Undercover MS operation leads to human trafficking arrests
An undercover operation in Mississippi lead to multiple arrests including some on enticing a child for sexual purposes.
From the Clinton (Ms) Police:
An operation to identify and combat human trafficking and prostitution was conducted during the week of July 22-28, 2019. The Clinton Police Department worked with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department to conduct an operation to identify human trafficking and prostitution in the metro Jackson area and along the Interstate 20 corridor in Mississippi.
Over the past year, Clinton Police and Fire personnel have undertaken extensive training to identify human trafficking and how to effectively help victims be rescued from the illicit and illegal activities. This operation is part of the continued efforts to utilize the training received to effectively address the issue of Human Trafficking along Interstate 20.
The multi day operation resulted in twenty-three (23) arrests. The arrests spanned multiple charges including prostitution, procuring the services of a prostitute, drug possession, and enticing a child for sexual purposes.
The goal of this operation was to identify human trafficking issues in the Metro area. This operation worked in coordination with Human Trafficking experts to assist victims caught in the grip of modern day slavery.
The Clinton Police Department did not identify any patterns or activity to suggest that human traffickers are operating extensively in Clinton.
Human trafficking is when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel a victim for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation.
All suspects were identified online as they attempted to solicit prostitution related activity. These online interactions resulted in the arrested persons traveling into Clinton to conduct their illegal activities, therefore, resulting in an arrest.
“Human trafficking isn’t just an international crime or something that only happens in other parts of the country: it could happen here in the metro area and especially along major Interstate corridors in Mississippi,” says Chief Ford Hayman. “Human trafficking is in most cases a hidden crime that operates in the dark. The more we can educate the public and raise awareness to its existence the more quickly we can identify victims and perpetrators.”
This is an ongoing investigation. Clinton Police are withholding the names of suspects and victims in an effort to assist the victims of human trafficking be rescued from their situations. One exception is the information regarding a 29 year old male who was arrested for felony enticement of a child to meet for sexual purposes.
Arrests include individuals from the metro area as well as Oklahoma, Michigan, Florida, and Virginia.
Arrested and charged with Felony Enticement of a Child to meet for sexual purposes was Corey Myers, 29, of Apopka, Florida
