PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD

          CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE:   Andy Pena, 21, and Hansel German, 25, of Boston, Massachusetts, appeared in United States District Court on Thursday and pled guilty to crimes involving the transportation of a minor in interstate commerce for prostitution, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.

          In February of 2014, Homeland Security Investigations, Manchester, New Hampshire, and the Salem, New Hampshire Police Department, with the assistance of the Boston Police Department, rescued a minor female who was engaging in prostitution from a Salem hotel room.  Upon further investigation, authorities identified multiple individuals who were involved in the scheme to transport the female from Boston, Massachusetts to Salem, New Hampshire for prostitution, including Pena and German.

          Both Pena and German are scheduled to be sentenced in January 2016.

          “Exploiting a minor to engage in sexual activity for commercial gain is among the most serious crimes we investigate and prosecute,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.  “This case demonstrates that when federal, state, and local law enforcement join together to address this crime, significant results can be achieved.”

          The case was investigated by the Manchester, New Hampshire Homeland Security Investigations and the Salem Police Department, in conjunction with the police departments of Boston, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire, as well as the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (NH ICAC).  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nick Abramson and Helen Fitzgibbon.

           In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.