Quote:

Scoff all you want. This was a case of prostitution being performed by minors, which, like child porn, should remain illegal, given that minors cannot legally consent. Not in the same league as prostitution that involves consenting adults.

But if prostitution among consenting adults were to be legalized, there would be far fewer victims and less human trafficking.

Quote:

Well, you see, those people refer to the voluntary prostitution, when the decision is made by the adults.

And this is precisely why I scoff at anyone who believes that prostitution is a victimless crime.

Star-Ledger Staff and Wire Reports

The largest sex-trafficking crackdown in U.S. history resulted in the rescue of 105 children and the arrest of 150 alleged pimps and others across the nation, the FBI announced today.

Hundreds more suspected of involvement in prostitution also were taken into custody during a three-day roundup that involved local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, which partnered with the nonprofit National Center for Missing and Exploited Children during the investigation.

One child was rescued in New Jersey during Operation Cross Country and five alleged pimps were among at least 70 arrested in and around Jersey City, Fairfield and Atlantic City, said Special Agent Barbara Woodruff.

Nationally, the children ranged from 13 to 17 years old, according to Assistant FBI Director Ron Hosko, the head of the bureau?s criminal division.

"Sex trafficking among children remains one of the most prevalent, violent and unconscionable crimes in this country," Hosko said. "Those who exploit children should know that we, this team, will continue to seek them out and to bring them to justice."

The nationwide investigation, which involved nearly 4,000 law enforcement agents across 46 states, often relied on social media.

Last year, five members of the Underground Gangster Crips contacted teens at school or through Facebook, DateHookUp.com or other online social networking sites, enticing the girls to use their looks to earn money through prostitution.

Last weekend?s action is the seventh in what has been a 10-year campaign that has helped recover 2,700 children, according to the FBI.

Previous operations have targeted major sporting events, such as the NFL?s Super Bowl and the NCAA?s Final Four basketball tournament. Multiple children have been recovered from those events in the past, Hosko said.

"We see a gathering of people with excess money and interested in the festivities and frolic that go around high-profile sporting events, and this seems to be a part of that," he said.

"Sex trafficking among children remains one of the most prevalent, violent and unconscionable crimes in this country."
The largest number of children in one sweep ? 12 ? were recovered in San Francisco during the weekend activities. Hosko said the children, generally recruited from foster care or group homes, were being offered up on websites and at truck stops, casinos and street corners.

John Ryan, president and chief executive officer of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, called the criminal activity "an escalating threat against America?s children."

The arrest of the most alleged pimps ? 18 ? came in Detroit. In addition to at least one parent, the alleged pimps included individuals acting alone and some with affiliations to organized crime, Hosko said.

Federal and state law enforcement authorities have increased their focus on child sex trafficking in recent years, and this most recent operation also involved seizures of drugs, money, cars and guns worth about $165,000.

Since the start of Operation Cross Country in 2003, the investigations and convictions of 1,350 have led to life imprisonment for 10 pimps and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.

Among the agencies participating in the investigation in New Jersey were the State Police; Human Services State Police; prosecutor?s offices in Atlantic City, Bergen, Essex and Hudson Counties; Absecon police; Galloway Township police; Atlantic City police; the Atlantic City Sheriff?s Office; and the Egg Harbor city police. Those charged with offering prostitution services in New Jersey were found to have come from eight states and as far away as California, authorities said.

The Justice Department has estimated that nearly 450,000 children run away from home each year and that one-third of teenagers living on the street will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

"In much of the country today, if a girl is found in the custody of a so-called pimp, she is not considered to be a victim of abuse," said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon during a Senate hearing last month. "And that?s just wrong."

Star-Ledger Staff Writer Amy Ellis Nutt, Phil Mattingly of Bloomberg News and Pete Yost of the Associated Press contributed to this report.