12 children rescued in Bay Area prostitution sweep

Ronald Hosko (center) of the FBI speaks in Washington, D.C., with John Ryan (left) of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Drew Oosterbaan of the Justice Dept. Ronald Hosko (center) of the FBI speaks in Washington, D.C., with John Ryan (left) of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Drew Oosterbaan of the Justice Dept. Photo: Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images Photo: Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 12 children rescued in Bay Area prostitution sweep 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Editor's note: Because of production problems, some readers did not receive the complete version of this story in Tuesday's editions.

Authorities rescued 12 children forced to work as prostitutes and arrested 21 suspected pimps in the Bay Area as part of a three-day, nationwide sweep targeting child sex trafficking, the FBI said Monday.

The Bay Area had the highest number of child prostitutes who were rescued and the most pimps taken into custody between Wednesday and Sunday in the latest in a series of nationwide sweeps, known as Operation Cross Country.

Across the nation, 105 children were rescued, and 150 pimps were arrested in 76 cities, authorities said. Detroit and Milwaukee had the second-highest number of child prostitutes rescued, with 10 each, the FBI said. Three teens were rescued in Hayward, three in Sonoma County, two in Oakland and one each in Concord and San Jose. Alameda County and Contra Costa County sheriff's deputies each rescued one juvenile in their respective jurisdictions.

Five suspected pimps were taken into custody in South San Francisco. Four suspected pimps were arrested in Sonoma County, two each in Oakland, Hayward and Contra Costa County and one each in Concord, Daly City, San Jose and San Mateo.

In Oakland, two girls were rescued along International Boulevard in the Fruitvale District, said Oakland police Lt. Kevin Wiley. "Our goal is to get as many girls off the streets as possible, to rescue these children." Wiley said children are the most vulnerable victims because "they bring the most money, and they're easier to manipulate."

In Hayward, a 4-year-old child was taken into the custody of Alameda County Child Protectives Services after her adult mother was arrested on prostitution charges and her father was arrested on an unrelated warrant, Hayward police Detective Angela Irizarry said.

In Richmond, although no child prostitutes were rescued, authorities arrested a dozen women on suspicion of prostitution, and two suspected pimps are expected to face charges, said police Sgt. Nicole Abetkov.

"Child prostitution remains a persistent threat to children across the country," Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI's criminal investigative division, told a news conference in Washington, D.C.

David Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI in San Francisco, said, "The issue and crime of child prostitution is not going away anytime soon. The sexual exploitation of children could be happening in your neighborhood, so we need the public's help in combatting this unthinkable, yet real, crime."

Johnson added, "As crimes against children are a priority for the FBI, we will continue to target and arrest those individuals who force or manipulate children into prostitution. Our children are not for sale."

The pimps are expected to be prosecuted in local court, said Peter Lee, an FBI spokesman.

About 2,700 children have been rescued since 2003 through the Innocence Lost National Initiative, a joint operation of federal and local law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an advocacy group.

Law enforcement officials said the operations have led to 1,350 convictions and lengthy sentences - including 10 life terms - and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.

The FBI said the joint investigations often begin with local police targeting truck stops, motels and websites that advertise dating or escort services.

A similar Bay Area sweep last summer led to the rescue of six teenage girls working as prostitutes and the arrest of seven alleged pimps.