‘Operation Lost Angels’ rescues 33 children in LA
An investigation in Southern California dubbed “Operation Lost Angels” found 33 missing children in recent weeks, including two youths found multiple times at commercial sex-trafficking locations.
Kristi Johnson, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, revealed some details of the 10day operation on behalf of more than two dozen law enforcement agencies that worked to identify, locate and return the missing young people.
The operation came two months after an effort in Virginia recovered 27 children, some runaways.
“The FBI considers human trafficking modern-day slavery,” Johnson said.
On the ‘track’
Of the 33 children rescued, eight were being sexually exploited. Two were recovered multiple times during the operation while on the “track,” a term used to describe a known location for commercial sex trafficking. It is not uncommon for rescued victims to return to commercial sex trafficking either voluntarily or by fraud or coercion, Johnson said. Several other victims located had been sexually exploited in the past and were considered “vulnerable.”
Suspected trafficker arrested
The operation resulted in the arrest on state charges of one suspected
human trafficker and the opening of multiple criminal investigations, the FBI said. Some of the minors were arrested on probation violations, robbery or other misdemeanors. One was a victim of a noncustodial parental kidnapping.
Caring for those children found
The FBI and other agencies provide resources to victims aimed at ensuring their shortand long-term needs are met. Resources may include immediate medical requirements, legal services, housing, employment, education, job training and child care. “Collaboration with our law enforcement partners is key to ending the vicious cycle of modern day slavery,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
Sex trafficking crimes on the rise
The FBI caseload for sex and labor traffickingrelated crimes has increased significantly. As of November 2020, there were more than 1,800 pending trafficking investigations. In fiscal 2020, the FBI initiated 664 human trafficking investigations, resulting in the arrests of 473 traffickers.
‘Operation
Not Forgotten’
The U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit worked with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Georgia state and local agencies to lead a twoweek operation in August in Georgia that rescued 26 endangered and missing children. “Operation Not Forgotten” led to nine arrests. “The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you,” Director of the Marshals Service Donald Washington said.