Nine charged in elaborate multi-agency sting targeting online predators at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

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For the seventh year in a row, people have gotten busted sex trafficking at Sturgis

Nine charged in elaborate multi-agency sting targeting online predators at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Content warning: This story discusses the sex trafficking of minors. In the last two years, when we’ve thought of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, we’ve thought about it as a superspreader waiting to...
m.dailykos.com
10:56 AM · Aug 20, 2021

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2021/8/19/2047006/-Major-child-sex-trafficking-bust-at-Sturgis-Rally

Content warning: This story discusses the sex trafficking of minors.

In the last two years, when we’ve thought of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, we’ve thought about it as a superspreader waiting to happen. Remember, this was one of many acts of incompetence by arguably the nation’s most incompetent governor, South Dakota’s Kristi Noem. Under her watch, at last report, there are over 127,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases—over 14% of a total population of 886,000. That kind of incompetence takes some effort.

Last year’s rally was linked to 649 cases in 29 states. While it may be a while before we find out if there’s a similar casualty count for this year’s rally, at least some of the attendees may have something more immediate to worry about than the prospect of COVID-19: they’re facing charges for allegedly enticing minors and child sex trafficking.

The Rapid City Journal has more details.

Six arrests have been made as a result of a sex trafficking operation targeting online predators during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which ran from Aug. 6-15.

At least three of the men live in the area and another is described as an Airman with the U.S. Air Force.

The joint sex trafficking operation involved the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff's Office and Rapid City Police Department.

During the operation, law enforcement placed multiple advertisements on online websites and mobile applications to communicate with online predators.

*snip*