Four Juveniles Recovered in Detroit Metro Area: Operation Cross County V

As part of the national initiative Operation Cross Country, the South East Michigan Crimes Against Children (SEMCAC) Task Force recovered four juveniles in weekend sweeps. Operation Cross Country’s fifth national initiative ran from November 4 through November 6, 2010. Nationwide, 69 juveniles were recovered and there were over 600 arrests. Over 180 federal, state, county, and local law enforcement agencies in 40 cities participated in Operation Cross Country V.

The SEMCAC Task Force was created in February 2007 as part of the Innocence Lost Initiative as a reaction to cases Michigan law enforcement encountered. The agencies participating in the SEMCAC Task Force include the Roseville Police Department, Detroit Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Michigan State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office.

As part of the Operation Cross Country Initiative, the SEMCAC Task Force recovered four juveniles and arrested 35 individuals in Michigan. Of the 35 individuals arrested, 10 of them were pimps/ring leaders. Since its inception, the SEMCAC Task Force has recovered 156 juveniles.

Today, many prostitution rings are sophisticated and interstate in nature. They rely on the Internet and other electronic media to advertise and solicit customers. The most egregious of these prostitution rings abduct or recruit juveniles from all walks of life. These juveniles are forced into working for pimps/ring leaders, often subjected to violence and relocated to areas where they know no one in order to strengthen the hold these groups have on the juveniles.

If anyone has any information on a child who has been exploited, please contact any of the participating SEMCAC Task Force agencies.