(FBI's Andy Arena at right with MSP Sgt. Nate McQueen)
Posted: Wednesday, 25 June 2008 3:48PM
FBI: Prostitution Rings Prey On Kids
Detroit (WWJ) -- Officials say 345 people have been arrested in a national sweep of prostitution rings that preyed on children called "Operation Cross Country."
Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge, Andy Arena told WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting that rescuing these kids has to be a top priority. "The vermin that would prey upon these kids to bring them into the sex trade industry. This is something we need to be focused on," Arena said.
The multi-agency project targeted prostitution rings that use children ages 12 to 17 . Michigan State Police Detective Sergeant Edward Price said he hasn't seen much remorse in those who are pimping these kids out as prostitutes .
"A lot of them feel justified. They were brought up that way and a lot are just in it for the money," Price said.
Lieutenant Bonnie Freeman of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department said it's not always easy to convince the juveniles rescued from the sex trade that you're there to help, "A lot of them, it's all they know. So they don't think that it's wrong," Freeman explained.
"When you convince them that this is not how everybody else lives, that's when changes occur," she said.
Twenty juveniles were recovered in the year-long operation. Some of the kids were lured over the Internet .
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