TRENTON – Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan today announced the arrests of Marquise Ogawa, 28, Chyaire Lee, 26, and Jazmin Scott, 21, all of Lawnside, N.J., for allegedly trafficking a missing child for prostitution. During the three-month investigation, detectives discovered that the suspects were allegedly operating a human trafficking network out of Camden County, N.J., in which they trafficked the juvenile victim.
On Oct. 26, 2021, the juvenile victim was reported missing out of Voorhees Township, Camden County, and on Oct. 27, detectives from the Missing Persons & Human Trafficking Unit were contacted by members of the Voorhees Police Department to assist with locating the child.
During the investigation, detectives discovered numerous online advertisements offering the missing juvenile for prostitution in Cherry Hill, N.J. Through various investigative means, detectives linked Scott to the advertisements. On Nov. 24, detectives located and arrested Scott in Camden, after she allegedly attempted to prostitute the juvenile victim. Detectives safely located the missing juvenile and reunited her with her family.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, detectives linked Scott to a human trafficking network that also allegedly involved Ogawa and Lee. Ogawa allegedly facilitated the human trafficking operation by securing hotel rooms, coordinating the operation, and collecting payments. Detectives also determined that Lee allegedly arranged for customers to have sex with the juvenile victim, transported the victim, paid for hotel rooms, and collected payments for services.
On Dec. 3, detectives along with members of the Fugitive Unit located and arrested Ogawa and Lee at a residence in Lawnside, N.J. Detectives also executed a search warrant on a Hyundai Elantra, from which they seized multiple electronic devices and additional items used for human trafficking operations.
The case is being prosecuted by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau.