Monthly Archives: July 2017

Charges have been filed to 11 of the 19 individuals that were arrested in a two-day undercover sex trafficking sting.

The Anoka County Attorneys Office charged 11 individuals with felony-level counts of electronic solicitation of a child on June 30. According to the Anoka County Attorneys Office, charges are likely for the additional six cases and are currently under review.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) led the operation with assistance from the Fridley Police Department and the Anoka County Sheriffs Office. The Plymouth Police Department and the Dakota County Sheriffs Office provided additional assistance.

According to the BCA, the sting operation utilized undercover agents and investigators to pose as children on multiple social media platforms between the ages of 13 to 15. Subjects believed they were going to meet with the children for sex. On June 27-29, law enforcement officers took the 11 suspects into custody after agreeing to meet at an apartment complex on East River Road in Fridley, according to the criminal complaints.

Earlier this week, law enforcement from multiple agencies executed a well-organized initiative targeting those with desires to prey upon the youth of our community. Simply stated, this will not be tolerated, said Paul Young, Chief of the Anoka County Attorneys Office Criminal Division. Kudos to all of the law enforcement experience and labor channeled for this investigation.

Young added, While this investigation and these crimes did not involve any real children, we know these are not victimless crimes. This type of crime predatory conduct in search of exploiting children has no geographic boundary and impacts our whole community.

Ten victims of alleged human trafficking ring were rescued, including one juvenile that has been placed in protective custody by Anoka County.

Charged defendants are: Jesus A. Sandoval-Rogel, 27, of St. Paul; Brandon W. Blackwell, 20, of Savage; Andrew J. Eilers, 21, of Clear Lake; Vadim S. Tsvik, 28, of Blaine; Joseph D. Paradise, 28, of Fridley; Arnold K. Leas, 54 of Fridley; Steve Yang, 24, of Chanhassen; Chad J. Eckel, 31, of North Branch; Shane J. Jourdain, 22; Michael D. Griep, 29, of Columbia Heights; Jose A. Vasquez-Reyes, 28, of Cottage Grove.

Read more here:

Eleven people charged in child sex trafficking sting - Sun Focus

[Part 3 in a series with regard to sexual abuse and exploitation.]

Its a lifelong process, the road back to whatever falls within the range of normalcy that is unique to each individual as they deal with the fallout of having been sexually abused.

The vastness and enormity of it all often overwhelms and consumes survivors deep down to their core. Their path back toward recovery is both arduous and painful but also uplifting and only really happens when one confronts the myriad of emotions and issues that befall the persons who have been victimized of such crimes. Its a double-edged sword of sorts for the persons who must endure reliving and talking about the traumas perpetrated upon them by sexual predators.

For Tamela Burckhardt the path toward recovery has at times been excruciating. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, abuse of heavy drugs and alcohol, to help mask feelings of inadequacy, guilt and shame. Mental health professionals, while quick to point out there really is no exact quotient per se, point out those are all issues in common that survivors of abuse commonly must deal with. And there are many others.

But she also has emerged stronger and now helps counsel others who are just now taking their initial steps toward recovery.

Its not a perfect healing youre never going to be the person you were, but you could be a stronger person, you can be happy... you can get back to that point. But there is no such thing as a perfect healing, Burckhardt, 49, explained.

As she tells it, having not really known any other way, Tamela thought the abuse was normal. I know it sounds strange but it had gone on for so long thats all Id really known.

Dealing with the ensuing aftermath as an adolescent was agonizing. I didnt deal with it, I was a drug addict, I self medicated, said Burckhardt. All the emotional problems I felt guilty, I felt that it was my fault because I got told that all the time from my abusers. At the same time, I know it sounds strange, but I thought that was the normal because its all Id ever known. It wasnt until later that I realized this isnt normal.

There is no typical, everyone responds differently when it comes to dealing with the emotional and behavioral issues that present themselves as survivors grind toward recovery, explains Jared Wilhelm, LPC, a longtime mental health professional at Southeast Arizona Behavioral Health Services in Safford. Hes also quick to emphasize exploitation and abuse are not victimless crimes.

But on the flip side, he said, survivors who deal and confront their issues, through fortitude and resilience, are able to rise above and come out wounded yet stronger. The trauma does not have to define them, says Wilhelm.

But there is no denying the emotional scars and wounds will need healing, lots of healing.

I wont ever be fully healed, says Tamela. But I get a little closer each day and Im able to handle it a little better each day. Seeking help, though, is paramount, a point Wilhelm stresses as well. This isnt about getting people to SEABHS, this is about getting people the help they need. There are resources available there are online support groups, seek them out. said Wilhelm. You can find happiness again.

The disassociation Wilhelm says are why drug and alcohol abuse are often emotional crutches for survivors. What happens is children and others who are being abused may try to go to a safe place in their mind as a coping mechanism and drugs and alcohol can have that same effect.

Clean and sober now for several years, Tamela helps others on online support and crisis intervention.

What I say to anyone who may be trying to deal with this on their own is get help immediately, said Tamela. Once you start dealing with it all thats what it takes. It wont ever be the same, whatever normal is, but that will never be. You just try to get as close to whatever that is for you and take it day by day.

Of course, some days are better than others, she says, even after all this time. She also credits husband, Ralph Burckhardt, with offering the support she still and will continue to need.

When they met, Ralph said he could tell there was some underlying problem, and she credits him as being a rock when it comes to helping and support her as she continues in her recovery.

Its a work in progress, she readily admits. As far as advising others who may be grappling with the same issues: You have to talk about it the first step toward healing is talking about it.

Excerpt from:

SHATTERING INNOCENCE: Survivor's path toward recovery - Benson News Sun

Michael Shannon-National Columnist

If youd told me last week there were two California politicians who believed in borders, proving residency and preventing identity theft I would have thought you were auditioning for an anchor chair on CNN. Even one actually happening would not have seemed even remotely possible, yet all three were witnessed by credible observers.

Lets start with Rep. Maxine Waters. Maxine is the Alex Jones of the left. She shows up spouting conspiracy theories that no one outside an antifa seance could possibly believe. But instead of being sidelined by major media outlets, Maxine is the face of The Resistance in the Opposition Media because her crackpot theories usually involve President Trump.

Maxine is a stanch open borders advocate with a zero rating from both the Federation for American Immigration Reform and US Border Control. She supports amnesty and opposes making English the official language. Maxine isnt bothered by the fact illegals take the jobs her black constituency formerly filled.

That all changed just prior to a recent town hall meeting in Gardena, CA. Waters decided to join the Border Patrol when she got word that a small group of invaders was poised to jump the boundary and make their way into her district.

Waters staff asked for identification from everyone who pre-registered to attend. Frankly Waters is one of the last offices where Id expect to hear a demand for papers, please. Democrats assure us asking for photo ID before voting is an unconstitutional imposition on a citizens rights, but requiring a complete document workup before entering a Waters town hall is well in this case it was attendance suppression.

Pre-registered attendees that didnt live in her district were given yellow wristbands, then when the meeting began everyone with a yellow band was barred from entering. This whole Maxine Joins the Migra was particularly ironic since the LA Times points out Waters doesnt even live in her district.

Congressman Rod Blum (R-Iowa), who does live in his district, was pilloried in May when his staff prescreened attendees to make sure they were residents. An ignorant local TV news poodle ambushed Blum and demanded to know why his staff was asking for proof of residency when you represent all Iowans shouldnt all Iowans have a voice at the table or at least have the option to?

Evidently the OpMedia thinks asking for ID in Iowa is Nazilike, but is fine with Waters only representing district residents and OneUnited bank.

The only surprising element in Waters new documentation regime was the absence of recent legal documentation convert Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Becerras new crackdown on false drivers licenses flies in the face of the states official policy on identity theft.

Im sure youve heard of so-called victimless crimes where breaking the law allegedly hurts no one? Offenses like dope smoking, ho poking and conservative stroking? California has gone one better, identity theft is now a perpetrator-less crime, where the law is broken but no one is guilty.

Many would label these examples of selective rule enforcement and law enforcement as a double standard. While accurate, that only scratches the surface. What Waters, Becerra and California politics exemplify is Venezuela on the installment plan.

The power of government is used to curry favor with approved ethnic groups and reward correct political thinking. This continues until the money for handouts is gone or the punished rise up. Then Waters, Becerra and left will learn reality eventually resides in every district.

Read more:

Column: The Time Maxine Waters Cares About Borders - Kdminer