Douglas County Sheriff's Office Participates in Sex Trafficking Stings During World Cannabis Week

CO Law Enforcement Targets Child and Adult Sex Traffickers During World Cannabis Week

FBI MEDIA RELEASE
Denver Division (serving CO and WY)
Thomas Ravenelle, Special Agent in Charge
8000 E. 36th Avenue, Denver, CO 80238 | FBI.gov/Denver | @FBI Denver | 303.630.6060

For immediate release
April 26, 2016

CO law enforcement targets child and adult sex traffickers during World Cannabis Week

Police recovered five minors, arrested several adults for prostitution and trafficking during World Cannabis Week when thousands of tourists visited Colorado. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies conducted operations to curb sex trafficking and exploitation, which resulted in the recovery of five children and the arrest of nine adults for trafficking and 26 adults for prostitution. Many other adults being trafficked were contacted and offered food, shelter, treatment and other services.
The sex trafficking operations were conducted across the Denver Metro area and along the Front Range during the week of April 18 because large scale events attract tourists and can also create a demand for prostitution. FBI personnel conducted research before and after “World Cannabis Week” in 2015 and noted a 35% increase in the number of online escort postings. Also, during this year’s event, nearly 40% of the escorts told police they traveled to Colorado for the special event.
“Whenever an event draws people from around the world, you will see an increase in sex trafficking,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle. “The reality is major events will always have some organized criminal activity, including people who facilitate and profit from prostituting adults and children.”
The cooperative effort included participation from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Arvada Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Castle Rock Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Trafficking and Organized Crime Coalition, Denver Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Golden Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Parker Police Department, Rocky Mountain Innocence Lost Task Force, Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and Wheat Ridge Police Department.
One of the recovered minors, a 15-year-old victim, had been transported to Colorado from California by traffickers specifically for “420 Week.” Law enforcement arrested nine alleged traffickers on numerous felonies, including Pedro Davalos for Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude. Police also arrested alleged pedophile James Brent Anderson, who allegedly made arrangements with an undercover officer to purchase a seven-year-old for sex.
A mugshot of James Brent Anderson can be obtained by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Pedro
Davalos was booked into Adams County.

Respectfully,

Bond Squad Bail Bonds
bondsquadbailbonds.com