FBI: Nationwide child prostitution sweep leads to 104 arrests, 79 children rescued

CNN ^ | 6/26/12 | Carol Cratty

[Libloather]

FBI: Nationwide child prostitution sweep leads to 104 arrests, 79 children rescued
By Carol Cratty, CNN
June 26, 2012 -- Updated 1457 GMT (2257 HKT)

Washington (CNN) -- During a three-day law enforcement sweep targeting the problem of teenage prostitution, officers rescued 79 children and arrested 104 alleged pimps, the FBI announced Monday.

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Operation Cross Country 6 took place from Friday though Sunday with more than 2,500 state, local and federal officers working in 57 cities.

FBI Acting Executive Assistant Director Kevin Perkins said the children law enforcement freed from their handlers ranged from 13 to 17 years old with one girl saying she had gotten involved in prostitution when she was 11.

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"Many times the children that are taken in in these types of criminal activities are children that are dissaffected, they are from broken homes, they may be on the street themselves -- they are really looking for a meal, they are looking for shelter, they are looking for someone to take care of them, and that's really the first approach that's made," said Perkins.

[workerbee]

100,000 (across the country) sounds pretty believable to me.

And I know you're not saying that "it doesn't count" (?) if a 12 yr old "only does it once or twice". Are you?

[Scoutmaster]

And I know you're not saying that "it doesn't count" (?) if a 12 yr old "only does it once or twice". Are you?

No. I was responding to those saying "100,000 isn't believable." I was trying to point out that 100,000 doesn't mean that 100,000 teens set up in brothels or walked the street each year.

Those kids who did it once for a thrill (or a $500 purse) and those runaways who did it once or twice are among the 100,000. It counts.