Juveniles rescued in prostitution roundup

One Las Vegas Valley juvenile and two Northern Nevada juveniles were rescued from child prostitution in a four-day national sweep of 27 cities, an FBI spokesman said Monday.

Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesman David Staretz said the Thursday through Sunday sweep in Las Vegas netted the arrest of two pimps, one man who solicited a prostitute and 47 adult prostitutes.

A sweep in Reno during those days resulted in six adult prostitutes being arrested and one person who was soliciting a prostitute.

The FBI targeted large cities such as San Francisco, Detroit and Phoenix in "Operation Cross Country II," Staretz said.

Staretz said although many adults involved in different facets of prostitution were arrested during the sweeps, children were the focus. Nationwide, 47 minors were rescued from prostitution in the stings.

"The whole purpose of this operation is to rescue children ... from this type of activity so they can have a new lease on life," Staretz said.

Children who were rescued were not charged with prostitution, Staretz said.

Las Vegas police assisted the FBI in the roundups.

Christine Skorupski, a spokeswoman with Clark County Family Services, said she could not confirm whether the local child rescued in the operation is or was at any time in the care of her agency.

"Our involvement is not for public record," Skorupski said.

FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the arrests were made possible by intelligence gathered during a similar series of raids in June.

"Sex trafficking of children remains one of our most violent and unconscionable crimes in this country," Pistole said.

The 47 rescued children range in age from 13 to 17 and include one male. Pistole said 10 of the juveniles had been reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.