Attorney Alex Meyerovich Speaks Out Against Human Trafficking on Connecticut News12

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- M.C. Law Group Attorney Alex Meyerovich recently appeared on the Connecticut News12 program "Our Lives" to speak out against human trafficking.

Also known as "modern day slavery," reported cases of human trafficking have risen 60% in 2011 compared to 2010, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (HTRS). Reported cases of human trafficking have been steadily increasing for the last five years.

Attorney Meyerovich discussed human trafficking with "Our Lives" host Gwen Edwards, and explained that human trafficking is on the rise because the financial gain of exploiting human life is simply too great.

"It's widespread because it's cheap labor, and billions of dollars are involved -- it's supply and demand," Meyerovich said.

Human trafficking occurs when a victim is held hostage and forced to work against their will, commonly as commercial sex workers, drug traffickers, or laborers in unregulated industries. Victims are often held in deplorable conditions and suffer physical and sexual abuse.

Attorney Meyerovich, whose firm specializes in immigration law, knows how susceptible illegal immigrants are in particular to human traffickers. Immigrants pay smugglers to be brought into the U.S. illegally, and on arrival smugglers demand more money from their captives. Immigrants then must work to repay their "debts," and are held hostage with threats of violence or deportation.

"I've dealt with victims running away from drug cartels and sexual exploitation," said Meyerovich of past clients affected by human trafficking. "They're traumatized and afraid to talk."

Human trafficking victims are not likely to seek help for fear of retribution. The problem goes unnoticed by most Americans because victims remain silent and are often hidden in plain sight.

Meyerovich also urged parents to be aware of how vulnerable children are to human traffickers and sexual exploitation, especially in an age of exposure through social media.

"People need to know that it happens, and that it is very easy to manipulate kids' minds," Meyerovich said. "Children are extorted and threatened to be exposed on Facebook, or to their parents and teachers…and they become victims of sexual exploitation."

In fact, sex trafficking preys on Americans at a shocking rate, with HTRS reporting that 80% of sex trafficking victims are U.S. citizens. "Our Lives" host Ms. Edwards and Meyerovich urged viewers -- and especially parents -- to be aware that human trafficking and sexual exploitation exists in communities throughout the U.S.

"Parents need to be educated that their kid's classmate could be a victim of human trafficking," Meyerovich added, explaining that young victims may still attend school, but may act shy and fearful of their peers and teachers.

Ultimately, Meyerovich offered a dual solution to combat human trafficking: increased awareness and immigration reform. Only with both, Meyerovich explained, will "modern day slavery" become a thing of the past.

Watch the full "Our Lives" segment featuring Attorney Meyerovich below:

To learn more about human trafficking, including how to recognize victims and report suspected cases, visit the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

Attorney Alex Meyerovich Speaks Out Against Human Trafficking

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- M.C. Law Group Attorney Alex Meyerovich spoke out recently against the rise of human trafficking, also known as "modern day slavery," in the United States.

Reported cases of human trafficking have risen 60% in 2011 compared to 2010, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (HTRS). In fact, reported cases of human trafficking have been steadily increasing for the last five years. Attorney Meyerovich offered a simple explanation for this increase in human trafficking during a recent interview with Connecticut News12.

"Human trafficking is a lucrative business. It generates billions," said Attorney Meyerovich of the industry.

Human trafficking occurs when a victim is held hostage and forced to work against their will. Victims are commonly coerced into becoming commercial sex workers, drug traffickers, or laborers in unregulated industries. Additionally, these victims are often held in deplorable conditions, and suffer physical and sexual abuse.

Local attorneys like Meyerovich are speaking out alongside lawmakers to raise awareness about this prolific, but often unnoticed, human rights issue. In fact, Senator Richard Blumenthal recently joined with Senator Robert Portman of Ohio to co-chair the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking. The caucus will provide a platform for its thirteen members to combat human trafficking and promote increased awareness about this serious issue.

"This kind of modern day slavery is intolerable," Senator Blumenthal told Connecticut News 12. "These people are treated as inhuman."

Human trafficking goes unnoticed by most citizens because victims are often hidden in plain sight. Traffickers prey on society's most vulnerable, targeting children and young girls, disabled individuals, and illegal immigrants. These vulnerable victims are not likely to seek help for fear of retribution: if they attempt to escape or alert authorities, they suffer horrific abuse and threats of violence -- or worse.

"If they don't obey, they're likely to be killed," Meyerovich said of the impossible situation these victims are placed in.

Attorney Meyerovich, whose firm specializes in immigration law, knows how particularly susceptible illegal immigrants are to human traffickers. Meyerovich explained that immigrants pay alien smugglers exorbitant fees to be brought into the U.S. illegally. Once they arrive, the smugglers demand additional payment for their services, which immigrants cannot afford. They are then coerced into forced labor to repay their "debts," and are held hostage indefinitely. Victims are constantly intimidated with threats of being reported to immigration enforcement, and even the murder of themselves and their loved ones.

"These immigrants risk everything for a better life in the U.S., and instead are forced to endure a nightmare of unimaginable abuse when they arrive," said Attorney Meyerovich. "They are scared, often don't speak English, and have no knowledge that U.S. immigration laws protect victims of human trafficking, regardless of their legal status."

However, U.S. citizens are just as vulnerable to being forced into labor in their own country. While HTRS reports 70% of labor trafficking victims are undocumented immigrants, 80% of sex trafficking victims are U.S. citizens.

"Most American citizens would react with fury and outrage if they knew about it," Senator Blumenthal commented.

Local attorneys like Meyerovich and prominent lawmakers like Senator Blumenthal hope that increased awareness about human trafficking will help turn the tide against modern day slavery. To learn more about human trafficking, including how to recognize victims and report suspected cases, visit the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. To learn more about Senator Blumenthal's involvement in the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking, visit his official website.

To watch the full interview featuring Attorney Meyerovich and Senator Blumenthal, watch the video below.

3 Arrested, Charged for International Sex Trafficking Ring

A Los Angeles man, along with his current wife and ex-wife, face federal charges following a 10-month probe that allegedly revealed they recruited women in Eastern Europe and arranged for them to come to the Los Angeles area to work as prostitutes.

Mher "Mike" Hakopyan, 38; his current wife, Natalya Muravyeva, 31; and his ex-wife, Alla Kassianova, 43, are accused in a federal complaint of conspiracy to transport in furtherance of prostitution. According to the case affidavit, the defendants operated a large-scale prostitution enterprise that brought women, primarily from Eastern Europe, to Southern California to work in the sex trade. Hakopyan and Muravyeva were arrested by special agents with U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and detectives from the Santa Monica Police Department Monday. Kassianova is still being sought at this time and investigators believe she may be out of the country.

The charges are the culmination of a joint probe by HSI and the Santa Monica Police Department. The two agencies received substantial assistance with the investigation from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

"The Department of Justice is committed to protecting vulnerable victims from ruthless profiteers," said U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. "International prostitution rings like the one alleged in this case span jurisdictions and have a direct negative impact on both the women involved and also on our local communities. That is why partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, like the Santa Monica Police Department, are vital to our continued success in investigating and in prosecuting this criminal behavior."

According to the case affidavit, the defendants used recruiters in Eastern Europe to identify women who were potentially interested in working for the criminal organization. The defendants then allegedly purchased the women plane tickets and coached them how to enter the United States through the Visa Waiver Program.

Once the women arrived in the Los Angeles area, it is alleged the defendants helped them find housing and arranged for them to be professionally photographed. The provocative pictures were subsequently posted on various websites the defendants used to promote the ring's services, including eros-guide.com, cityvibe.com and thatmall.com. The case affidavit references 14 women definitively identified by special agents during the investigation whom the defendants either brought to the U.S. or attempted to bring to the U.S. to work as prostitutes.

"Criminal ventures like this degrade the quality of life in our neighborhoods, as well as the women involved," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of HSI Los Angeles. "HSI will continue to work closely with federal prosecutors and our law enforcement partners to attack and dismantle these types of enterprises that prey on the vulnerable and often bring other criminal activity into our area."

"If the allegations in this case prove true, the defendants' actions were reprehensible," said Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks. "I am quite pleased that our detectives' collaborative work with the federal authorities resulted in the service of warrants and the apprehension of predators who think nothing of taking advantage of a vulnerable segment of our community."

During Monday's enforcement action, special agents executed search warrants at a Los Angeles residence and two area apartments that are suspected of serving as brothels for the ring.

The probe began in September 2011 after CBP officers intercepted two Latvian women at Los Angeles International Airport who were attempting to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. When questioned by CBP officers about the purpose of their trip, the women's stories included many inconsistencies. Subsequently, a query of DHS databases indicated the women's travel reservations had been made by defendant Hakopyan. The women were ultimately refused entry and returned to Moscow.

"This case demonstrates the keen instincts and high level of vigilance of CBP officers at LAX for the detection and disruption of foreign criminal ventures in the United States," said Todd C. Owen, CBP director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. "These arrests highlight the spirit of cooperation and collaboration between our federal agencies, as well as with our local law enforcement partners."

Hakopyan and Muravyeva made their initial appearance in federal court in Santa Ana the afternoon of Monday, June 18, 2012. Both were ordered held without bail. If convicted of the current charge contained in the criminal complaint, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.