Kansas City, Mo. Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Child

According to a September 16, 2009 Department of Justice press release, a Kansas City, Mo. man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to the attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child.

Steven C. Albers, a forty-year-old insurance manager, was one of seven defendants indicted as the result of Operation Guardian Angel, an undercover law enforcement investigation targeting would-be customers of child prostitution in the Kansas City area. The indictments are part of the first federal prosecution of alleged child prostitution customers under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

The sting operation was conducted from March 5 to 7, 2009. The police advertised the "children" online at craigslist.org, although no children were actually involved. On March 5, Albers responded to a posting advertising "little girls available." The undercover officer told him that he had an 11-year-old and 15-year-old girl available. Albers told the officer that he would like to spend an hour with the 11-year-old, during his lunch break so that he would be able to drive from his office near the Country Club Plaza. Later he revised it to half an hour plus an extra $20 to go "bareback," i.e. to have sexual intercourse without a condom. The total price was to be $80.

The arresting officers emerged from a bedroom at the undercover house after Albers arrived and provided money to the undercover officer. Albers attempted to flee, but was apprehended in a neighboring yard.

Albers will be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in prison without parole, and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to the website, although the Trafficking Victims Protection Act has previously been used to prosecute "pimps," these indictments are the first in the nation to charge "Johns" with attempts. At least three others arrested as part of the sting have already pleaded guilty, including a naval recruiter, a finance manager for an automotive dealership, and a truck driver.

For additional information from the sources of this article, please visit the following sites:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/news2009/albers.ple.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/news2009/oflyng.ple.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/news2009/childers.ple.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/news2009/cockrell.ple.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/news2009/childers.ind.htm

Cyber Trafficking in the Philippines

Local Politician Drafts Law to Address Forced Internet Pornography

From GMA News:

Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab (3rd district, PDP-Laban) has authored a bill seeking to penalize cyber-trafficking, or the sexual exploitation of people through the Internet.

Ungab's House Bill 3249 – The Anti-Cyber-Trafficking Act of 2007 – will impose a fine of up to P1 million and five years in jail for crimes of indecency committed through the Internet.

"Persons performing sexual acts in front of computers, video cameras, or digital cameras are not aware that they are trapped into cyber-trafficking and their human rights are violated," Ungab said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said his bill aims to safeguard the morality of society, value the dignity of every person, and guarantee full respect for human rights.

“This bill seeks to promote human dignity and protect the people from all forms of exploitation," he said.

In the bill, Ungab noted the development of computer technology has made access to information and communication easier, along with cyber-trafficking.

"While there are positive effects of computer technology, there are also negative effects, which include cyber-trafficking," he said. He said the existing law on Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 only covers domestic and international human trafficking.

Because of this, he said "it is essential to address cyber-trafficking problem in the country."

*What I don't understand about this article, or maybe just the soundbyte from the politician, is whether there is a distinction made between willing internet pornography and forced internet pornography under the new law. This article is an example of sensationalism: a controversial and emotional topic offered up on a platter with few facts and fewer insights to ground it. How is the issue defined under the new law? How many victims of cyber-trafficking have been found in the Philippines? How does someone get deceived into cyber-trafficking? What law enforcement strategies effectively combat the issue?

I'll delve further into this topic to see if I can find examples of similar laws/situations around the world and flesh out the topic more.

What other countries are affected by cyber-trafficking? Are certain regions affected more than others and if so why?

More to come...