Tag Archive for 'prostitution'

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Feds bust major backpage human trafficking ring

Published on May 27, 2012 by Trench Reynolds in Backpage and Prostitution and Human Trafficking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Feds: Sex trafficking ring used Backpage.com ads:

Recently the feds handed down a 50 page indictment against one 27-year-old Johnelle L. Bell of New Jersey for allegedly running a nationwide prostitution and human trafficking ring on the Village Voice Media owned backpage.com.

The ring was based out of Little Rock, Arkansas but trafficked women and girls as young as 17 in at least a dozen states from November of 2009 to June of 2011.

Bell is said to have used the typical cowardly pimp tactics. The girls thought they were in a relationship with Bell before he turned them out on Backpage. He violently assaulted the girls including chokings, beatings and whippings with a belt. There was also the threats of violence against their families. He even had one girl tattooed with his street name of ‘Victorious P’.

Also charged in this ring was 21-year-old Brittany Lawson. While Bell and Lawson were advertising the girls on Backpage Lawson was checking out other women on Backpage that they thought they could ‘recruit’. So in essence Backpage is the new slave trade market.

Of course in such a headline grabbing bust Backpage’s head legal weasel Liz McDougall had something to say of little to no value…

Liz McDougall, general counsel at Village Voice Media, said she was still reading through the indictment Thursday. Generally, she said, “When the feds are able to indict a pimp or a trafficker, I think that is a really good thing.”

No shit? How about commenting on how Backpage facilitated in the trafficking and beatings of these girls? How about commenting on where the money goes from the ads that Bell took out goes? Anything? No. Instead you blather about how it’s a good thing that a pimp was indicted like a mindless drone who had been fed her lines. Tell me Ms. McDougall, is someone at Village Voice Media beating you and threatening your family? If not you’re sure acting like it.

UPDATE 6/7/2012: Johnelle Bell has had his bail denied.

UPDATE 10/14/2012: Lawson has pleaded guilty.

UPDATE 12/2/2012: Bell has been convicted.

We get letters: Some of us want to be on backpage.

Published on May 13, 2012 by Trench Reynolds in Backpage, Mail and Prostitution and Human Trafficking. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

I received the following e-mail from someone who is making a living on the Village Voice Media owned backpage.com the way you think. She (I’m guessing) is taking me to task for my stance that VVM should shut down the adult section of backpage.

You know what?”? There ARE some people out here like me who have ads on backpage in the adult section for a reason. Some of us out here are just trying to SURVIVE and keep a roof over our heads. And maybe I am the exception to the rule, but I do this not because I WANT to, I do it because I HAVE to. Otherwise my rent doesnt get paid or any of my other bills. I had to live on the gd street one time for 2 years and sleep on a picnic bench at night and I will be DAMNED if I go back to living on the street ever again. I tried looking for a phukking job for 4 YEARS and no one would hire my ass to save my life between my bad credit and a bad past you better forget that noise. I am close to 50 yrs old and I am just barely getting by. No one is making me do this, I am making myself do it because I know what its like to live on the street and I know what its like to have been married a long time ago to an abusive a——— and I had to get rid of that jerk too. Not all of us out here are underage or doing human trafficking crap or whatever else you want to call it. But I will say one thing, you take away the adult section on backpage.com and I will just go find another website to post my ads on. No one is going to take away what very little income I make and Im talking very little, i just barely make enough to pay my bills and buy everyday essential items. Im below poverty level and thats no joke. So before you go get high and mighty and think you are going to solve the problem, think about some of us out here like me who are just barely making it. If you think I am joking think again. Its like what do you want me to do? starve and live on the street like a bum again? phukk that..

I just have a few things to say about this. The first is some times the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. I am sorry that you have had to resort to this lifestyle to try to make ends meet however at some point you have to stop blaming others for your circumstances and start taking responsibility for yourself. If you are not under the control of a pimp then there is no excuse. There are programs to assist people like yourself to find a better life.

Is this life worth risking being controlled by a pimp or being raped by a john?

Arrest made in Detroit Backpage murders

Published on May 6, 2012 by Trench Reynolds in Backpage, Killers and Prostitution and Human Trafficking. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Renesha Landers and Denesha Hunt

Charges announced in “Backpage.com Murder Investigation”:

Around last Christmas Detroit was rocked by two pairs of murders. This is Detroit we’re talking about so it takes a lot to shock them. On December 19th the bodies of cousins Demesha Hunt, 24, and Renisha Landers, 23, were found in the trunk of a car. Then on Christmas day the bodies of Natasha Curtis, 29, and Vernithea McCrary, 28, were found inside a burning car. Three of the four victims were prostitutes that advertised on the Village Voice Media owned backpage.com.

24-year-old James Brown of Sterling Heights, Michigan has been arrested in connection with the murders but has not yet been charged with the murders. Police say that’s because they believe the murders themselves may have taken place outside of Detroit.

Backpage actually tried claiming that they were ‘helpful’ in the investigation as soon as the murders occurred. What they should have done is admitted that their site was the directory a murderer used to find his victims. Unfortunately they have 27 million reasons not to do that.

Trafficker used craigslist to recruit women and backpage to sell them

Published on May 6, 2012 by Trench Reynolds in Backpage, Craigslist and Prostitution and Human Trafficking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Roshaun Nakia Porter

Long Beach Man Accused of Running Sex Trafficking Ring:

Long Beach man indicted for allegedly luring women on Craigslist and forcing them into sex trafficking:

Long Beach man allegedly forced women into prostitution in OC:

36-year-old Roshaun “Kevin” Nakia Porter of Long Beach, California was recently indicted on charges of sex trafficking. He’s accused of allegedly forcing several women into prostitution in the Orange County area.

Investigators say that Porter would meet these women on craigslit and a site that bills itself as being the #1 site to find a sugar daddy. The women say they thought they were becoming Porter’s girlfriend. Instead he put them to work on the streets. Just like every other cowardly pimp he threatened them or their families with violence.

Then to complete the circle of slavery he advertised them on the Village Voice Media owned backpage.com.

He was eventually arrested by the Santa Ana police.

Surprisingly he’s looking at life in prison which is what all sex traffickers deserve.

This story points out two things. The first is don’t meet guys on craigslist. They’re probably scummy in one way or another. The second is backpage will say that this is a free speech issue and it’s their constitutional right to make money from the ads where these women are sold against their will.

St. Louis hooker knowingly infected johns with HIV

Published on July 6, 2010 by Trench Reynolds in 22 Acacia Avenue. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

St. Louis County police: Prostitute infected clients with HIV:

If you live in or have visited the St. Louis area I hope you haven’t been whoremongering. If you have I hope you haven’t been with this particular hooker.

She’s 20-year-old Nigaila Gibbs and she’s allegedly been infecting johns with HIV.

Police say anyone who recognizes Gibbs and had sexual activities with her, should immediately seek medical treatment and contact the St. Louis County Police Crimes Against persons Unit at 1-314-615-5400.

Now I can hear some of you saying that if prostitution was legalized and regulated by the government this wouldn’t be an issue. In theory that would work but as one of our greatest modern philosophers once said in theory communism works. Remember this is the same government that can’t even fix the roads and doesn’t remove children from dangerous family lives.

Do you want to know the best way to prevent HIV transfer from prostitutes? Don’t use hookers. It really is that simple.

The Lost Girls

Published on March 28, 2010 by Trench Reynolds in 22 Acacia Avenue. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Texas Monthly

I just wanted to share this article about human trafficking that takes place within the so called Asian massage parlors. This particular article focuses on the sex trade within Houston.

After reading this article I don’t see how anyone can say that prostitution is a victimless crime.

Another argument against the legalization of prostitution

Published on March 8, 2010 by Trench Reynolds in 22 Acacia Avenue. 0 Comments Tags: .

What’s Wrong with Legalizing Prostitution?

This is a great blog post that was sent to be by longtime friend and sometime contributor to the site Alyric. It deals with the legalization of prostitution and in my opinion dispels a lot of the myths about the ‘victimless crime.

It’s a great post that should be read in it’s entirety however I will provide you with this quote…

In Amsterdam, 80% of prostituted women reported that they were there by force. In Germany, over 60% of the prostitutes are foreigners; in Spain, it’s 80%, many coerced by gangs. In Germany, legalizing prostitution hasn’t improved conditions for prostitutes. The women do not want (or are not allowed by their pimps) to register, get health checks, pay taxes, or adhere to rules that might affect business. For example, johns are willing to pay extra for sex without a condom. Further, Germany found that legalization did not increase tax revenues like expected — mafias don’t pay taxes.

Very few women are in prostitution on their own free will. They are victims.

Austin call girl strangled to death

Published on May 27, 2009 by Trench Reynolds in 22 Acacia Avenue. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , .

Austin man arrested in death of woman found near store:

A lot of the time I get accused of picking on craigslist because of the erotic/adult services ads. People tell me that they’re not the only online venue of prostitution. You know what? They’re absolutely right. So I’m starting yet another feature here at the site about the dangers of prostitution and how it’s not a victimless crime and should not be legalized.

The new feature is called 22 Acacia Avenue. The name is taken from an Iron Maiden song about a fictional prostitute called Charlotte the Harlot and one man’s attempt to get her out of the business. You can hear the song here.

Now on to our first story of the feature.

Crazy Joe up there is 29-year-old Nathaniel Edwin Briscoe of Austin, TX. He’s been charged in the murder of Austin call girl Amy Elizabeth Dickey, 28. Allegedly Briscoe contacted her online for her services. He paid her $150 for sex. Then it’s believed that Briscoe strangled her to death. Can’t really call him another ‘craigslist killer’ yet because it has not been released what online venue he used. He then dumped her body in a wooded area. Her body was found on Thursday and police were able to track down Briscoe through her cell phone.

So let’s see, consenting adults? I doubt she consented to be strangled to death. Victimless? Hardly. Would this have had happened if prostitution was legal? More than likely.

To all the gals and guys who are thinking about turning to prostitution to make some easy money please don’t. Don’t be another victim like Amy Elizabeth Dickey. The same thing could happen to you or worse.

Thanks to Annette for the tip.

Yakima MySpace Hooker

Published on June 11, 2008 by Trench Reynolds in MySpace and Prostitution and Human Trafficking. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

Myspace Page Leads to Prostitution Arrest:
An unidentified woman from Yakima, Washington was arrested after police noticed she was using MySpace to promote her ‘escort service’. And by escort service I mean she’s a hooker.

I guess she never got the memo that you’re supposed to use craigslist for that now.

MySpace pimp facing federal charges

Published on October 3, 2007 by Trench Reynolds in Predators and Prostitution and Human Trafficking. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Feds hit MySpace pimp suspect with child sex trafficking charge:
I’ve posted about Malvin Parker Jr. before. He’s the guy from California who was arrested for allegedly pimping out an underage girl he groomed on MySpace. Well he just found himself in a whole new world of trouble. He’s now looking at 10 to life on federal charges of sex trafficking children.

The federal government has an interest in the case because Parker allegedly enticed the victim, a 16-year-old runaway from Washington state, across state lines through MySpace, a social networking site. Federal law prohibits using “force, fraud or coercion” to get a minor across state or national boundaries to engage in a “commercial sex act.”

As the kids say these days…Oh snap!!!