Missing Child Investigation Leads Detectives to Uncover Operation that Trafficked Juvenile for Prostitution
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, January 11th was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced the arrests of Marquise Ogawa, 28, Chyaire Lee, 26, and Jazmin Scott, 21, all of Lawnside, N.J., for allegedly trafficking a missing child for prostitution. During the three-month investigation, detectives discovered that the suspects were allegedly operating a human trafficking network out of Camden County, N.J., in which they trafficked the juvenile victim.
On Oct. 26, 2021, the juvenile victim was reported missing out of Voorhees Township, Camden County, and on Oct. 27, detectives from the Missing Persons & Human Trafficking Unit were contacted by members of the Voorhees Police Department to assist with locating the child.
During the investigation, detectives discovered numerous online advertisements offering the missing juvenile for prostitution in Cherry Hill, N.J. Through various investigative means, detectives linked Scott to the advertisements. On Nov. 24, detectives located and arrested Scott in Camden, after she allegedly attempted to prostitute the juvenile victim. Detectives safely located the missing juvenile and reunited her with her family.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, detectives linked Scott to a human trafficking network that also allegedly involved Ogawa and Lee. Ogawa allegedly facilitated the human trafficking operation by securing hotel rooms, coordinating the operation, and collecting payments. Detectives also determined that Lee allegedly arranged for customers to have sex with the juvenile victim, transported the victim, paid for hotel rooms, and collected payments for services.
On Dec. 3, detectives along with members of the Fugitive Unit located and arrested Ogawa and Lee at a residence in Lawnside, N.J. Detectives also executed a search warrant on a Hyundai Elantra, from which they seized multiple electronic devices and additional items used for human trafficking operations.
The case is being prosecuted by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau.
The defendants were charged as follows:
Jazmin Scott:
• Human Trafficking
• Promoting Prostitution of a Child Under 18
• Promoting Organized Street Crime
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Promoting Prostitution
Chyaire Lee:
• Conspiracy
• Human Trafficking
• Facilitating Human Trafficking
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Promoting Organized Street Crime
• Promoting Prostitution
• Promoting Child Prostitution
Marquise Ogawa:
• Conspiracy
• Human Trafficking
• Facilitating Human Trafficking
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Promoting Organized Street Crime
• Promoting Prostitution
• Promoting Child Prostitution
All three were lodged in the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
“I applaud the State Police and local law enforcement for working together to locate the missing juvenile and reunite her with her family,” said Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck. “We are committed to working with law enforcement partners across all levels to raise awareness about human trafficking, rescue victims, and bring those responsible for these terrible crimes to justice.”
“With child trafficking becoming more prevalent across the United States, our law enforcement agencies must stay one step ahead in an effort to keep juveniles safe from being targeted by these offenders,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “I applaud the dedicated detectives and our partnering agencies who continue to work tirelessly to eradicate child trafficking. We will continue to target perpetrators that prey on innocent youth and swiftly bring them to justice.”
“This type of cruelty is heartbreaking, and the New Jersey State Police and our partners will do everything in our power to ensure that human traffickers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Director Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We urge the public to be vigilant and alert law enforcement if they see a child or teenager in suspicious circumstances.”
Charges are mere accusations, and the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.
marquis? jazmin? chyaire?
I’m shocked!