Stamford Police Join State-Wide Human Trafficking Task Force: WATCH

Connecticut’s U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly announced Wednesday that representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement, and social service agencies — including Stamford Police — have formed a Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force to combat commercial sexual and labor exploitation in the state.

This Human Trafficking Task Force includes representatives from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Connecticut State Police and police departments from 14 cities and towns across Connecticut, including Bridgeport, East Hartford, Greenwich, Hamden, Hartford, Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Waterbury, West Haven and Windsor Locks. Additional police departments have been or will be invited to participate and are expected to join the Task Force.

Committed to a victim-centered model, the Task Force will partner with social service agencies and organizations, including the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the International Institute of Connecticut, which help to identify and report suspected trafficking and then provide needed support for trafficking victims. [See video below.]

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“Over the last several years, it has become increasingly clear that human trafficking, and particularly the sex trafficking of minors – the cruel victimization of defenseless young women and men – is a form of modern day slavery,” Daly said in a statement. “Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, this criminal activity grows apace with the proliferation of Internet marketplaces where sex with children can be bought and sold. This task force dramatically expands our resources by bringing together a broad group of trained and dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement authorities that will operate across jurisdictional boundaries throughout Connecticut.”

Daly added, “We are proud to be working collaboratively with the Department of Children and Families and the International Institute of Connecticut as these organizations provide critical support by identifying victims of these terrible crimes and giving them the support that they so desperately need.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted more than 20 individuals for sex trafficking offenses, most of which involved minor victims. On Monday, Edward Thomas was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment for trafficking 16 and 17 year-old girls in Milford and Windsor Locks. And on Tuesday, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Jordan Anate of New York with sex trafficking of a minor for more than four months in Connecticut and elsewhere.

The Task Force will be coordinated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Novick and Sarala Nagala who will lead monthly meetings with task force members to discuss investigatory leads and case developments. In December, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) will conduct a three-day training for a large group of police officers from participating departments and troopers from the Connecticut State Police. Law enforcement officers who complete the training will be deputized as federal task force officers.

Daly encouraged trafficking victims, and anyone who comes in contact with potential victims of trafficking, to call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 888-373-7888. Hotline operators are trained to identify potential trafficking situations, and will immediately refer tips to law enforcement. Individuals can also send an email to NHTRC@traffickingresourcecenter.org.

Trafficking victims also are encouraged to text “BEFREE” to receive an immediate response and help from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.