Pimps, prostitutes arrested in Oklahoma

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY - Authorities arrested two pimps and 18 prostitutes in Oklahoma as part of a nationwide effort, FBI officials said.

James E. Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Oklahoma, said the arrests are a result of participation with the state's local partners in Operation Cross Country II, a four-day national enforcement action.

Operation Cross Country II involved 92 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working in 27 cities. Locally, this included Oklahoma City, Edmond and Midwest City. Agencies who participated in this area included Oklahoma City Police Department, Edmond Police Department, Midwest City Police Department, Norman Police Department, Cleveland County Sheriff's Office and the FBI.

As a result of the local effort, eighteen prostitutes from ages 19 to 42 were arrested.

Additionally, two pimps were arrested. Nationally, as a result of Operation Cross Country II, 642 individuals were arrested and 47 children were recovered and removed from the cycle of victimization.

In June 2003, the FBI, in close cooperation with the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation-Obscenity Section and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children formed the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address criminal enterprises involved in the domestic sex trafficking of children. To date, 575 children have been recovered.