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FBI Sex-Ring Bust Frees 47 Kids

Multi-agency crackdown snares more than 600 adults involved in '21st century slavery'

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 28, 2008 7:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – A huge nationwide crackdown has smashed apart a dozen child prostitution rings and rescued 47 juveniles, the Washington Post reports. The joint effort from the FBI, Justice Department, and local law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of more than 600 adults in 29 cities, including 73 pimps. Ten of the children appear on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's registry.

The juveniles rescued range in age from 13 to 17. Most were girls who ran away from home or were estranged from their families. The chief of the missing children's center warned that a growing number of juveniles are being forced into "21st century slavery," and said that the crime is happening on "Main Street USA," including in rural and suburban communities.

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FBI Director Robert Mueller is flanked by Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in this July 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

A swoop on child prostitution rings nationwide has snared over 600 adults involved in the sexual exploitation of juveniles. (Index Open)

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Sex trafficking of children remains one of the most violent and unconscionable crimes in our country. - FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole

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FBI Sex-Ring Bust Frees 47 Kids