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As part of a two-week nationwide campaign to combat sex trafficking, the FBI’s Indianapolis office announced Wednesday the arrests of two Chicago men in northern Indiana.
FBI Indianapolis, working with its state and local partners, identified and located three adult victims of sex trafficking during the campaign, called “Operation Cross Country,” according to a news release.
In Indiana, FBI agents from the Gang Response Investigative Team Task Force worked with law enforcement partners from the Indiana State Police, Merrillville Police Department, Hobart Police Department, Crown Point Police Department, Hammond Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and located and recovered three adult victims.
Two alleged traffickers were arrested by local law enforcement.
Chris Bavender, a spokeswoman in the FBI’s Indianapolis office, told Indiana Lawyer in an email Thursday that the FBI cannot identify the trafficking suspects yet as they have not been charged.
Bavender said the suspects are 32 and 31, both male and from Chicago. The 32-year-old male was arrested July 21 and the 31-year-old male was arrested July 20, both in Hobart.
“These cases are still both under investigation and upon completion of the investigations, charges will be forwarded to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for approval,” Bavender said.
She added that the investigation is ongoing and that the FBI could not provide any further details regarding the suspects, arrests or victims.
Indiana Lawyer also reached out to Indiana State Police for comment.
The FBI-led nationwide initiative, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, focused on identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking and investigating and arresting individuals and criminal enterprises involved in both child sex and human trafficking.
Nationally, the FBI, working with its state and local partners, identified and located 200 victims of sex trafficking during the nationwide enforcement campaign, the bureau announced Tuesday.
The operation also led to the identification or arrest of 126 suspects of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenses. Also, 68 suspects of trafficking were identified or arrested.
The initiative also located 59 minor victims of child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, and another 59 children who had been reported missing.
“Sex traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a news release. “This operation, which located 59 actively missing children, builds on the tremendous work the FBI has undertaken over many years to rescue minor victims and arrest those responsible for these unspeakable crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to prevent human trafficking; increase detection, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking crimes; and expand support and services to protect and empower survivors.”
FBI victim specialists provide services based on the individual needs of human trafficking victims, including crisis intervention, emergency food and clothing, transportation to receive emergency services, and locating shelter or housing. The victim specialists also serve as conduit between the victims and the investigative team to help ensure they are receiving case updates.
“Behind every statistic, there is a person with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from child sex trafficking and exploitation. As a society we must work together to ensure the protection, support, and empowerment of those impacted by this heinous crime,” NCMEC President and CEO Michelle DeLaune said in a news release. “We applaud the FBI and their partner law enforcement agencies for their unwavering dedication to protecting children. Their tireless efforts in combatting crimes against children sends a powerful message that child sexual exploitation will not be tolerated.”
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