WASHINGTON -- The FBI has rescued more than 45 suspected teenage prostitutes, some as young as 13, in a nationwide sweep to remove kids from the illegal sex trade and punish their accused pimps.
Over a three-night initiative called Operation Cross Country, federal agents working with local law enforcement also arrested more than 50 alleged pimps, according to preliminary bureau data. The operation took place in parts of the District and Baltimore, among other nationwide locations.
The teenage prostitutes found in the investigation ranged in age from 13 to 17.
Historically, federal authorities rarely play a role in anti-prostitution crackdowns, but the FBI is becoming more involved as it tries to rescue children caught up in the business.
"The goal is to recover kids. We consider them the child victims of prostitution," said FBI Deputy Assistant Director Daniel Roberts.
"Unfortunately, the vast majority of these kids are what they term 'throwaway kids,' with no family support, no friends. They're kids that nobody wants, they're loners. Many are runaways," Roberts said.
Most of the children are put into the custody of local child protection agencies.
Agents in cities from Miami to Chicago to Anchorage, Alaska took part in the operation.
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Special Agent Melissa Morrow of the FBI's Washington office said the operation has put them on the trail of a particular 16-year-old prostitute they still haven't found.
Adult prostitutes arrested during the operation provided key tips about the girl, the agent said.
"She is currently 16 and started when she was 13. Now she is out there recruiting other juveniles as well," said Morrow, adding that finding the girl is "at the top of our list."
The federal effort is also designed to hit pimps with much tougher prison sentences than they would likely get in state criminal courts.
Government prosecutors look to bring racketeering charges or conspiracy charges that can result in decades of jail time.
"Some of these networks of pimps and their organizations are very sophisticated, they're interstate," said Roberts, requiring wiretaps and undercover sting operations to bring charges.
The weekend's roundup marked the third such Operation Cross Country, and is part of a broader federal program launched in 2003 to crack down on the sexual exploitation of children.
The List:
Cities where the FBI and local law enforcement agencies conducted operations last weekend to rescue child prostitutes and arrest their accused pimps:
--Anchorage, Alaska
--Atlanta
--Baltimore area
--Birmingham, Ala.
--Boston
--Charlotte, N.C.
--Chicago
--Cleveland
--Dallas
--Denver
--Detroit area
--Houston
--Jackson, Miss.
--Jacksonville, Fla.
--Las Vegas
--Los Angeles area
--Miami
--Minneapolis, Minn.
--Oakland, Calif.
--Phoenix
--Portland, Ore.
--Sacramento, Calif.
--San Diego
--San Francisco
--Seattle area
--Toledo, Ohio
--Washington
Source: FBI
