The La Jolla Bar Association enjoyed a particularly compelling and timely MCLE presentation in November by Assistant United States Attorneys Alessandra (Ali) Serano and Andrew Haden of the Office of United States Attorney, Southern District of California. Their presentation on “Criminal Street Gangs and Sex Trafficking: a Growing Problem in San Diego” gave firsthand insight into the prosecution by the United States Attorney of the crime of human trafficking, which affects every major city in the United States, including San Diego, which is routinely ranked by the FBI among the top ten cities in the United States for the sex trafficking of children.

Ms. Serano and Mr. Haden discussed the nature and scope of human trafficking; the deep involvement and financial interests of criminal street gangs and their involvement in human trafficking; the continuing growth and attractiveness of human trafficking to a wide range of criminal enterprises, including child commercial sexual exploitation; and the role of law enforcement agencies and the office of the United States Attorney in investigating, prosecuting, preventing and containing these crimes. These human trafficking crimes are being prosecuted vigorously by both the United States Attorney and the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, who collaborate in prosecuting these crimes in federal and state court.