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Politics
Shea Rhodes, Director of the Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation, School of Law, Villanova University

I’m a former assistant DA who works with survivors of sex trafficking − here’s why a recent Philly sting marks a shift in how Pennsylvania confronts the commercial sex industry

Philadelphia County led the state with 19 human trafficking convictions in 2023. RichLegg/E+ Collection via Getty Images

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry and the Pennsylvania State Police announced the arrests of 22 people connected to a long-standing, Philadelphia-based human trafficking ring on Oct. 22, 2024.

This investigation is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. That’s because it targeted not only the suspected leader of the trafficking ring, but all prongs of the enterprise, including the alleged financial manager, drivers and customers, or “johns.”

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