Man Charged With Running Philadelphia-Based Forcible Prostitution Ring
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Federal authorities in Philadelphia have arrested and charged a New York man with running a violent prostitution business here.
Officials say this case is part of a concerted effort to crack down on the disturbingly common crime of human trafficking.
According to federal prosecutor Michelle Morgan, 38-year-old Justin Williams ran the prostitution operation out of Philadelphia. She tells KYW Newsradio that the federal charges against him include sex trafficking by force.
"I can only say what is in the indictment, which is that he engaged in acts of physical force and coercion to cause them to engage in prostitution," she said today.
Federal, state, and local authorities have been coordinating their efforts to target human trafficking of men, women, and children for sex or labor.
Several cases are pending, and convictions in other cases have resulted in long sentences including, in at least one case, life in prison.
