By Christian Boone The Atlanta Journal-Constitution She thought she could depend on the kindness of strangers, but federal prosecutors say a 17-year-old girl lured by an offer of free room and board was instead forced into prostitution. Steven E. Thompson, 42, and Tierra Michelle Waters, 30, both of Atlanta, were indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges of sex trafficking of a juvenile and conspiring to do the same. Each charge carries the possibility of.... READ MORE
By Rose Scott This week WABE aired remarks from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed that more recent data is needed to give detailed numbers about sex trafficking in Atlanta. Reed also said the crime has significantly moved out to the rural areas. WABE’s Rose Scott reports on reaction to Reed’s comments. If you type in sex trafficking and Atlanta into any online search engine, countless links to articles, presentation papers and news documentaries will surface. Even.... READ MORE
He had a listless look in his eyes. A wild crop of bleached hair hung across his scraggly face. The lines under his eyes spoke of a hard life and a youth stolen a long time ago. He was homeless and hungry. He was only about 20… Click here to read more.
Right now, there’s an estimated 27 million people around the world trapped in slavery, more than any other time in history. It’s a problem closer to home than you may believe. Authorities say girls are bought and sold for sex, right here in Augusta. Along the Interstate 20 corridor between Atlanta and Augusta, Greene County deputies stop many cars for traffic violations. What they find inside some of those vehicles may shock you. “We’re seeing clothes, lingerie and.... READ MORE
By Angel K. Brooks The Atlanta Journal-Constitution A 25-year-old Atlanta woman was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison Monday for transporting a teenage girl across state lines for prostitution. Jessica Loren Posey pleaded guilty in February to transporting a 16-year-old to Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio to have sex for money, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “Child sex trafficking is an horrific crime committed by both men and women,” U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said in.... READ MORE
OCONEE COUNTY, Ga. - A 19-year-old has been charged with human trafficking. Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry says Tyler Standifur used a young girl for prostitution, beginning when she was just 11. “Just a little girl and anybody that’d see her would know she’s a little girl,” Berry. The girl told investigators this went on for two years without her parents’ knowledge. The girl, now 13, told her school principal on Wednesday. “She honestly felt her.... READ MORE