January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and — although it would be easy to think “it couldn’t happen here” — the simple fact of the matter is trafficking hits a lot closer to home than most realize.

“Trafficking in persons” and “human trafficking” are umbrella terms, often used interchangeably, to refer to a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex acts,” according to the U.S. Department of State on its official webpage.

Locally, there has been several high-profile arrests and convictions made by law enforcement agencies across Chautauqua County, which includes the likes of Anthony Burris, 30, of Jamestown, convicted of sex trafficking and enticing travel to engage in sexual activity; a federal grand jury issued a four-count indictment- charging Augusto Mateo Francisco, 32, of Dunkirk, with two counts of forced labor, one count of kidnapping a minor, and one count of transportation of a minor for the purpose of illegal sexual activity; Jasmin Osteen, 26, of Jamestown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor; William A. Quinones, 48, of Mayville, was arrested, charged and found guilty with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sex trafficking of a minor and Yusef E. Malik Myrick, 22, of Falconer, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production, receipt, and distribution of child pornography.

Additionally, law enforcement agencies and other governmental officials have taken an aggressive stance on the investigation, arrest and prosecution of those who would exploit other humans in this highly illegal and illicit form of trade.

“The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office has recognized the fact that human trafficking, both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, is an all too true reality. Too often people either fail to acknowledge this heinous crime or feel that it is only a problem in other areas. The Sheriff’s Office along with our Federal Law Enforcement partners and other local agencies will continue to collaborate to investigate these crimes, making arrests and pursuing convictions of the perpetrators,” Sheriff James Quattrone said.

The sheriff takes the threat of trafficking seriously.

“We currently have an investigator that works alongside Homeland Security investigations in effort to identify these crimes and arrest the perpetrators,” Quattrone said. “We will continue to educate our officers and the public on signs of trafficking and encourage anyone who suspects trafficking to report it to the authorities.”

Statistically, across Chautauqua County, there are 295 children who have been categorized as being “at-risk” for trafficking in one form or another, said Kayleah Feser, Child Advocacy Program of Chautauqua County’s Safe Harbour director and counselor. Of those, Feser said, 51 of these children meet the federal definition of being trafficked; 244 of these kids are girls and after a child is left unsupervised or cared for, statistically, they will be approached within 48 hours with some type of proposition.

However, boys are less likely to report any sexual or trafficking activities. Thus, possibly skewing the reported data according to Feser. Statistics show 61% are women, 14% are men, 21% were underaged girls and 4% are underaged boys are victims of human trafficking.

“Boys, because of our culture and society, tend to report crimes of a sexual nature a lot less than girls do,” Feser said. “Trafficking is a real problem; the threat is real.”

There are relatively few police officers dedicated solely to human trafficking cases, but one investigator said interagency cooperation and partnerships between law enforcement agencies and service is key to fighting the growing nature of this crime.

To learn more about or receive training in detecting human trafficking or child trafficking, contact Child Advocacy Program of Chautauqua County’s Safe Harbour director and counselor, at feserk@capjustice.org or call the CAP office at 716-338-9844.