FBI’s WORK TO RESCUE NEARLY 80 JUVENILES IN NATIONWIDE OPERATION TARGETING UNDERAGE PROSTITUTION Senators Emphasize Importance of Keeping Kids Safe In Annual FBI Funding Bill
BigNews.Biz - Jun 26,2012 - MIKULSKI, HUTCHISON PRAISE FBI’s WORK TO RESCUE NEARLY 80 JUVENILES IN NATIONWIDE OPERATION TARGETING UNDERAGE PROSTITUTION
Senators Emphasize Importance of Keeping Kids Safe In Annual FBI Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), the Chairwoman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the FBI and other Justice Department programs, thanked Director Robert S. Mueller III and the hundreds of FBI special agents who partnered with thousands of state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States this past week, in arresting those responsible for exploiting underage children through prostitution.
The sixth iteration of Operation Cross Country, a three-day law enforcement effort, led to the recovery of 79 children. Additionally, 104 men and women who facilitated the exploitation of these children were arrested by law enforcement officials on a variety of prostitution related charges.
"I'm so proud of the men and women of the FBI who worked alongside State and local police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to rescue 79 children and arrest 104 pimps who were exploiting them. I commend all the agents who broke up these despicable child prostitution rings," said Sen. Mikulski. "This major operation is an example of the good that can be accomplished when the Federal government works with State and locals to keep our children safe."
"I commend the FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and their state and local partners for their coordinated efforts and the success of Operation Cross Country. Child prostitution and sex trafficking are heinous crimes that exploit our most precious resource - our children," said Sen. Hutchison. "Chairwoman Mikulski and I are grateful for the hard work and dedication of Director Mueller and the FBI, Ernie Allen and NCMEC, and their state and local partners."
Operation Cross Country is part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative that was created in 2003 by the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), to address the growing problem of domestic child sex trafficking in the United States. To date, the 47 Innocence Lost Task Forces and Working Groups have recovered more than 2,200 children.
The Senators thank the more than 8,500 local, state and federal law enforcement officers and agents representing 414 separate agencies who participated in Operation Cross Country and their ongoing enforcement efforts.
To learn more about Operation Cross Country and the Innocence Lost National Initiative, visit
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