Post date: Nov 25, 2010 8:18:6 PM
When we hear of human trafficking and sex trafficking, imagesof young women smuggled in from other countries come to mind. The feds just indicted 29 people for coercing young girlsinto a life of forced sexual slavery throughout the Midwest.At least one victim was just 12 years old.The ring appears to be controlled by 3 Somali gangs based inMinneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Those gangs, however,were involved in sex trafficking operations as far away asOhio and Tennessee.According to the indictments, the goal of the gangs was torecruit young girls under the age of 18. Many of them stillchildren. The girls would then be forced into prostitutionto provide money for the gang's alcohol and drug needs. Theindictment also says the gang members committed a whole gamutof other crimes.The gang members face life in prison if convicted. U.S.Attorney Jerry Martin said, "Trafficking children for sex is
intolerable and the Department of Justice will aggressively
enforce trafficking and other laws to eliminate these types
of deplorable acts."
While the arrest of these despicable thugs is welcome news,
the real story is how these rings recruit young girls and
can remain operating for years. Police and prosecutors in
this case are not saying much, except to admit that this
ring kept some girls working as sex slaves for three or more
years.
It is disturbing that this type of activity can take place
in our own neighborhoods and continue for years. What is
more surprising is that one of the three gangs was a female
gang, the Lady Outlaws. According to one refuge
organization, 3 of the women charged with sex trafficking
were Muslim women. At least they claim to be Muslim.
As a former prosecutor and board member of the Family
Violence Project, I have had the opportunity to study human
trafficking. Typically, criminals who recruit young women
to a life of forced sexual slavery seek troubled girls; they
seek those who are vulnerable.
Young women living in poverty, those coming from abusive
homes, those with drug addictions and those with no support
system are often vulnerable to sex traffickers. Young women
in the U.S. illegally who fear deportation are also
susceptible to recruitment efforts.
Once targeted by traffickers, these girls are often
subjected to intense repeated physical and emotional
brutality. The sick goal of the trafficker is to completely
demoralize the victim. While an emotionally healthy victim
might be able to resist, those with low self-esteem often
simply surrender to their captor's will.
Continued sexual abuse, emotional abuse, threats of violence
and frequently, the inducement of chemical dependency, keep
the women from fleeing. Some traffickers use threats of
violence against the victim's family or younger siblings.
According to the indictment in this case, one defendant is
accused of taking a 13-year-old victim in 2006 and forcing
her to be a sex slave. During a two-day period in 2009, she
was forced to have sex multiple times with at least 9
different men. What seems incredible is that this same girl
attended public school for at least part of the time she was
enslaved by the gang members.
While that seems incredible to many people, it really is not
surprising. The amount of emotional and mental control
exerted by sex slavers is tremendous. Once the spirit of the
victim is broken, control becomes much easier. Add in threats
of violence to the victim's family or forced chemical
dependency and their total control of these girls isn't
surprising at all.
Is the Minnesota sex ring case an isolated incident?
Unfortunately, no. Nationwide, the FBI rescued 69 victims
of child sex trafficking last month. Several years ago, the
federal government estimated there as many as 17,500 girls
here in the U.S. that are victims of sex trafficking.
It happens daily in virtually every city in the U.S. Chances
are, it is happening in your neighborhood.
--
If you are the victim of child sex abuse, get help
immediately. If you are afraid to call the local police,
call the sex trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888. You are
not alone and help is available. Even if your abuser has
taken your identity papers or you are not in the U.S.
legally, call for help. Refugee status is available for
victims.
About the Author:
Brian Mahany & the Wisconsin sexual assault lawyers at Mahany
& Ertl assist victims of sexual abuse get compensation. In
many cases, we can recover sizable awards against the
abuser, against employers (day care and clergy) and property
owners (schools, parking garages, and landlors). Contact
Brian at through his website,
http://www.wisconsindiscriminationlawyer.com Visit our blog
too and click on "Sex Abuse" for more info.