TO MAKE MONEY. Whether it is guns, drugs or sex, trafficking is all about making money and using others to do it. These are Blood gang members- a subset called Hunts Point Family Bloods. There were NINE of them arrested and more being investigated. So it is not a stand alone enterprise. It is organized crime
2.) They operated out of several hotels. Some were local around the Bronx but others went into New York City so it was a pretty big operation. Many of the women were forced into "Outcalls" meaning they went to the sex buyers location (very risky). The women were TOLD what sex acts they would provide. Degrading sex acts especially command more money for the pimp/gang even though they may cause serious physical damage to the victim.
3.) They used social media to recruit at risk and vulnerable girls promising them money and acceptance. Some were teens and others were young adult females. These guys are 19 to 31 years old and most likely used dating sites to attract and groom the girls into a fantasy relationship.
4.) They took photos of the girls and posted them in online advertisements. These are often used for blackmail, telling the victims that the photos are everywhere and that the girls are now damaged goods and cannot ever go back to their lives. The victims are so psychologically manipulated that they believe them and few take the chance of leaving.
5.) Many of the victims were beaten, punched, slapped and thrown to the ground. The victims were drugged with Xanax and Percocet to sedate them and control them and keep them in the life.
6.) Note: In gang trafficking the victims are often traded among other gang members as favors or vengeance. This is how a beautiful 14-15-16 year old girl starts out being in love with a young guy and very quickly ends up being controlled and owned by a mid-40's gorilla pimp who constantly threatens to end her life and the life of her family and loved ones.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION: Certainly victim services for the victims. Their needs are great and it will often take years to recover. They have a vast spectrum of damage to heal from including medical/physical, mental and psychological and will also need a safe haven to live, legal help, employment, etc. But the first need is safety, inclusion, understanding and dealing with the trauma.
THE BEST SOLUTION: PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION THROUGH EDUCATION.It is critical that we educate young people about how pimps, pedophiles and predators use social media to develop fantasy relationship that will end in the young person taking a chance that could cost them their lives.
It is also important to train agencies, law enforcement, code enforcement, hotel operators, school officials, LMFT, social workers, faith based leaders on the trends in trafficking M.O so that these case can be brought to light, investigated, prosecuted and victims rescued.
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This case analysis is based on a global child pornography ring operating out of the Dark Web. The case started as Charles Orange, 55 yrs old from Longview Texas, was arrested for CSAM (child sexual abuse materials).
Prior to his arrest, law enforcement in Thailand, Australia and Bulgaria were investigating a horrific child sexual abuse ring which they dubbed "Operation Blackwrist". Investigators in 60 countries worked together to identify 11 boys that were victims who appeared in photos and videos being distributed by this organized criminal enterprise. The leader of the international underground ring turned out to be Montri Salangam in Thailand and he received a 146 year sentence to a Thai prison.
We can learn how large scale underground child pornography rings work and how we are able to locate and arrest thousands of individual participants to bring the ring down and get justice for the victims.
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The Riverside County Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) along with law enforcement of San Bernardino County assisted law enforcement of Ventura County in investigating and arresting an International Sex Trafficking Ring operating in Southern California and Mexico.
The Paredes Family Sex Trafficking Ring was operated by a three generational family. The matriarch of the family lived in Mexico and oversaw the development of business financial accounts to facilitate the money laundering that resulted from exploitation of females recruited in Mexico and brought to the Inland Empire and Ventura by human smugglers. Once here the victims were advertised and sold for sex and moved routinely between three counties.
The commercial sexual services were advertised online and conducted out of six businesses in Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Palm Springs and Colton. At the time of the arrests, law enforcement discovered that there was a significant amount of money that had been generated by the illicit sexual activities and laundered through a clothing store in Colton, California. Law enforcement is still activity pursuing the case and are seeking any information on other potential victims.
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Your help is needed.
Homeland Security is asking the public for any information they may have related to an ongoing investigation of Paul Torres Jimenez De La Cuesta. Mr. Torres is a 29-year-old ex-Preschool Teacher who has pleaded guilty to distributing Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was trading the materials online using chat groups.
He has an extensive history of employment at schools where he was working with very young children. The San Diego schools he worked at are listed below. He is scheduled for sentencing June 28.
If you have any information regarding any activity that might be related to this case please contact HSI at 760-901-1004.
• St. David’s Episcopal Church & Preschool, 5050 Milton Street
• Seaside Preschool’s Beachside Campus, 1201 Turquoise Street
• Little Sprouts Preschool – Mission Valley Campus, 403 Camino del Rio South
• NHA University of Early Learning Bethel Campus – Day Care Center, 3085 K Street (Neighborhood House Association)
• NHA Johnson Early Learning Academy – Day Care Center, 5760 Luber Street (Neighborhood House Association)
• NHA Karen D Love Head Start – Day Care Center, 2060 Drescher Street - 6749 TAIT (Neighborhood House Association)
• NHA Stem Institute for Early Learning – Day Care Center, 808 W Cedar Street (Neighborhood House Association)
• YMCA of San Diego County, 3708 Ruffin Road
• San Diego Cooperative Preschool, 4190 Front Street
• Soroptimist International of the Americas - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
• Concordia Church & School - 1695 Discovery Falls Drive, Chula Vista, California
• My Room to Grow Preschool and Kindergarten, 13613 Cynthia Lane, Poway, California
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We are all horrified when we see the photos of young children from foreign countries kept in miserable conditions at U.S. government detention centers. We are told about the thousands more headed towards our southern borders. Million Kids has a long history of combating all kinds of labor and sex trafficking so naturally, many people have asked for our thoughts on this situation. Truly it is heartbreaking and there are no easy solutions.
The United States as a sovereign nation has established orderly immigration processes to ensure that poor people from all over the world can apply to enter our country and in many cases stay and complete the requirements to become a citizen. Over the past ten years many government leaders have chosen to instruct citizens to enforce most of our Federal laws and ignore others. The chaos we are facing is because our leaders have chosen to no longer enforce the rule of law.
When a nation no longer enforces their federal laws it opens the doors for gangs, cartels and organized crime to decide who can enter a country, what it will cost them, and often the result is that fine good-hearted individuals from very poor countries are exploited in their homelands, then again as they pass through unfriendly countries and even worse, once they arrive on U.S. soil. We are not seeing bus loads of coyotes going home after they have escorted their prey to our country.
The question I have is this. Who is funding billions of dollars to agencies all over the U.S. to make sure these individuals are not trafficked, exploited, raped, blackmailed and extorted once they come into our communities and enter our schools and our communities? Human trafficking in the U.S is about to reach a whole new level.
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What happens when our children can reach the entire world and the entire world can reach our children via the Internet? And what happens when app companies and search engines collect and store data about every person's usage on the Internet?
This Insider Alerts explores fascinating statistics about global internet usage for the US and China. Did you know that 90% of the world's data has been created in the last two years? The explosion of information has been astounding.
We also look at the impact of artificial intelligence and your personal data gathered by app companies, and the ubiquitous tug of war by governments, private corporations, and financial institutions to monopolize, control and monetize your personal data. Do you realize how much personal information they are gathering on you and using to make money? They have been gathering active and passive data including photo ID of the users and their location (think of TikTok and children) for a long time. Where does this data go and how is it used?
Impacting all of these factors is a global race to dominate the crypto currency market tied to social media, online purchase transactions and artificial intelligence.
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SPECIAL AGENTS DANIEL ALFIN AND LAURA SCHWARTZENBERGER ARE TRUE HEROES
HERE IS THE REST OF THE STORY
On February 2, 2021, FBI agents were gunned down while serving a warrant to 55 year old David Huber, a suspected pedophile who was believed to be part of a dark web child pornography ring. Few people realize just how important Special Agent Daniel Alfin's work was in pioneering the investigation and take down of one of the largest dark web child pornography rings in 2015. His work on the Playpen Case helped all of us understand how large and insidious child pornography rings are and how pedophiles have exploited technology to form large scale rings that violate children in unspeakable ways.
The ground breaking techniques used to bring down the Playpen Case helped expose over 215,000 pedophiles. That work has led to the arrests of hundreds of pedophiles and we now know that some of these dark web rings have over ONE MILLION child pornographers. Without the dedication and risk taking of a super hero like Daniel Alfin, millions of kids would continue to be exploited The loss of these two heroes is truly tragic.
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Understanding the crime of sextortion and how to intervene if you think your child is being blackmailed with a photo.
On April 13, 2021, Cornell D.A. Johnson, 24-years-old, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for producing child pornography involving 17 young girls ages 4-years-old to 17-years-old across eight states. Johnson would pretend to be a female and coerced the young girls into sending sexual photos. Once they had sent them, Johnson would demand more photos and new photos where the young person had sex with other young people in the home and filmed it.
This Insider Alert educates parents what to look for if they think their child is being blackmailed and how to communicate with the minor. It also talks about how to approach law enforcement and how to get counseling for the victim and their family.
Important for all parents/grandparents/guardians to be aware of sextortion - what it is, signs it is happening, and what to do if you think it is happening to a child you know. Watch Opal's video to learn more.
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In January, 2020 the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force received a referral from the Moreno Valley Police Department regarding a 19 yr female involved in prostitution under the management of a pimp. The female said that she was abused by the pimp and services were provided by RCAHT and local victim services providers for victims of sex trafficking.
RCAHT began the investigation and on February 3, 2021 Meeks was stopped during a traffic stop in Moreno Valley and arrested. Court records indicate that Meeks has a prior conviction for grand theft. Meeks is currently being held on a $550,000 bail and was facing a possible 20-year prison sentence. Subsequently, two more females have come forward with information where they may also have been victimized by Christian Meeks. The investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information regarding this case, please reach out to RCAHT Investigators.
CONTACT: LEAD INVESTIGATOR BRIDGETTE RECKSIEK 951-955-9275 Reference: Christian Meeks or Incident R20024005
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“Many days I thought might be my last, being beat as if not human,” said one woman. “I ask that you ensure that no other human has to be subject to the threat of Mr. Mearis. He has created distress and trauma to one too many women and I how we are the last victims of his destructive mind.”
David Mearis was a career pimp who was brutal, controlling and violent. One of his victims was legally "mentally challenged" and he preyed on her by violating her and taking her disability supplement checks. One victim was exploited, controlled and violently manipulated for over eight years.
There is much to learn about how violent pimps seduce and exploit their victims. It started when the victims were young and impressionable and they were "seduced" into what they thought would be the good life. It quickly turned to a nightmare. At trial, the jury heard evidence that spanned from approximately 2007 – 2016. Four victims testified about how they each met Mearis while still teenagers and how he won them over with gifts and kindness before using threats, control, sexual abuse and physical force to compel them into prostitution.
One victim was 17 when she run away from her Oakland, California, home. Another victim was only 15 when she met Mearis. Both of these girls considered Mearis their boyfriend in the earlier stages of their relationships but were eventually forced to engage in commercial sex daily and at all times of the day.
This case is successful because the very brave victims testified to their abuse and received assistance from professionals and prosecutors. In the end he received a sentence of life in prison and required to pay the victims nearly $1 million to help them recover and try to rebuild their lives.
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OREGON MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD EXPLOITATION CRIMES AFTER STALKING AND EXPLOITING AUSTRALIAN MINOR USING SOCIAL MEDIA, FOLLOWING HSI INVESTIGATION.
This is a case analysis of an international sextortion case. THE VICTIM IS 9 YEARS OLD living in Australia. Her life is changed forever. The alleged perpetrator is 25 years old Jorge Rosales living in Beaverton, Oregon. For almost 5 years Rosales contacted minors using several different online accounts and systematically blackmailed them, contacted their friends and shared illicit photos of the victim and sent a naive pre-pubescent child horrific photos of child pornography.
There is much to learn from this case. Every parent of a pre-pubescent child that is online should see this Million Kids Insider Alert. Please share see the VIDEO and share it with everyone you know.
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Meet one of the real stars combating child pornography in the Inland Empire. A DOG NAMED GOOSE. Goose is a rescue dog who has been trained by his handler Officer Mark Myrick to sniff out electronic devices in cases of child pornography. This is a great story and it will guaranteed to make you smile. We are so proud of the Fontana Police Department for leading the nation in the fight against child sexual abuse materials.
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Mexican sex trafficking ring brutally exploited young girls in the U.S. for nine years.
This is a case analysis of an International (Mexico) sex trafficking ring operating out of a four state area on the East Coast. Young women in Mexico were seduced or coerced into coming to the U.S with a boyfriend or family member to have a better life in the U.S. Once they were here they were forced into prostitution, beaten, raped and experienced forced miscarriages.
One victim was only 14 yrs old. Investigation, prosecution and extradition of a complex international ring such as this are challenging and present many barriers to law enforcement. This sex trafficking ring operated for 11 years before being brought to justice. The victims endured unspeakable conditions. Some of the defendants are facing life in prison.
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Late on a Friday night, with very little notice, California Office of Administrative Law used emergency regulations to approve the early release of up to 76,000 inmates based on the loosely written Proposition 57 that passed in 2016. This means that up to 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits that will shorten their sentences substantially. That includes 20,000 inmates who are serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole. It also may include up to 20,000 inmates who are registered sex offenders based on a case with a recent ruling by the California Supreme Court.
I ask you...
WHAT ABOUT THE WOMEN AND VICTIMS WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST THEM?
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Man charged with sexually assaulting teen he met online | Las Vegas Review-Journal
This is a case analysis of a 25 year old Las Vegas man who has been indicted by a federal grand jury for crimes related to social media exploitation, a subsequent sexual act with a minor, sextortion and child sex trafficking. The victim was a young teenager. They met on line and later met up where an illegal sex act took place which was allegedly filmed by the perpetrator. He then began to threaten to put the photos of the sex act on Tinder and even opened an account in her name and gave her a quota to earn or he would destroy her. Very early on he allegedly intimidated the minor by saying "I own you now". This scenario is all too common when young people meet up with total strangers on line. Million Kids is dedicated to educating parents and teens to keep our kids from falling prey to this evil.
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Very important for parents to listen with their children. This podcast was taken from a middle school assembly about online exploitation. What it is, what is happening, what to do if someone is being exploited.
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Late on a Friday night, with very little notice, California Office of Administrative Law used emergency regulations to approve the early release of up to 76,000 inmates based on the loosely written Proposition 57 that passed in 2016. This means that up to 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits that will shorten their sentences substantially. That includes 20,000 inmates who are serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole. It also may include up to 20,000 inmates who are registered sex offenders based on a case with a recent ruling by the California Supreme Court. 0
I ask you....
WHAT ABOUT THE WOMEN AND VICTIMS WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST THEM?
Photo Credit: AaDil
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/million-kids/support
Have you ever wondered WHY human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the U.S and California is usually the number one state for cases?
This week we look at several local cases and examine WHY and HOW this could be happening. We will look at street commercial sex and the recent case in Pomona, California involving seven females mostly 14 to 17 years old. One victim was six months pregnant. We explore massage parlor prostitution taking place in our community and a local alleged violent pimp that was exploiting a young girl. (Law enforcement is seeking more information on the Christian Meeks case.)
We will also look at the potential impact of the massive wave of unaccompanied minors crossing our border who may be in "debt bondage" to a coyote or Cartel. Recent statistics from Customs and Border Protection indicate that over 170,000 individuals were processed in March 2021. Assuming each one is paying on average a $4000 coyote fee, it would appear that Cartels are making billions while millions of vulnerable young people could potentially be exploited on our homeland.
Be sure to listen and learn more.
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Riverside County is exceptionally blessed to have great law enforcement and prosecution leadership in Sheriff Chad Bianco and DA Mike Hestrin. They are committed to supporting the work of the Riverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT). While other counties are cutting back, Riverside County has doubled the size of the task force. These very brave men and women that take on some of the toughest cases of both sex and labor trafficking.
This podcast examines some of the current and ongoing cases of human trafficking in the Inland Empire. We are asking for the public to come forward if you have more information on these cases.
Christian Meeks: Charged with human trafficking, pimping, and domestic abuse.
Stephen Rawley: Contact with a minor with intent to commit kidnapping or sex offenses. Going to an arranged meeting with a minor to commit sex offenses. Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor over age 3 yrs. younger than the perpetrator. Please note: an additional potential victim has just come forward.
Yanying He: Desert Hot Springs is Charged with Maintaining a Brothel and Solicitation of Prostitution.
PLEASE NOTE: THESE ARE INVESTIGATIONS IN PROCESS. All Individuals are deemed innocent until they are awarded their right to due process and the legal procedures have been completed.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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It seems like nearly every day we hear about child exploitation. Whether it is a teenager who goes online and hooks up with a stranger and sneaks off to meet them, or an unaccompanied minor who has been exploited to pay back a coyote.
These cases are real and they are happening where we live. This podcast gives you an inside look at why some kids are vulnerable and how the exploitation actually takes place.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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Few people are aware of how extensive commercial sex selling is in the Inland Empire and even more eye opening is how damaging it is when young people are seduced or lured into commercial sex. Prostitution is illegal in the State of California according to California Penal Code 647b. Any time a minor is engaged in commercial sex it is automatically a case of human trafficking.
All too often young people meet someone online, in a chatroom, a dating site or hook up app and begin to develop a fantasy relationship without the individual realizing they are being groomed. They meet and the relationship changes to one of manipulation, abuse, and violence. The victim is filmed and the photo is placed in online sex ads where total strangers arrange to have sex with them. Over and Over, often six, eight, ten customers a day. The sex buyer tells themselves that these sex providers are there willingly.
Very few sex buyers educate themselves about how sex trafficking works and even worse, they never ask questions. They simply tell themselves it is OK without acknowledging they are participating in a crime.
It is called Human Trafficking.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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WHEN A MINOR IS EXPLOITED ON LINE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
The app company?
The Parent?
The Minor?
The Government?
The world of social media is a complex enigma. App companies all over the world are being sued and challenged as they are held responsible for the content of their members posting underage and illicit content. But with 1.5 billion users, is it realistic that app companies are truly aware of every illicit photo on their site? Certainly, we all expect some level of protection or cooperation if an app company is advised that a minor is being exploited and remove the content, but it seems it is not always so.
Parents click the "I agree" button on apps and promise to be responsible for their child's online decision processes and that their child is at least at the minimum age required by the app company.
Then they hand a prepubescent child a phone based on the belief that everyone is doing it and their child is a little more mature than most others. They vow to check from time to time but most parents are not as tech savvy as their kids.
Kids promise to follow the rules and not send naked photos and reveal their online interactions when parents ask. Every kid I ever met believes that exploitation will not happen to them and if they are being "catfished" they will know it. Most kids are unable to visualize where a naked photo goes when they hit "send".
Almost every day at Million Kids we encounter a smart, informed teenager and family that is dealing with sextortion or social media exploitation.
SO WHEN A CHILD IS EXPLOITED ONLINE - WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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We are all horrified when we see the photos of young children from foreign countries kept in miserable conditions at U.S. government detention centers. We are told about the thousands more headed towards our southern borders. Million Kids has a long history of combating all kinds of labor and sex trafficking so naturally, many people have asked for our thoughts on this situation. Truly it is heartbreaking and there are no easy solutions.
The United States as a sovereign nation has established orderly immigration processes to ensure that poor people from all over the world can apply to enter our country and in many cases stay and complete the requirements to become a citizen. Over the past ten years many government leaders have chosen to instruct citizens to enforce most of our Federal laws and ignore others. The chaos we are facing is because our leaders have chosen to no longer enforce the rule of law.
When a nation no longer enforces their federal laws it opens the doors for gangs, cartels and organized crime to decide who can enter a country, what it will cost them, and often the result is that fine good-hearted individuals from very poor countries are exploited in their homelands, then again as they pass through unfriendly countries and even worse, once they arrive on U.S. soil. We are not seeing bus loads of coyotes going home after they have escorted their prey to our country.
The question I have is this... Who is funding billions of dollars to agencies all over the U.S. to make sure these individuals are not trafficked, exploited, raped, blackmailed and extorted once they come into our communities and enter our schools? Human trafficking in the U.S is about to reach a whole new level.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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Join us to take a look at some local cases of sex trafficking and child sexual abuse materials. One of the latest cases is the Paredes Family Sex Trafficking Ring that allegedly recruited girls from Mexico and exploited them through prostitution in Southern California. This was a three generation family business ran by the matriarch in Mexico but the exploitation took place in Ventura and local communities. A massive amount of money generated by the illicit sexual services was laundered through a Colton, California based clothing store.
We will also explore the impact on the actions taken by the Los Angeles District Attorney's office to eliminate enhanced sentencing both for convicted felons so they can obtain early prison release and also eliminating any future enhanced sentencing for current and future prosecutions.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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How do Child Sex Abuse Materials (CSAM), also known as child porn, rings operate and most important how do law enforcement identify investigate, apprehend and prosecute predators.
We look at how a pedophile in one area might be connected to a large scale CSAM ring operating in the Dark Net. The administrator of the site may be in Australia, but the site itself may be hosted out of Bulgaria and the violation of victims may be taking place in Thailand, all while being watched in the U.S.
We highlight the work of Fontana Police Department, the Fresno Police Department and look at the impact Covid has had on accelerating the number of cases of child sexual violation that are being reported throughout the U.S.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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This is a hard hitting show with information every parent needs to hear. Few parents or teens understand where a naked photo goes when you hit “Send”.
The Inland Empire is fortunate to have one of the nation’s premier task forces focused on sexual crimes against children. Chief Green and the Fontana PD's ICAC Task Force are exceptional in their expertise and dedication to keeping our kids safe from predators. For this podcast, Opal Singleton, Host of Exploited: Crimes and Technology (AM 590) was privileged to spend time with the Fontana ICAC Task Force and have them share some of the key points that parents and grandparents need to know about how to keep their kids safe online.
Fontana PD’s ICAC investigates, apprehends and assists in prosecutions of some of the world's most depraved criminals who violate children both locally and around the globe. The Task Force is led by Sgt Heaviside and Corporal Guith who are trained experts in advanced technology, pedophile behaviors and criminal investigations. This team collaborates with other local law enforcement agencies as well as global agencies including FBI, Interpol and Homeland Security to identify pedophiles who may be violating children locally and sharing the photos around the world with other pedophiles.
This show will educate you about how pedophiles meet online, exchange coded messages to join underground, dark web pedophile sites where they buy, sell and trade millions of photos of sexual violation of underage children.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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The headline reads: Thai child model agency shut down and modeling agents arrested with more than 500,000 images of child sexual abuse
This is a fascinating story of three separate cases coming together. You may wonder what a Thai modeling agency in Bangkok, and the arrest of serial sex offenders in Australia and Bulgaria have to do with us in the U.S. The answer is everything. They are connected.
Operation Blackwrist and Operation Casting Call were coordinated by 60 different law enforcement offices around the globe. So far more than 50,000 pedophiles have been identified as participants in a dark web pedophilia ring that horrendously violated children, filmed, and exchanged the images with other pedophiles around the world. Investigators are combing through over a half a million images of children being abused in order to locate and rescue them.
Over time you will begin to see the arrest of hundreds of pedophiles in the U.S as law enforcement officers work with global authorities to identify and arrest these perpetrators.
FBI Special Agent Daniel Alfin was involved in the groundbreaking PlayPen Case that made this all possible. He was gunned down and killed in Florida while serving a warrant for another child pornography case.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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This week shows cover several important stories related to sex trafficking and social media exploitation. We highlight the work of the Riverside County Human Trafficking Task Force and the San Bernardino County Human Trafficking Task Force. We also explore the tragic case of 13-year-old Patricia Alatorre who was brutally raped and murdered after meeting up with an online predator.
This is a "must listen" for parents, grandparents or anyone who interacts with kids.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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The Super Bowl comes every year and every year there is much publicity around major sports events and their connection to prostitution and sex trafficking. This week we are going to explore the truth of the matter. Tampa Bay, Florida has done an excellent job of awareness and educating the public. But is it hype or reality? And if someone suspects that a person may be a victim of trafficking, what indicators should we look for and how do we report it?
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
Photo Credit: Juan Salamanca / pexels.com
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33 missing children, including some who were sexually exploited, found during operation in SoCal
45 missing children rescued, 179 arrested in Ohio operation
Nearly 40 missing children rescued during Georgia sex trafficking bust
These three news releases outline the work of law enforcement to identify, track down and rescue runaway and missing kids, many of which are part of the social services system in their state. While there are many news stories across the US about defunding law enforcement it is encouraging and rewarding to hear of the efforts of law enforcement agencies across the US to track down and find kids who may be in danger of sex trafficking, sextortion or other forms of exploitation. Research indicates that about 60% of minors engaged in sex trafficking are from the social services system and it is believed that one out of 6 kids who run away will be victims of sex trafficking in the first 48 hours.
Million Kids shares these stories and applauds the work of the FBI, US Marshall's office, Homeland Security, and local law enforcement to provide the funding, expertise and commitment to finding and rescuing the most endangered and providing them with the services they need to get to safety.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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The Dark Web is a somewhat unmonitored part of the world wide web. While there are legitimate uses for the Dark Web, it is also a haven for money launderers, hackers, drug and gun dealers and child pornographers. For several years law enforcement has develop specialized technology to penetrate these organized rings especially those sites that have activity involving child sex crimes. Last year, a subscription based child pornography site called "Welcome to Video" was found to have over one million paid subscribers to access CSAM (child sexual abuse materials). This podcast reveals that during a time of isolation and social distancing, more pedophiles and predators are turning to the Dark Net and the number of participants in dark net online chat rooms is surging. This should challenge all of us, including Million Kids, to escalate our education programs for teens, parents, grandparents, schools, churches, and the public for prevention and intervention of social media exploitation.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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This episode is about Pornhub - what they do, what is going on and why it matters.
Among other things, the Pornhub parent was slapped with $600M class action lawsuit over child porn (https://nypost.com/2021/01/08/pornhub).
In addition, Mastercard and Visa ended their relationship with Pornhub after NY Times writer Nicolas Kristoff wrote in expose about the number of videos on Pornhub of minors or those who didn't give permission. As he wrote in his article (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/opinion/sunday/pornhub-rape-trafficking.html) about Pornhub: "It monetizes child rapes, revenge pornography, spy cam videos of women showering, racist and misogynist content, and footage of women being asphyxiated in plastic bags. A search for “girls under18” (no space) or “14yo” leads in each case to more than 100,000 videos. Most aren’t of children being assaulted, but too many are."
Senators Josh Hawley (MIssouri), Ben Sasse (Nebraska), Maggie Hassan ( New Hampshire), Thom Tillis (No Carolina) and Joni Ernest (Iowa) introduced the "Survivors of Human Trafficking Fight back Act of 2020" This act is designed to broaden the route to justice for victims of trafficking and CSAM (child pornography). It also includes victims of other forms of image-based abuse and will enforce important protective measures for victims. The bill aims to give victims of sex trafficking and rape victims the right to seek compensation in federal court if pornography websites distribute intimate photos of them without their consent. This is sometimes referred to as revenge porn. According to Hawley, Sites like Pornhub routinely escape responsibility for facilitating abuse, trafficking and exploitation, making millions for themselves in the process.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
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Over the past several months, we have noticed a very concerning trend in California to minimize incarceration time, de-fund law enforcement budgets and allow sex offenders currently in prison to be considered for early release. . In each and every case, the decision made by courts and politicians references the statement "The people have spoken" referring to the results of recent elections. While there is certainly an element of truth to that statement, in reality most voters had no understanding of the end results of these measures when they voted on it. It is my belief that few people understood the cumulative impact on the safety of our community and especially women and children who have been the victims of these sex offenders. This show looks at the cumulative trend of de criminalizing crime in California.
Be sure to go to insideralerts.org to sign up for the latest Million Kids Insider Alert for case analysis, latest technologies and breaking news in our efforts to keep kids safe from predators.
Photo Credit: Kat Wilcox / pexels.com
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An innocent 13-year-old was enticed online by a predator and brutally assaulted and murdered. This takes a look at the tragic and devastating story of Patricia Alatorre from Bakersfield, California who disappeared on July 1, 2020. It is a story every teen and preteen who uses the Internet should hear.
Patricia was an exceptional young lady - smart, beautiful, talented and apparently full of energy. Like millions of other teens she met someone online and began to send photos and chatted. But what started as an exciting fantasy relationship ended in total tragedy. Fair warning this is an intense and graphic story so please use caution to not traumatize very young kids.
The alleged perpetrator has plead "not guilty".
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An overview of what Million Kids does for the community, law enforcement and individual families.
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