ICE HSI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge participates in Bay Area human trafficking conference

On Dec. 7, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Ryan L. Spradlin participated in a panel discussion at the 2016 San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (SFCAHT) conference in San Francisco, California. Also appearing on the panel with SAC Spradlin were Northern District of California U.S. Attorney Brian Stretch and Alameda District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.

During the panel discussion, SAC Spradlin highlighted HSI’s long-term commitment to combating human trafficking, including the agency’s efforts as part of the Blue Campaign. As Spradlin noted, “Human trafficking is a crime that often happens in the shadows of everyday life, but it is through events like this that we raise awareness, and through partnerships with those in this room that we begin to take back our communities from the criminal organizations that seek to exploit our citizenry.”

SFCAHT was established December 2009 as a result of efforts between government and non-governmental organizations to tackle the issue of human trafficking in San Francisco. SFCAHT is committed to ending human trafficking through the advocacy and actions of anti-trafficking advocates, policy experts, and governmental organizations, including the law enforcement community. HSI works closely with law enforcement partners in San Francisco to investigate and dismantle transnational criminal organizations that utilize human trafficking as a means to exploit innocent people and make money.  Recently, HSI San Francisco announced the sentencing of a Bay Area gang member who received a 12-year prison term for a series of crimes, including trafficking of a 16-year-old girl who was forced into prostitution.

The event was attended by local government representatives, members of non-governmental organizations and law enforcement personnel from throughout northern California.