Sex Trafficking Probe Takes Beaverton Police to Salem Strip Club

Beaverton Police raided the Cheetah's strip club in Salem as part of a nationwide investigation into sex trafficking. The FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force was the lead in the operation which was dubbed Operation Cross Country X.

The raid in Salem, which was carried out withe help of the FBI and the Salem Police Department, is related to a child sex trafficking probe involving a woman who had been contacted by Beaverton Police during an undercover operation last July.

There were no arrests as a result of this raid by Beaverton Police but more than a dozen prostitutes were arrested or cited during the operation - 19 women and one man. Also, one minor sex trafficking victim was recovered in Portland, according to the FBI.

"The FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force has two priorities when it comes to Operation Cross Country and similar operations that run year-round. First, we want to make sure we identify and recover as many minor victims as possible. Second, when we can identify the traffickers who are profiting off the selling of sex, we will work to build cases and get them behind bars," said Greg Bretzing, Special Agent in Charge of Oregon. "In addition, FBI Victim Specialists work with many different social service agencies to provide both minor victims and adult prostitutes with resources and care in an effort to help them break the cycle of abuse."

Around the country, the operation led to the recovery of 82 minors and the arrest of 239 pimps and their associates, the FBI said.

"Operation Cross Country aims to shine a spotlight into the darkest corners of our society that seeks to prey on the most vulnerable of our population," said FBI Director James Comey. "As part of this effort, we are not only looking to root out those who engage in the trafficking of minors, but, through our Office of Victim Assistance, we offer a lifeline to minors to help them escape a from a virtual prison no person ever deserves."

The local law enforcement agencies taking part in the operation included:

• FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force
• Portland Police Bureau
• Beaverton Police Department
• Lake Oswego Police Department
• Tigard Police Department
• Vancouver Police Department
• Salem Police Department
• Eugene Police Department
• Springfield Police Department
• Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office
• Lane Co. Sheriff's Office
• Oregon State Police
• Multnomah Co. District Attorney's Office
• Clackamas Co. District Attorney's Office
• Marion Co. District Attorney's Office
• United States Attorney's Office

Oregon social service agency partners include:

• Kids FIRST
• Looking Glass
• Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC)
• Safety Compass
• Multnomah County Dept. of Human Svcs. -- Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Unit
• Clackamas County District Attorney Victim Assistance Program
• Lane County District Attorney Victim Assistance Program
• Multnomah County District Attorney Victim Assistance Program
• United States Attorney's Office Victim Witness Unit

If anyone has information on minors dancing at Cheetah's, or any other strip club in the Portland Metro area, please contact Detective Chad Opitz at 503-526-2674 or your local police department.

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