After a seven-day trial, a federal jury today found defendant Julio Ruiz Chuta, 35, guilty of smuggling an unaccompanied minor into the United States for financial gain. The jury found Chuta not guilty of forced labor and confiscation of the child’s passport and other immigration documents.
According to the evidence presented in court, the defendant knew the underage victim and his family, as they were from the same village in Guatemala. Due to limited options in Guatemala and because the defendant had lived in the United States, the family turned to the defendant for help. Based on the defendant’s promise to care for the minor, the boy’s parents allowed him to travel to the United States and allowed the defendant to act as his guardian in the United States. The defendant put a debt on the boy and his family, charged them interest and pressured them to pay, causing the boy to go to work instead of going to school. The suspect also led to the family handing over the deed to property they owned in Guatemala as collateral for the outstanding debt.
“This defendant used a false promise of a better life in the United States to defraud a Guatemalan child and his family, then brutally forced the child to work long hours for his own financial gain,” he said. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of Justice. Department of Civil Rights. “The Justice Department is firmly committed to prosecuting perpetrators who lure unaccompanied minors into the United States to turn around and exploit them for their own benefit.”
“This is one of those cases where we constantly warn people about the dangers of putting a loved one’s life in the hands of a people smuggler,” said Special Commander Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “The school age victim came here with hopes of fulfilling the American dream, which soon turned into a nightmare when Chuta forced the minor to work instead of going to school. HSI will continue to target organizations and individuals who exploit and benefit innocent people.”
No sentencing has yet been scheduled in this case. The suspect faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
This case was investigated by HSI and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Gregory Schiller for the Southern District of Florida and trial attorney Kate Hill of the Human Trafficking Division of the Civil Rights Division.
Anyone with information about human trafficking should report that information, free of charge, to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information on human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
China is again on this year’s list of worst countries for human trafficking, dropping from Tier 2 to Tier 3 in the 2017 TIP report. In China, human traffickers subject men, women and children to forced labor and sex trafficking.
What is the top 10 cities for human trafficking?
U.S. cities with the highest number of reported human trafficking cases in 2019 included:
- Washington, DC
- Atlanta, GA.
- Orlando, FL.
- Miami, FL.
- Las Vegas, NV.
What is the number 1 state for human trafficking? States with the Highest Trafficking Numbers California consistently has the highest human trafficking rates in the United States, with 1,507 cases reported in 2019. 1,118 of these cases were sex trafficking cases, 158 were labor trafficking, and 69 were both sex and labor. To see also : Boris Johnson defies calls to resign in the midst of mass exodus from his government. The remaining cases were not specified.
Where does human trafficking occur most in the US?
In the United States, it is most common in Texas, Florida, New York, and California. Human trafficking is both a domestic and a global crime, with victims being trafficked within their own country, to neighboring countries and between continents. Trafficking victims can be of any age and gender.
What are the top 3 states for human trafficking?
Trafficking cases reported by the state. Read also : Food and energy issues dominate the G-20 meeting of the best diplomats during the war in Ukraine. While these three states have the highest rates per capita, California, Texas and Florida have the highest number of cases.
What does a trafficker look like?
The Pretender: A trafficker often poses as a loving figure in the victim’s life, such as a friend, big sister, or even a father. This is the most commonly used method. Read also : U.S. men’s basketball players downplayed Cuba in World Cup qualifier. The provider: A trafficker can target a person who is vulnerable because he has no material comfort.
What do human traffickers look out for in victims? Targeting the victim smugglers are adept at identifying people with noticeable vulnerabilities or needs. They may scour specific locations, such as bus stations, shelters, or local shopping malls, looking for someone without a safe place to stay or who they may be able to charm with their flattery and attention.
What does human trafficking actually look like?
They can exhibit submissive behaviors such as poor posture, downcast eyes, lack of eye contact, lack of facial expressions, and can startle easily. They may look to their trafficker to speak on their behalf and may not respond to attempts to communicate with them when alone.
Who is targeted by human traffickers?
Traffickers target people who are marginalized or in difficult circumstances. Undocumented migrants and those in urgent need of work are vulnerable, especially to human trafficking for forced labor.
Who is human trafficking most targeted? Some of the most vulnerable populations to human trafficking in the United States include Native American/Alaska indigenous communities, lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-seeking individuals, persons with disabilities, undocumented migrants, runaway and homeless youth, temporary immigrant workers, and low – income individuals.
Who are usually the victims of human trafficking?
Victims of trafficking can be young children, teenagers, men and women. They can be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or foreigners, and they can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
How do human traffickers get their victims?
Recruitment: Sex traffickers approach potential victims in a variety of ways, including impersonating a potential boyfriend or boyfriend, contacting them through social media such as Facebook, posting newspaper or internet ads for jobs and opportunities, or even threatening or kidnapping them.
