 We monitor and fact-check media coverage of human trafficking and share the top cases with you from each week. A broad view of what is happening across the country can be translated into action, allowing us to collectively change the system and the public narrative. |
 Alabama: Two teen human trafficking victims rescued from Alabama hotel – Two teen self-identified trafficking victims were extracted from a human trafficking situation after calling 911. We continue to be proud of the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force’s exceptional work supporting victims! District of Columbia: Couple Sentenced for Conspiring to Subject Mother and Her Daughters to Forced Labor – This couple labor trafficked three Guatemalan relatives, forcing them to live in a dilapidated trailer with no heat or running water. Two of the victims were children, age 8 and 15. All three were required to work long hours, seven days per week to pay back inflated “debts”. The children were not in school, and were told if they left or attempted to enroll in school immigration authorities would arrest them. The children were also beaten with a wooden implement that had the children’s names carved into it. South Carolina: 13 South Carolina men arrested in statewide sex sting – In 2021, Collective Liberty had the pleasure of training in South Carolina with SLED and best practices for focusing on and arresting buyers. It’s great to see their success. New York: Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Girl at Kew Gardens Hotel – The perpetrator sexually abused and sex trafficked a teen girl and was busted by an undercover operation. Texas: Houston pimp sentenced to 28 years in prison for trafficking 15-year-old, DA says California: CDCR lieutenant, 18 others arrested in human trafficking, child exploitation operation Missouri: Missouri authorities conduct joint human trafficking operation rescuing 8 victims, making 1 arrest Florida: Mullins man charged following human trafficking investigation – The man is facing two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, pointing and presenting a firearm, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and three counts of trafficking in persons, according to deputies. Texas: Man ‘long-sought’ for human trafficking arrested by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Texas: Dallas man who maintained group of 20 women for sex trafficking pleads guilty – The perpetrator brutalized and sex trafficked 20 women, using both violence and coercion. Tennessee: MPD: Sex trafficking suspect flees police, crashes – The suspect was arrested and has been charged with two counts of trafficking for sexual servitude.T ennessee: New Tennessee laws pertaining to child safety, wellbeing and human trafficking – The legal change enhances penalties for traffickers while clarifying language on promotion of prostitution of others to ensure victims are not charged for promoting themselves. Maine: Portland police conduct human trafficking operation – Four men were charged with engaging a prostitute and one was charged with patronizing the prostitution of a minor. Nebraska: Federal court sentences two Californians to a year and a day in prison for sex trafficking conspiracy – Two sex traffickers that exploited Chinese women and managed interactions with johns received a year sentence. They posted over 5,000 ads in over 400 cities and agreed to forfeit 2.6 million dollars and a BMW they obtained from their sex trafficking operation. California: 26 arrested in child pornography, sex offender registration cases in Riverside County Wisconsin: Eau Claire woman accused of trying to sell a child for sex sentenced North Carolina: 4th suspect linked to human trafficking in Raleigh, held on $10M bond Massachusetts: Homeless child rapist turned alleged pimp held in sex trafficking charge Nevada: Chopper of MTV’s ‘Making the Band’ arrested for sex trafficking in Anne Arundel County – The celebrity used his large social media following to lure women into a sex trafficking operation in Las Vegas. Florida: Florida man charged with sex trafficking, gun offenses – This trafficker coerced two Florida women into being sex trafficked in Florida, Oregon and Massachusetts. He is a felon and was found in possession of a gun that he used to threaten one of the victims. Georgia: Wilcox County man charged with child porn, sex trafficking Illinois: Illinois man who trafficked women out of Twin Cities hotel sentenced to 20 years – The trafficker was arrested after severely beating one of his sex trafficking victims at a motel because she told him she wanted to stop being involved in commercial sex. Arizona: ‘Operation April’s Fools’: Arizona authorities arrest 29 men in undercover child sex crimes sting Texas: 2 men accused of sex trafficking teen girls at Dallas hotel, officials say – The North Texas Trafficking Task Force identified a missing teen being advertised for commercial sex. When police arrived at the hotel they identified two other underage victims. Pennsylvania: Pocono hotel owner sentenced in drug, sex trafficking schemes – This hotel owner cooperated with sex traffickers, giving them rooms and tipping them off to law enforcement activity in exchange for free commercial sex. He was caught partially due to accepting Pandemic Paycheck Protection loans and funneling the money to his personal accounts. Florida: Florida doctor allegedly tried to buy sex slave with bitcoin: FBI – A human trafficking survivor tipped off the FBI after she shared her childhood trafficking experiences with a man and he later requested she help find a “8-15 year-old girl” for his “friend” to keep locked up. Missouri: Former Missouri Juvenile Court Officer Indicted For Child Sex Trafficking The former officer solicited a fifteen year-old ward of the state and secretly filmed the encounter. Massachusetts: Massachusetts man sentenced to prison for operating human trafficking enterprise Ohio: ‘Pure filth’: 9 suspects indicted in Ohio human trafficking investigation involving children Texas: Local Business Owner Arrested During Prostitution Sting Michigan: Michigan State Police rescue possible sex trafficking victim from Mid-Michigan – The missing minor was located during a traffic stop and returned to her family. Minnesota: Savage middle school principal accused of trying to hire 15-year-old girl for sex in police sex sting  Georgia: Farm labor advocates, leaders concerned after reported human trafficking, ties to Georgia officials – Some Georgia Department of Labor officials have ties to one of the largest human trafficking cases involving foreign agricultural laborers using H-2A visas. Anti-human trafficking advocates are demanding reform. Washington: Sen. Sanders calls out Amazon for alleged labor law violations at hearing California: ‘I just really believed whatever my boss told me’: How the Filipino Migrant Center helps vulnerable immigrants escape their traffickers California: Column: Rancho Bernardo nail salon labor case underscores the dangers facing some immigrant workers US: A human-trafficking case exposed farmworker abuses. The government is promising change  Wisconsin: Oshkosh Police Investigating Spa Accused of Human Trafficking Kentucky: Crestwood massage parlor accused of prostitution is ordered to close California: Former San Jose inspector sentenced for extorting bribes, sex from massage parlors – A former inspector who shielded IMB owners from violations and warned them of law enforcement activities was convicted for extorting sex and bribes from massage business owners. After his arrest multiple victims he had abused outside of his workplace came forward.  CLICK HERE TO DONATE >>  Indiana: Broad Ripple massage worker arrested for prostitution – A 57 year-old potential victim was arrested for prostitution and publicly identified. Texas: Multiple arrested in undercover prostitution sting – Potential victims were arrested, named and had mugshots shared. New York: Complaints In Community Lead To Raid, Arrest At Smithtown Massage Parlor – Another potential victim in Long Island was arrested, named and charged with practicing without a license. Texas: Corinth police raid massage parlor – After reports of women customers being turned away police entered the business. The two women inside were arrested and charged despite the fact that they were living in the business, there is no indication this was investigated as a potential human trafficking case.  US: The Intersection between Housing Instability and Human Trafficking – United Way has just released research on the close relationship between housing instability and risk of human trafficking. Kentucky: Louisville nonprofit expands into downtown to help more victims of human trafficking Texas: Attorney for family of Texas girl involved in Oklahoma sex trafficking scheme speaks to KFOR – The family of a sex trafficking victim speaks out on mistakes they believe delayed locating and protecting their daughter. Washington: No more stolen sisters: How WA is responding to missing and murdered Indigenous people – This article discusses the epidemic of missing Indigenous women, focusing on the 126 Indigenous people are missing across Washington state.Hawaii: Advocates seek to call attention to sex tourism in Hawaii, missing and murdered indigenous women – Indigenous Hawaiians are disproportionately likely to experience sex trafficking, with 67-77% of sex trafficking survivors (including 37% of child victims) in Hawaii being native Hawaiian. Canada: Blood Tribe Police Service creates new position to tackle human trafficking – An officer for Kainai Nation has become the first human trafficking coordinator after noticing the connection between sex trafficking and opiate cases she was investigating. Hong Kong: PH domestic worker in HK wins abuse case – In a landmark case, a Filipina domestic worker is vindicated after she experienced labor trafficking and sexual assault but was dismissed by police. Hong Kong currently does not have anti-trafficking laws, making these cases difficult to prosecute. Texas: Houston adult entertainment club responds to investigation into Felicia Johnson’s disappearance – 24 year-old Felicia Johnson was visiting family in Houston when she allegedly applied for a job at Cover Girls. After her Uber was late, she accepted a ride from a patron of the club and has been missing since April 15th. Her cell phone was located in a park miles away. Southeast Asia: How has COVID-19 affected migrant workers vulnerability to human trafficking for forced labour in Southeast Asia?—a narrative review Europe: European nationals lure Ukrainian females towards prostitution – Traffickers are seeking to lure vulnerable Ukrainian women with promises of good pay into sex trafficking situations, and ads advertising “new Ukranian women” have seen a sharp uptick. UK: Trafficking gang who made £500,000 exploiting 300 Polish women across five London brothels and told one victim she ‘didn’t deserve to eat’ are jailed for 20 years – The trafficking ring preyed on vulnerable Eastern European women, operated 7 brothels and kept the victims available constantly, sometimes using drugs to keep them awake. Florida: Refuge House opens new Carmela’s Place for people escaping Tallahassee sex trade  JOIN US >> |