Pa. AG adds new dedicated unit to pursue human trafficking cases

Jan. 11—HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's Office of Attorney General will add a new section dedicated to investigating and prosecuting cases of human trafficking.

Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the new unit Thursday, adding that it will also be tasked to help assist victims recover from crimes committed against them.

"Human trafficking takes many forms, often exploiting the vulnerabilities of people in need, leaving them with lasting devastation and trauma," Henry said, noting that January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

"I am proud to announce our office's new section dedicated solely to human trafficking, and look forward to continuing our work with local, state, and federal partners who are making monumental strides to bring these heinous crimes out of the shadows," she said.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Heather Castellino will lead the Human Trafficking Section which will partner with local, state and federal agencies in carrying out its duties.

"This section is in the process of formulating an internal protocol for what practices to employ when a human trafficking tip or complaint comes into our office. This would ensure that the information regarding human trafficking tips, lead and/or complaints reaches the individuals trained and experienced in the area, and also ensure the information is handled with expertise and in a trauma-informed manner," Michele Kelly Walsh, executive deputy attorney, General Criminal Law Division, said in written testimony submitted to the Pennsylvania Senate's Majority Policy Committee for an informational hearing held Thursday.

Because of the nature of human trafficking, one that sees victims moved across jurisdictional boundaries, Henry said agency collaboration is essential.

According to the Attorney General's Office, the new section will continue the Office's efforts to educate and inform the public about the crime including through conferences and presentations of case studies.

"The section will work internally and externally to train individuals to recognize signs of sex trafficking as they occur and implement the best practices to address a trafficking situation once it has been identified," according to a press release on the Human Trafficking Section.

A unique collaboration resulted from the Office's ongoing efforts. Henry moderated an educational podcast with Uber as a way to help drivers learn about identifying potential victims and how to respond if they suspect a crime is occurring. The podcast is to be released later this month.

The Attorney General's Office highlighted recent successful prosecutions including the 2023 conviction of Hector Rivera of Berks County who was convicted of 15 charges related to trafficking a young woman. He was sentenced to serve up to 69 years in prison.

Another man, Joseph "Jay" Pulizzi, was arrested in April with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police. Pulizzi is accused of trafficking at least seven victims across multiple counties.

Victims in both cases suffered from substance use disorder and, in Pulizzi's case, homelessness and additional hardships.

Any victims or those who suspect trafficking is occurring are encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-292-1919, email tips@pa.gov, or contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline by calling or texting 233733 (befree) to 1-888-373-7888. For anyone in immediate danger, call 911.