Source: CHRIS DELMAS/Getty
Disturbing news came out of California as authorities busted a sex-trafficking ring at this year's annual Comic-Con event.
Yes, Comic-Con.
According Deadline, California Attorney General Rob Bonda announced that his investigators arrested 14 people involved in the sex trafficking ring and recovered 10 victims in the operation. While many people know that sex trafficking rings are a problem worldwide, we're surprised that something like this could work in a place like Comic-Con where families and friends go to live out their geekiest cosplay fantasies. However, this happened and now people will have to pay the piper for their transgressions.
Deadline References:
“Unfortunately, sex traffickers capitalize on large-scale events like Comic-Con to exploit their victims for profit,” said Rob Bonta, announcing the sting at the just-concluded convention. Along with the arrest of more than a dozen alleged sex buyers, among the 10 victims was a 16-year-old who law enforcement “recovered.”
“These arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that their criminal behavior will not be tolerated,” the California AG said of the July 25-27 sting. “We are grateful to all of our dedicated partners in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, whose cooperation has been invaluable. We are very proud of our office's commitment to revitalizing vulnerable Californians by offering them help and guidance when they need it most.”
Now, with this sex-trafficking ring busted, we better believe authorities will be watching New York Comic Con this fall for similar illegal activity.
“San Diego is proud to host special events like Comic-Con – well-attended events like these allow us to showcase our growing and beautiful city,” Christopher Davis, HSI San Diego's special officer in charge, said Wednesday. “However, when people use these events as an opportunity to prey on minors, HSI and our law enforcement partners will find you and bring you before a court of law to face criminal charges. There is no place for alleged predators to operate in our city and HSI is committed to helping the victims of these crimes.”
Man, nowhere is safe these days.
What do you think about sex traffickers using Comic-Con for their illegal activities? Let us know in the comments section below.
