Attorney General Griffin launches Operation Obscured Vision to fight human trafficking statewide

Griffin: ‘January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the best way to prevent human trafficking and rescue its victims is to combat it on one of its key fronts: illicit massage parlors’

Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing the execution of search warrants at 12 locations across the state as part of Operation Obscured Vision to combat human trafficking, resulting in aid provided to 16 victims, the arrest of four individuals, and the seizure of nearly $70,000 and a luxury vehicle:

“January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the best way to prevent human trafficking and rescue its victims is to combat it on one of its key fronts: illicit massage parlors.

“Operation Obscured Vision was coordinated by my office’s Special Investigations Division and executed by local law enforcement and victim advocates groups to expose the pervasive issue of illicit massage parlors in Arkansas, rescue the victims of human trafficking, and permanently end the presence of illicit massage parlors in our state.

“Many of the women working in these illicit massage parlors are coerced to do so. One victim we interviewed stated that she is forced to work seven days a week, 13 hours per day.

“I am proud to announce that local law enforcement, with coordination by my office, executed 12 search warrants at illicit massage parlors in Jonesboro, Russellville, Hot Springs, Rogers, Harrison, and a Little Rock hotel. I congratulate the local police officers, sheriff’s deputies, the Arkansas State Police, and Special Agents in my office for successfully executing this operation.

“I appreciate the efforts of victim’s advocates and the Arkansas Department of Health, who provided language interpreters, nursing services, and other support to help victims receive comprehensive and coordinated assistance to ensure their safety and support their journey toward independence and recovery. Seventeen victims ranging in age from 29-65 were identified in the operation, sixteen accepted services from medical staff and victim’s advocates.

“I am grateful to members of the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for their support of adding a full-time human trafficking investigator to my office. That Special Agent worked tirelessly to coordinate this operation, and it wouldn’t have happened without the agent’s efforts.

“This operation is just a first step. The intelligence and evidence obtained through Operation Obscured Vision will be used in ongoing investigations and will aid in targeting similar massage parlors elsewhere in the state. The criminals who run these establishments and the men who patronize them are on notice. We are coming for you, and we will put an end to this horrific practice of exploiting women through human trafficking.”

Four women were arrested as part of Operation Obscured Vision.

• Haiyan Lu, 54, of Harrison, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree

• Qing Chen, 53, of Jonesboro, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree

• Hongliang Cai, 55, of Jonesboro, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree

• Chunli Wang, 50, of Rogers, one count of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree

Law enforcement seized nearly $70,000 during the operation. Additionally, ¥1,870 in Chinese currency was seized in Russellville. A Mercedes-Benz vehicle was seized in Rogers.

Participating law enforcement agencies in Operation Obscured Vision included:

• Arkansas Attorney General’s Office Special Investigations Division

• Arkansas State Police

• Arkansas State Fusion Center

• Jonesboro Police Department

• Harrison Police Department

• Rogers Police Department

• Benton County Sheriff’s Office

• Russellville Police Department

• Little Rock Police Department

• Hot Springs Police Department

Prosecuting Attorneys participating in Operation Obscured Vision include:

• Sonia Hagood, Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Jeff Phillips, Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Will Jones, Sixth Judicial Prosecuting Attorney

• David Ethredge, Fourteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Michelle Lawrence, Eighteenth-East Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Bryan Sexton, Nineteenth-West Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

Advocate groups participating in Operation Obscured Vision included:

• Arkansas Human Trafficking Council

• Into the Light

• Freedom Finders

• Hope Found

• NWA Forensic Nursing Team/REACH

• NWA Sexual Assault Center

• We Are Free

• Regional Intervention of Sexual Exploitation (RISE)

• Children’s Protection Center (CPC) Little Rock

Weekly update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Since its inception in 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 557 cases of human trafficking in Arkansas. Close to 1,500 victims were identified in these cases. 

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. 

For the last several years, the General Assembly has made a continual effort to strengthen our laws regarding human trafficking. In the most recent session, we passed legislation to expand civil remedies for trafficking victims, increase fines for trafficking convictions, and clarified language in existing laws.  

Act 354 allows a victim of human trafficking to bring a civil action against a person or entity who knew or should have known that the individual was being trafficked. 

Act 327 increases the fines for a human trafficking conviction and trafficking-related charges to a range between $5,000 and $15,000. The bill directs that the fines be divided between specified funds that support exploited children and trafficking victims. 

Act 330 ensures victims are eligible for crime victim reparations even if they do not cooperate with law enforcement. 

Act 722 creates the offense of sexual solicitation of a minor and classifies the offense as a Class B felony. 

Act 736 adds the words “reasonably should know” to Arkansas code regarding trafficking of persons offenses. It allows individuals to be charged if they knew or reasonably should have known they were benefitting financially or actively engaged in trafficking. 

Act 772 clarifies the definition of “serious harm” under the Human Trafficking Act of 2013. 

We will continue to review ways to prevent future trafficking cases and raise awareness of the issue. 

To report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text the hotline at 233733.

Readout from the Governor’s Roundtable Discussion on Human Trafficking in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Following Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ roundtable discussion on human trafficking in Arkansas, Sanders’ spokeswoman Alexa Henning released the following readout: 
 
“Today, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders hosted a roundtable with business, non-profit, and public safety leaders, including Colonel Mike Hagar and Secretary Kristi Putnam, to discuss ways to eradicate human trafficking in Arkansas. She also signed an executive order creating a cross-cabinet team that will develop a whole-of-government approach to prevent human trafficking, emphasizing the ways government employees can be trained to identify and report victims of human trafficking. The leaders expressed their gratitude for this important first step, and Governor Sanders thanked them for their work to fight against the evil of human trafficking. The Governor emphasized her commitment to partnering in this effort by safeguarding children, supporting victims, and prosecuting human traffickers to the fullest extent of the law.” 

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee met jointly with the Senate Children and Youth Committee this week to hear from groups actively working to combat human trafficking.

The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) testified that there were 13 arrests for human trafficking charges in Arkansas in 2021.

In 2022, there have been 4 arrests.

Since the year 2000, there have been 14 convictions for individuals facing human trafficking-related charges in Arkansas.

Representatives for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also testified in the committee.

In 2021, the organization received more than 17,000 reports of possible child sex trafficking. The organization estimates that 1 in 6 of the children reported missing to NCMEC who had run away were likely victims of child sex trafficking.

Boys made up 6% of the child sex trafficking cases reported to NCMEC.

The committee also heard from organizations helping survivors recover from abuse.

Members will review the information presented to determine if there is a need to strengthen existing laws.

In the 2021 Regular Session, we passed a number of acts addressing human trafficking in Arkansas.

Act 798 provides heightened conditions for release on bail for persons accused of human trafficking and human trafficking-related offenses.

Act 1106 establishes an affirmative defense for victims of human trafficking accused of certain offenses.

Act 1098 creates the offenses of grooming a minor for future sex trafficking and traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor.

Child sex trafficking victims often are unable to self-identify as victims or disclose their abuse because of fear, shame, or loyalty to their abuser(s). It is not a child’s responsibility to ask for help. It is up to the professionals and trusted adults in these children’s lives to recognize the signs associated with child sex trafficking, so they can intervene and help them get the support they deserve.

You can report suspected child sex trafficking or make a tip at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) CyberTipline.org

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

January is known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It is a time for us to educate ourselves about human trafficking and learn to spot the signs of trafficking.

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological.

It endangers the lives of millions of people, and it is a crime that knows no borders.

In the 2021 Regular Session, we passed legislation strengthening our laws to combat human trafficking in Arkansas.

Act 798 provides heightened conditions for release on bail for persons accused of human trafficking and human-trafficking related offenses. Under the act, the conditions imposed may include an ankle monitor or GPS-enabled tracking device, restricted movement limited to the person's residence except in the case of a medical emergency, a restriction on internet access and access to electronic media, and an agreement by the defendant to abide by certain rules.

Act 1106 establishes an affirmative defense for victims of human trafficking accused of certain offenses.

Act 1098 creates the offenses of grooming a minor for future sex trafficking and traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor.

In 2019, the Polaris Project worked on 11,500 situations of human trafficking reported to the Polaris-operated U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. These situations involved 22,326 individual survivors, nearly 4,384 traffickers, and 1,912 suspicious businesses. Human trafficking is notoriously underreported. Shocking as these numbers are, they are likely only a fraction of the actual problem.

To report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text the hotline at 233733.

You can also chat the National Human Trafficking Hotline via www.humantraffickinghotline.org/chat .

Effort to raise awareness of human trafficking in the transportation industry

KUAR | By Talk Business & Politics Staff

The trucking industry is working to raise awareness of human trafficking that affects about 40 million people worldwide.

In an event Tuesday, staff of Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and the nonprofit Truckers Against Trafficking discussed the problem, its warning signs and how to help victims. The Business Integrity Leadership Initiative of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas hosted the event.

Cindy Moehring, executive chair of the Business Integrity Leadership Initiative, said more than 900 people registered for the in-person and virtual event.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2021-11-10/effort-to-raise-awareness-of-human-trafficking-in-the-transportation-industry

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

With more truck drivers on the road than police officers, trucking companies are training employees how to identify potential victims of human trafficking.