9 Busted For Human Trafficking, 26 For Prostitution During 4/20 Week
DENVER (CBS4) - The FBI-led Innocence Lost Task Force has revealed the recovery of five children and the arrest of nine adults for trafficking, and 26 adults for prostitution during operations during a week of pot smoking events in Denver.
That date 4/20 is known in Colorado as a day to celebrate marijuana. It brings in people from far and away. Like at other big events, some of the people are in search of sex with minors. That's what James Brent Anderson, 60, is accused of seeking.
Anderson's arrest affidavit claims he contacted a chat room stating, "I'm looking for girls between the ages of 6 and 10 that date ... I have dated 6- and 10-year-olds between those ages at the day care."
Anderson then met with an undercover detective posing as a trafficker. He allegedly asked for "anything over 4 or 5 and a girl."
FBI spokesperson Deborah Sherman says there was no actual child involved in the sting.
"The undercover officer was acting as a trafficker, somebody who had access to the 7-year-old, and they showed Anderson pictures of (her) and he was very agreeable," Sherman said.
During the 4/20 week investigators found a 35 percent increase in postings for escorts. Nine people in all were arrested on trafficking charges, including Pedro Davalos.
The investigation was conducted by the Innocence Lost Task Force which last year at a news conference said it led the country in the number of rescued minors from sex trafficking. Among them was a girl who CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger met.
"They saved my life, really," she said.
"Why are you crying?" Sallinger then asked.
"I just appreciate them so much," she replied.
RELATED: Hotel Workers Get Trained To Spot Sex Trafficking As Stock Show Comes To Denver
It is not that human trafficking and marijuana celebrations go together. It's any event that brings more people to town, such as the National Western Stock Show.
LINK: FBI - Innocence Lost
CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.
