32 Men Charged in Portland Sex Trafficking Case Involving Girl Aged 13–17
Multnomah County prosecutors have charged 32 men with felony crimes linked to buying sex with a trafficked minor. Eight have been convicted; eight remain wanted.
Portland sex trafficking ring: 32 charged, eight convicted, eight still at large
Multnomah County prosecutors and the Portland Police Bureau's Human Trafficking Unit have charged 32 men with felony crimes connected to the sex trafficking of a girl between the ages of 13 and 17, katu.com reports. Officials say further charges are expected in the coming weeks.
Of the 32 defendants, eight have been convicted and eight remain wanted. Law enforcement is asking the public for help in locating the outstanding suspects.
Senior Deputy District Attorney J.R. Ujifusa told reporters that detectives began identifying and prosecuting suspects in late 2023, though the abuse of the child started as far back as 2020. "The courage of this victim to come forward after significant trauma is remarkable, and we stand with her," Ujifusa said.
The investigation originally centred on 82nd Avenue before expanding to other parts of Portland. Ujifusa said his office anticipates "a significant number of additional [suspects] as well in the future."
According to Ujifusa, Dominique Williams and Kyleef Newcomb organised the trafficking of the teenage girl. The remaining 30 men are identified as buyers, many of whom, authorities say, had no prior connection to one another. Williams was sentenced to 19 years in prison; Newcomb received 15 years.
Portland Police Sergeant Onest Robert, of the Human Trafficking Unit, highlighted a sharp increase in the number of minors trafficked in the city. "This is a huge problem that we're seeing," Robert said. "We recovered six minors in a matter of six weeks, and so this is a huge influx that we're seeing in the community and our goal is to make this stop."
Robert, who said he took over the position approximately two years ago, noted that the scale of juvenile street-level trafficking this year significantly exceeds anything his team had previously encountered. "We are still going out there and still being proactive and still looking for juveniles that are working out in the street," he added.
Authorities said buyers locate young victims both on the street and online, and that traffickers most commonly target children between the ages of 13 and 15. Most of the children recently recovered are from Portland, though some came from out of state or neighbouring states.
Officials listed several warning signs that a child may be a victim of sex trafficking or sexual abuse: frequently running away from home, associating with older individuals, receiving gifts or money in exchange for secrecy, sudden changes in behaviour, and contact with adults who appear to offer unusual support or affection.
Anyone with information about the eight men who remain at large, or about any other instances of sex trafficking, is urged to call the Portland Police Bureau's non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 or dial 911 in an emergency. Victims and those seeking confidential support can contact Safety Compass, a 24-hour confidential advocacy service.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)