Fairfax County Police Department News

Detectives Charge Man in Alleged Sex Trafficking Case

Just Ask Prevention Project Expands Website in Espanol

McLean Police District – Several months ago, a 17-year-old girl met a man on Facebook. The two became “friends” and communicated online often; eventually the girl agreed to meet. For months afterwards, the young woman was reportedly victimized and exploited. The man allegedly threatened the teen, locked her in a room, and took her phone. It wasn’t until police received a tip from a concerned household member, that steps were taken to remedy the situation.

Detectives from the Human Trafficking Unit were contacted and investigated. They charged the suspect, Manuel A. Contreras, 27 of Kaiser Place, in the Falls Church area, with abduction with intent to defile and contributing to the delinquency of a minor on Friday, August 22. (**Additional details are not being released to protect the identity of the victim; the investigation is still ongoing)

The young woman was missing for over three months, but no one ever reported it to police. Police feel there are others in similar situations and are actively investigating other cases.

The “Just Ask” Prevention project was launched in January 2014 and continues to actively produce information and educational information on the issue of human, primarily teen sex, trafficking. Public service announcements, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzVM9yYRYGA, are posted to the justaskva.org website. Residents are encouraged to learn more about this important issue. A new website, in Spanish, was launched in July 2014, http://justaskva.org/es/.

Detectives Charge Man in Alleged Sex Trafficking Case (May 29, 2014)

“Just Ask” Prevention Project Continues

 Detectives from the Human Trafficking Unit received information on May 21 regarding a man who was reportedly manipulating a mentally-incapacitated 22-year-old woman into performing prostitution. The investigation revealed that the man has reportedly been using online advertising for the young woman’s commercial sex acts, transporting her to meet clients, and then keeping all monies exchanged in the transactions.

Robert Moore, 31, of Reston was charged with promoting prostitution, receiving earning from prostitution and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

**The Police Department is continuing the education and prevention “Just Ask” partnership campaign. Seminars, web site updates, awareness posters in shopping malls and on commuter buses, news articles, community presentations, and a new website in Spanish are some of the continuing efforts. See below for more information.

“Just Ask” Prevention Project (January 10, 2014) Targets Teen Sex Trafficking

Sample Educational Video Shown in Schools http://www.ebmcdn.net/fcps/fcps_video_viewer.php?viewnode=850f96adfef9d

Officials from the Fairfax County Police, public schools, Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, and the Northern Virginia community gathered today to kick off a new education and prevention campaign on the topic of teen sex trafficking. Defined as “the act of manipulating or forcing anyone under the age of 18 to engage in a sex act in exchange for anything of value (money, drugs, shelter, food, clothes, etc.),” police identify an average of two new potential victims per week.

Many people believe teen sex trafficking only happens to runaways or in other more urban settings. But, it is on the rise across Northern Virginia and teens are now being targeted in public venues; bus stops, walking down the street, parties, shopping malls, through social media outlets, and more. Sex traffickers do not discriminate; they recruit victims across ethnic, economic and gender strata. Most teens are unaware they are being drawn in and often don’t recognize the signs of manipulation until it is too late. Traffickers are not just gang members or “criminals”; they may be business professionals, family members, students and teens they know. The trafficker may not be a stranger; rather it may be a friend or acquaintance from the classroom.

The Just Ask Prevention Project is a new public awareness campaign addressing the increasing prevalence of Teen Sex Trafficking in the region. A unique collaborative, the goal of the effort is to inspire residents to get involved with prevention and encourage them to learn more about spotting and reporting manipulative recruiters. It was produced by Hidden Brook Communications in Great Falls.

The campaign incorporates age-appropriate powerful illustrative new videos into the Fairfax County Public School Health & P.E. Family Life Education curriculum. An interactive website goes live Monday, January 13, JustAskVA.org, along with a Just Ask Facebook page. There will also be cadre of posters for buses, schools, and other locations. Schools will create a plastic bracelet awareness campaign.

Additionally, the campaign partners with the Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services who will fund several prevention and education programs such as a training event on February 5-6 for counseling professionals and February10 for shelter and residential program providers. Their goal is to better prepare personnel on the front lines to respond to human trafficking victims and survivors.

Parents, family, teachers and friends will learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of teen sex trafficking situations and be urged to report suspicious activities to the FCPD Human Trafficking Unit .