Two Fort Lauderdale, Florida residents were sentenced to federal prison for running a sex-trafficking operation, disguised as an escort service, using children in South Florida, according to court documents obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.
David Pierre, 34, was sentenced in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on October 22 before U.S. District Court Judge William Dimitrouleas to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release as a sex offender.
Pierre's partner, Jenna Linden, 24, was already sentenced in federal court on September 23 before Judge Dimitrouleas to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release as a sex offender. Linden and Pierre pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor on July 15 and August 13.
Federal authorities initiated the investigation in November 2008, after a 14-year-old victim of the escort service run by Pierre was rescued in Fort Lauderdale by police. Subsequently, another 16-year-old victim of Pierre's escort service was discovered.
Pierre operated the prostitution ring/escort service from his Fort Lauderdale home. He advertised his business on the Internet. Linden assisted Pierre with transporting the underaged victims to customers throughout the south Florida area.
This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide Immigration & Customs Enforcement operation designed to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.
Launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested almost 12,000 individuals through Operation Predator, many of whom were illegally residing in the U.S.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
This particular ICE investigation was conducted by it's Office of Investigations in Fort Lauderdale with the help of the Homestead Police Department, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the Broward County Sheriff's Office, and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). In addition, he's the former editor for the House Conservatives Fund's weblog. Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com and PHXnews.com. He's also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc.
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