4:05 PM EST March 7, 2021

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Coast News has obtained the mug shots of a married couple accused of conspiring to sex traffic a child and other charges.

On Feb. 25, a grand jury indicted 46-year-old Samuel Templeman and 50-year-old Deborah Templeman with conspiring to sex traffic a child, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday. Each could spend the rest of their lives in prison if convicted.

According to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office obtained by First Coast News Wednesday, Samuel Templeman was arrested Dec. 11, 2019, on charges of human trafficking for commercial sexual activity of a child under 18 and living off the earnings of a prostitute. The report says the victim was a runaway who would post online advertisements for prostitution in order to support the heroin addiction of the victim and Samuel Templeman.

The money from the “dates” would also go toward food, lodging and other living expenses, the arrest report says.

Deborah Templeman was arrested July 24, 2020, on charges of coercing commercial sex activity of a child less than 18 years of age for human trafficking and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution, according to an arrest report.

The indictments returned against Samuel Templeman include sex trafficking a child. The indictments returned against Deborah Templeman include possessing child sex abuse material.

The indictment says that beginning at least by November 2019 and continuing through Dec. 11, 2019, Samuel and Deborah Templeman “conspired to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, maintain, patronize and solicit a female child whom they knew was under the age of 18 and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.” During the same timeframe, Samuel Templeman “knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained and maintained” the victim, knowing she was under the age of 18 and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act, according to the indictment.

The indictment also states that Deborah Templeman possessed a cellphone containing a video showing a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct on Dec. 7, 2019.


If convicted on all counts, Samuel Templeman faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to two life terms, in federal prison. Deborah Templeman faces up to life in federal prison.

• Telegram

3/7/2021

Nearly two years after he was arrested, a former Chino Police Department sergeant pleaded no contest to committing a sex crime against a 16-year-old girl, authorities said Wednesday.

Jason Bemowski, a 16-year veteran of the department, entered the plea Tuesday for a felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, according to police. The crime occurred at a home in Redlands while he was off-duty, and Chino police arrested him on March 7, 2019.

Roseville police said Bemowski’s crime was uncovered during a human trafficking investigation that also led to the arrest of 26-year-old Anthony Harrison on suspicion of pimping and pandering and human trafficking. At the time, Roseville police said Harrison was being held on $1 million bail.

Meanwhile, Bemowski was freed from jail on bail, and the Chino Police Department placed him on on paid administrative leave in the days following, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reported.

Chino police said Bemowski was fired sometime later in 2019 although it’s not clear exactly when. The department has said it launched an internal investigation into the allegations.

Bemowski had volunteered with the Chino Police Department’s Explorer program, which offers law enforcement training to 14-to-20-year-olds, according to the Daily Bulletin. Within a day of his arrest, the agency reached out to children who have taken part in the program.

In a news release, the department said it has shown its “commitment to accountability during this unique situation,” referring to the former sergeant’s arrest.

A message was left with the department seeking further comment on the details of Bemowski’s departure, including whether he was released with pay.

He is scheduled to be sentenced April 27 in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

The human trafficking investigation was a joint effort between Redlands and Roseville police.

MAR 05, 2021 AT 9:55 a.m

A Crownsville man hiding from authorities was discovered at an Albuquerque hotel in New Mexico Wednesday. He is awaiting extradition back to Anne Arundel County for possessing more than 10,000 images of child pornography.

Anne Arundel County police issued several court orders in July to collect evidence from Jared Johnson, 36, who is suspected of uploading child pornographic images to a specific website on the internet. Detectives recovered 18,000 images of child pornography from several digital devices taken into custody, police said.

Johnson fled Maryland after the state issued a warrant for his arrest on 10 counts of child pornography possession. Police located Johnson in New Mexico with help from the U.S. Marshalls Office. He was taken into custody, police said. Police were first tipped off about Johnson’s conduct by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and surge people with information on this incident or other incidents involving Johnson to contact the Anne Arundel County Child Abuse Unit at 410-222-4733. Callers can also remain anonymous by calling the Anne Arundel County Tip Line 410-222-4700

3/6/2021

Matthew Natale, former student-teacher at a high school in Monmouth County. Photo Credit: Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office

A pair of men from South Jersey have been arrested on child pornography charges as part of Operation Safe Quarantine, authorities said.

One of the Burlington County men arrested had been a student-teacher at Middletown South High School in Monmouth County, authorities said on Friday.

He was identified as Matthew Natale, 22, of the 1400 block of Virginia Court in the Marlton section of Evesham.

Natale was charged on Tuesday with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of tampering with evidence, Coffina said. The charges involve the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

The second Burlington County suspect arrested was Robert Chestnut, 68, of the first block of Oakview Court in Shamong, Coffina said. Chestnut was charged on Wednesday with endangering the welfare of a child. The third-degree charge involves the possession of child sexual abuse material, Coffina said.

The first investigation found that Natale was using email to trade images and videos of pre-pubescent boys, the prosecutor said. The BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Natale’s online activities from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Natale was released from custody after his first appearance in Superior Court. Several conditions were placed on his release by Judge Terrence R. Cook. He is forbidden from using a smart phone, cannot access social media, and cannot use the internet unless he is attending virtual college classes or seeking employment.

Natale can have no unsupervised contact with children and is no longer permitted to work as a student teacher at Middletown South High School in Monmouth County, Coffina said. Officials with the Middletown Township Public School District terminated his student teaching assignment after becoming aware of the charges, the prosecutor said.

The second suspect’s investigation began after the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Chestnut’s online activities from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The investigation found that Chestnut was searching for and viewing images of pre-pubescent girls on his laptop computer and other digital devices.

3/6/2021

VALLEJO – A 12-year-old girl who was forced into human trafficking was rescued in Vallejo on Wednesday and a 19-year-old faces multiple charges in the case, police said.

Officers were called to a hotel on the 400 block of Fairgrounds Drive around 12:15 p.m. During their investigation, police found the victim and the suspect, who peacefully surrendered.

A search warrant was served and evidence of human trafficking was discovered, police said.

“I applaud the juvenile survivor for having the courage and fortitude to call for help,” said Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams. “All the credit for stopping this human trafficker belongs to her.”

Police said an investigation revealed that the child was forced into human trafficking by the suspect over the last several weeks. The suspect, identified as Fidel Rodriguez-Navarette was booked into the Solano County Jail on charges of human trafficking of a minor, sex with a minor, assault with a deadly weapon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to jail records, Rodriguez-Navarette is being held on $176,000 bail. A court date was not immediately known.

The 12-year-old received medical treatment and received additional support from a county agency, police said. She has since been returned to her home county, where she is under the care and custody of social workers.

Police said anyone a victim of human trafficking is asked to contact the Sonoma Trauma Recovery Center at 707-603-9065, My Sister’s House in Sacramento or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

3/6/2021

FREDERICK, Md.

A member of the National Guard and a City of Rockville police officer assisting with vaccinations at Six Flags in Prince George’s County has been arrested on alleged child porn charges, authorities say.  

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said on Saturday that Corporal Daniel Morozewicz was arrested without incident Friday at the Six Flags vaccination site.  

The sheriff’s office said that a search of his Frederick home Friday night revealed images authorities say clearly show child pornography.   

Detectives with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security said they tracked Morozewicz’s actions between September 8 and December 30, 2020, and said he downloaded images and videos of nude prepubescent females engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  

A federal search warrant was issued for Morozewicz on February 28 by the U.S. District Court for Maryland and he was tracked to the Six Flags site on March 5. 

Cpl. Morozewicz was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 175th Infantry Regiment of the Maryland Army National Guard, according to a National Guard spokesperson.  

Prior to joining the Maryland National Guard in 2015, Morozewicz served with the Virginia  National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 and 2007, according to the spokesperson.  

Morozewicz was taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center Friday night where he later posted bond and was released on his own recognizance, according to the sheriff’s office.  

https://t.me/RawNews1st

3/5/2021

COLTON – A San Bernardino County family with ties in Mexico, Los Angeles, and San Diego is accused of operating a massive sex trafficking ring through multiple spa and skincare businesses around Southern California.

Starting in January, detectives received information that sex and labor trafficking were happening at several massage parlors and skincare businesses in Ventura County, according to human trafficking investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Special Crime Unit.

The businesses were owned and operated by a family living in the Inland Empire.

Investigators said the illicit businesses were being operated under fictitious names and were in the counties of Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Deputies identified Royal Spa in Oxnard, Cool Sculpting in Oxnard, Gem Skin Care in Colton, Cosmopolitan Spa in Palm Springs, Orchid Skin Care in San Bernardino, and Sunset Skin Care in Port Hueneme.

As the investigation proceeded, they said they discovered the suspects primarily targeted women from Mexico to work in these illicit businesses, some of whom were living in Southern California on United States Refugee Visas.

Investigators said the suspects used human smugglers to recruit women in Mexico and bring them into the United States to work in the businesses.

Once these women were recruited, sex advertisements were placed on various internet sites depicting them, according to detectives. These sex advertisements would describe pricing, the type of sexual encounter, and which business the women were working at. These advertisements were updated daily, and the females were rotated throughout the various businesses.

Investigators identified a fashion boutique, Fashion Spot in Colton, which was owned by the suspects to launder the proceeds from the illegal sex businesses. The profits were funneled through the boutique to make the money appear legal so that the family could make car payments, mortgage payments, and other expenses.

Investigators believe the entire operation was primarily run by a sister and brother team named Olga and Carlos Paredes. Olga oversaw all the illicit businesses, met with managers regarding the work of the women, and opened new businesses under fictitious names. Carlos managed several of the illicit businesses, collected daily payment receipts from all the businesses, recruited the females, and posted sex advertisements.

Flor De Maria Evora, the girlfriend of Carlos, and Jaime Vasquez, a nephew, managed the daily accounting sheets and proceeds for all the businesses, investigators added.

Olga Ramirez, the daughter of Olga Paredes, managed the fashion boutique and assisted her mother with opening new sex and labor trafficking businesses, detectives said.

The Matriarch of the family, Maria Del Refugio Garcia, who is the mother of Olga and Carlos Paredes, lives in Mexico and provided guidance and direction on the operations of the illicit businesses. She also opened bank accounts in Mexico to funnel proceeds from these businesses out of the United States, according to detectives.

Bruce Pineda, Ismael Reyes, and Hector Prado Ramos who were not related to the suspects managed three separate illicit businesses for them, investigators said.

On March 2, search warrants were served at the businesses and several homes. As a result of these warrants, numerous trafficked females were located and provided services through human trafficking victim service providers, deputies said.

Large sums of cash were seized from the locations that are believed to be proceeds of sex trafficking and money laundering. Olga Paredes, Flor De Maria Evora, Olga Ramirez, Jaime Vasquez, Bruce Pineda, Ismael Reyes, and Hector Prado Ramos were arrested for human trafficking, conspiracy to commit a crime, and other charges. All the subjects arrested and taken to jail.

Carlos Paredes was not found, and Maria Del Refugio Garcia was believed to be in Mexico. Arrest warrants for them are pending.

3/5/2021

TRENTON, NJ – A 32-year-old Trenton woman was sentenced to 50 years in state prison Thursday after being convicted at trial of first-degree human trafficking a teenager, according to Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.

“This prosecution reflects our commitment to ensure that human traffickers like Gardener face justice,” said Attorney General Grewal. “These offenders prey on vulnerable victims, forcing them into a life of sexual slavery. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners at all levels, as well as victim advocates, to raise awareness about human trafficking, rescue victims, and apprehend those responsible for these terrible crimes.”

Gardener was convicted by a Mercer County jury on Oct. 24, 2019 of conspiracy (1st degree), human trafficking (1st degree), facilitating human trafficking (2nd degree), promoting prostitution of a minor (1st degree), promoting organized street crime (1st degree), and endangering the welfare of a child (2nd degree).

She was sentenced to 25 years in prison with 20 years of parole ineligibility on the first-degree human trafficking charge, consecutive to 25 years in prison on the first-degree promoting organized street crime charge.

Gardener received concurrent sentences of 15 years, eight years, and eight years, respectively, on the charges of promoting prostitution of a minor, facilitating human trafficking, and endangering the welfare of a child. She will be required to register under Megan’s Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life, officials said.

Gardener and co-defendant Breon Mickens, 28, of Trenton, were charged in an investigation by the New Jersey State Police and Division of Criminal Justice, assisted by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Lawrence Police Department, New Jersey Department of Children and Families, and U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Mickens pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy and was sentenced to five years in prison in November 2019. The investigation began when the victim escaped from a hotel where she was forced by Gardener and Mickens to engage in prostitution, officials said.

The Case History

On Jan. 11, 2018 at 11 p.m., troopers from the New Jersey State Police Hamilton Station were dispatched to investigate a report of a young woman walking along Interstate 295 in Lawrence Township. Troopers located the 17-year-old victim, who reported that she escaped from a hotel where she was being forced to perform sex acts. As a result, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Lawrence Police Department, and New Jersey Department of Children and Families responded to assist the New Jersey State Police with the investigation.

Investigators determined that Gardener and Mickens transported the victim to hotels against her will to engage in prostitution. For three days before she was rescued, the victim was forced by Gardener to engage in sexual intercourse with approximately four to 15 men per day. The victim was deprived of food, given marijuana to smoke, and prohibited from calling her family. The investigation revealed that Gardener and Mickens forced the victim to engage in prostitution on several other occasions between Dec. 27 and Jan. 11 at various hotels in the Mercer County area, refusing to let her leave the hotel for a period of two to three days and forcing her to have sex with multiple men each day.

Sexually suggestive ads featuring photos of Gardener and the victim were placed on Backpage.com. The ads offered adult entertainment and listed a phone number to call. That number was Gardener’s phone number. Gardener would arrange by telephone for the sexual services and a price to be paid by the client, or “John.” When a client arrived, Gardener would collect cash from the client and tell the 17-year-old victim what sex acts she had to perform. Gardener sometimes would stay in the room, but other times she would leave. Mickens acted as the “muscle” for the operation. He also served as driver, receiving pay from Gardener to drive her and the victim to hotels. The victim never received any of the money from the clients.

Shortly after the victim was rescued, members of the New Jersey State Police Trafficking Central Unit and Troop “C” Criminal Investigations Office located and arrested Gardener at a hotel in Lawrence Township, N.J. On Jan. 14, 2018, the New Jersey State Police Trafficking Central Unit, Fugitive Unit, Electronic Surveillance Unit, and the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force-Trenton Division located and arrested Mickens in Trenton.

“Through our human trafficking awareness efforts, we’re reminding the public that these crimes can happen anywhere, and your vigilance may save a captive victim,” Grewal said. “If you suspect human trafficking, please call 1-855-END-NJ-HT. You are our eyes and ears.”

3/5/2021

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – The Fort Bend County District Attorney announced Wednesday that dozens of people had been arrested during a multi-day sting called Operation Cupid.

According to the county, the DA’s office, in collaboration with the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance and other agencies, took 30 people into custody and rescued one juvenile victim during the three-day operation.

County officials said “johns” create a demand for human trafficking, so the county is “focused on saving victims by following basic economics; removing the demand will reduce the supply.”

“The success of this operation shows that we have much more work to do if we are to eradicate trafficking from Fort Bend County,” said Fort Bend County District Attorney, Brian Middleton. “As I have said before, we will be relentless in our pursuit of those responsible for human trafficking, including those who create the demand for trafficking victims in this county.”

Click through the gallery above to see mug shots of those who were arrested during the sting.

3/4/2021

HICKORY, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) – A nationwide manhunt continues for a couple wanted on murder charges out of North Carolina.

Investigators said Tangela Parker, 49, shot and killed her co-worker, Phelifia Marlow, in Hickory, North Carolina following an argument at work on January 13, 2021. Marlow was an upholsterer, according to her obituary.

Parker is wanted for first-degree murder and her husband, Eric Parker, 61, is wanted for accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Authorities believe the two may be hiding out somewhere near the North Carolina-Tennessee border. The two were last seen driving a beige 2019 Honda CRV with license plate FAM5669.

“I think there’s a good chance they’re somewhere in the mountain area — maybe even closer to the border between Tennessee or North Carolina side — but I think there is definitely a possibility that they are still in this area,” U.S. Marshal Deputy Commander Brian Alfano said.

Alfano urged people to keep an eye out for the couple. He said the Parkers may do things like change license plate numbers to try to avoid being found.

U.S. Marshals are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to their arrest. Anyone with information can submit a confidential tip to 877-WANTED2 or http://www.usmarshals.gov/tips.