Exploitation

Michigan Jury Awards Over $500,000 to Guatemalan Workers After Labor Exploitation Claims

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A jury has awarded over $500,000 to five Guatemalan men who reported instances of exploitation and inadequate compensation while working under a labor contractor in Michigan, where they were responsible for planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables. The substantial verdict, delivered last week, includes $450,000 designated as punitive damages against Purpose Point Harvesting, a contractor accused of breaching antitrafficking legislation. During the trial in U.S. District Court, the men provided testimony in Spanish, which was interpreted for the jury. They recounted their experiences from 2017 to 2019, working long hours and … Read more

Pocatello Man Faces Additional Felony Charges for Child Exploitation Following Conviction for Child Pornography

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POCATELLO, Idaho — A local man, Noah Parker Rupe, has been indicted on five new felony charges related to child pornography following his recent conviction on similar offenses. The 21-year-old faces four counts of possession of child pornography and one count of child sexual exploitation. These new charges are linked to a previous case in 2023, where Rupe was found guilty after a one-day jury trial of two felony counts of possessing child porn. Recent allegations indicate that he had explicit images of four girls, with the youngest being just 13 years old. Investigators also … Read more

Utah House Speaker Demands Judge’s Resignation Over Controversial Sentencing in Child Exploitation Case

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SALT LAKE CITY — Calls for the resignation of a Utah judge have intensified following controversial remarks made during the sentencing of a young man in a child sexual exploitation case. House Speaker Mike Schultz, a Republican from Hooper, took to social media to urge 7th District Judge Don Torgerson to step down after Torgerson cited the defendant’s “privilege” while opting against imposing further jail time or a fine. The backlash stemmed from the sentencing of 22-year-old Aidan Hoffman in Grand County. Hoffman had pleaded guilty to two felony charges related to the sexual exploitation … Read more

New ‘TAKE IT DOWN’ Act Signed into Law: A Major Step Forward in Combating Nonconsensual Deepfake Exploitation

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Washington, D.C. — On May 19, 2025, President signed into law a significant piece of legislation aimed at combating the misuse of technology to create and disseminate deepfake content. The newly enacted law, known as the “Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act,” or the “TAKE IT DOWN” Act, imposes stricter regulations on the distribution of nonconsensual intimate visual depictions. The TAKE IT DOWN Act represents an important step in addressing the growing concern surrounding digital privacy and consent. This legislation criminalizes the intentional disclosure of intimate images … Read more