Last week, 10 people were arrested in a sex trafficking sting conducted by the Fairfield Police Department of New Jersey.
Undercover officers were in a town hotel on March 3 when they busted the group and rescued a 16-year-old runaway, who they say was being sold for sex.
According to PEOPLE, those arrested face charges for possession of drugs and weapons, in addition to promoting and/or engaging in prostitution.
The site reports:
During the undercover campaign, officers were also able to rescue a 16-year-old runaway who was being sold for sex, according to authorities.
According to a police statement obtained by PEOPLE, the sting operation was conducted on at a hotel in Fairfield on March 3. A number of other policing agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey State Police, assisted the investigation.
Undercover officers also recovered a fake handgun, prescription pills, three cars and $2,700 in cash.
The names of those arrested have been released. PEOPLE continues:
Arrested in last week’s sting are New Jersey residents Jasmine Crisp, 19; Katherine Soland, 25; Roberta Lombardi, 43; Jackie Cotton-Pearson, 35; and Janae Fussell, 43. Also facing charges are New Yorkers Oshane Crooks, 30; Shennette Munroe, 25; Jessica Burns, 38 and Unique Andrews, 19.
Last week, police also arrested Antoniese Nguyen, a 22-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia.
In a statement, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna had this to say:
“This is why this absolutely is not a victimless crime, as many proclaim. There are real young people who should be enjoying their teen years rather than being placed in a hotel room in Fairfield for the purposes of prostitution. We will continue to be a leading law enforcement agency whose goal it is to arrest and prosecute anyone who takes the innocence away from a juvenile.”
We pray for the victims and their families at this time, and will continue to keep you updated.
SOURCE: PEOPLE | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
10 Busted In New Jersey Sex Trafficking Sting, 16-Year-Old Runaway Rescued was originally published on globalgrind.com
