Alleged Convergent Transnational Crimes in Somali-American Communities

• NCJ Number: 252136
• Author(s): Stevan Weine; Edna Erez; Chloe Polutnik
• Date Published: August 2018
• Length: 3 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2013-ZA-BX-0008
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description; Grants and Funding
• Award: Transnational Crimes among Somali-Americans: Convergences of Radicalization and Trafficking

Annotation

This report summarizes data from a study designed to develop scientific knowledge about the emergence and trajectories of alleged violent extremism and trafficking in persons in Somali-American communities in the country, so as to inform policy and practice in addressing these issues.

Abstract

Regarding violent extremism, between 2013-2015, there were16 known cases of Somalis who attempted or succeeded in joining ISIS. This included Somali-American men from Minneapolis who were arrested by the FBI for attempting to join ISIS between May 2014 and December 2015. The original trafficking-in-persons indictment alleged that multiple defendants were involved in or were associated with the Somali Outlaws and the Somali Mafia gangs. Members and associates of these gangs allegedly transported Somali-American females from Minneapolis to Columbus, Ohio. and Nashville, Tennessee, for the purpose of having them engage in sex acts for pay and other items of value, including drugs and alcohol. This report documents the charges and legal status of each of these cases that involve charges of violent extremism or trafficking in persons.