Pimping: fastest growing crime in San Diego; nationwide

File photo. Google images.

According to Special Deputy U.S. Marshal James Hunter pimping is the criminal activity with the fastest growth incidence in the San Diego area and nationwide; and the greatest recruiting fields for pimps are local shopping malls, middle and high school campuses, MySpace, and the whole internet.

“Pimping is the fastest growing crime in San Diego and across our nation. It is the second biggest money maker for our local gangs.”

Hunter, who has been a cop for 16 years, is also a Detective of the Vice unit at the San Diego Police Department, and has interviewed over one hundred female victims of pimping, conducted several pimping investigations and talked with many other human trafficking detectives and experts from around the country.

Detective Hunter defines pimping and the environment surrounding this illicit activity as a sub-world where the victims survive between guilt and fear.

“A world full of mentally, emotionally and physically abused young innocent girls being sold by a worthless gangster pimp to disgusting sex-driven pedophiles in plain view on our local streets, motels, hotels and all over the internet,” Hunter recently wrote for an internal publication of the San Diego Police Officers Association.

Teenage girls as young as twelve years old are being obligated to work as prostitutes in Southern California, some in captivity, some on the streets, as Hunter affirms has happened at El Cajon Blvd., in San Diego.

One of those multiple cases handled by Hunter, was Case 3:10-mj-02121-WVG which was filed on June 25, at a U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, against defendant Charles Duan Hamilton AKA “Chalie.”

The Complaint for Violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § (a) – Sex Trafficking of Children or by Force, Fraud or Coercion, states that defendant Hamilton knowingly, in and affecting interstate commerce “did recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, and maintain by any means a person, and did benefit, financially and by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture which has engaged in an act of recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, and maintaining by any means a person, to wit: Minor Female #1 (1) knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, fraud, and coercion would be, and was in fact, used to cause Minor Female #1 to engage in a commercial sex act; (2) knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Minor Female #1 would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act; and (3) having had the reasonable opportunity to observe Minor Female #1 and knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Minor Female #1 had not attained the age of 18 years; in violation of the Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 1591 (a),(b), and 2.”

Promotional flyer. Source: CAS.

Included in the Statement of Facts in the Complaint document, in her own words, Minor Female #1 –a 16 year-old San Diego girl-, “wanted to leave” but “was in fear of being hurt or even killed.” Hamilton had told her and sent her “several text messages stating he would kill her if she ever left him.”

But this seems to be a behavioral pattern between victims of pimping, and their perpetrators. Beyond the detailed facts, what Hunter concludes of this case is that:

“…the most difficult aspect of any pimping investigation is victim disclosure. Disclosure is a process not a single event. It is rare for a victim, especially an underage victim, to disclose the truth about her actions and her pimp on the first interview. Most will delay due to self blame, embarrassment, guilt, and valid fears of retaliation from the pimp. Additionally, it is common for the victim to believe she is in love with her pimp and want to protect him.”

According to California Against Slavery [CAS] a non-profit organization based in Fremont, Calif.; there are 12.5 Million slaves worldwide, from which 80 percent are women and children; and 50 percent [of that 80 percent] are as well, children.

CAS statistics also indicate that in the United States, there is an estimate of at least 100,000 minors who are sex slaves -sold and exploited by pimps. While human trafficking is intrinsically tied to this crime, between 14,500 and 17,500 people are brought in from other countries as slaves each year.

There is an urgent need to raise awareness and fight for tougher laws. As Detective Hunter fights this crime at the law enforcement end, CAS is leading another fight: to strengthen our human trafficking (pimping) laws in California.

Daphne Phung Executive Director and Founder of CAS, leads a group of citizens who have written new legislation which will –within other provisions- penalize the crime of pimping a minor with a 15 to life sentence; and will add to the nonexistent requirement of human trafficking training, a mandatory two hours schooling for all California law enforcement. For that matter, CAS intends to gather over 600,000 signatures to bypass the legislators and put the initiative directly on the 2012 ballot.

In support of CAS, an Anti-Domestic Human Trafficking Benefit Concert will be held in San Diego July 24th. If you wish to contribute to this effort, and meet all the local people who are fighting to save California’s children from this hideous crime; just show up Saturday, July 24th 2010 at True North Tavern, 3815 30th Street, in San Diego. A $5 donation will be accepted at the door.

For more info:

Anti-Domestic Human Trafficking Benefit Concert
An effort to bring awareness to the fastest growing crime in San Diego and across our nation.

Date: Saturday, July 24th 2010
Time: 3pm to 8pm (get there early before it sells out)
Location: True North Tavern, 3815 30th Street, San Diego

Performing and entertainment:
- Insane Close Up Magic by Craig Stone
- Sports Memorabilia Silent Auction
- T-shirts & Gear by So-Cal Tactical
- $3 You call it drink special
- $5 Donation at the door

All proceeds go to benefit California Against Slavery.

If you would like to see all of the key bullet points or read the entire CAS legislation initiative, go to www.californiaagainstslavery.org