FBI Acting Executive Assistant Director Kevin Perkins said the children law enforcement freed from their handlers ranged from 13 to 17 years old with one girl saying she had got involved in prostitution when she was 11.
The sixth iteration of Operation Cross Country, a three- day law enforcement action from Friday, led to the recovery of 79 children. Additionally, 104 pimps were arrested by local and state law enforcement on a variety of prostitution related charges.
"Child prostitution remains a major threat to children across America," Perkins said.
"It is a violent and deplorable crime, and we are working with our partners to disrupt and put behind bars individuals and members of criminal enterprises who would sexually exploit children," Perkins said.
To date, over 2,200 children have been recovered from the streets in the US. The investigations and subsequent 1,017 convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including eight life terms and the seizure of more than USD 3.1 million in assets, the FBI said in a statement.
At least 100,000 American kids get lured into prostitution every year, CNN quoted Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as saying.