INSIDER
Man accused of paying for sex with 15-year-old arrested, facing trafficking charges, affidavit says
Read full article: Man accused of paying for sex with 15-year-old arrested, facing trafficking charges, affidavit saysA 57-year-old man is facing human trafficking charges after paying to have sex with a teenager who was being sex-trafficked by two other individuals.
‘Sound of Freedom’ film inspires Southwest ISD superintendent to take action
Read full article: ‘Sound of Freedom’ film inspires Southwest ISD superintendent to take actionAn independent film about human trafficking is sparking conversation, vigilance and action to help protect victims, specifically children. A local educator invited some of her staff to see the film in hopes of raising awareness.
Human trafficking training now required for all San Antonio airport workers, not just city employees
Read full article: Human trafficking training now required for all San Antonio airport workers, not just city employeesTrafficking training at the San Antonio International Airport is now mandatory for all employees, which includes the airline workers, food vendors and even rental car employees.
New ‘Stop Human Trafficking’ license plate unveiled, available for purchase in February
Read full article: New ‘Stop Human Trafficking’ license plate unveiled, available for purchase in FebruaryGov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on Thursday unveiled the State of Texas’ new ‘Stop Human Trafficking’ specialty license plate.
Driver who sideswiped SAPD vehicle on I-35 may have been involved in human smuggling, police say
Read full article: Driver who sideswiped SAPD vehicle on I-35 may have been involved in human smuggling, police sayA driver who sideswiped a San Antonio Police Department SUV Wednesday morning may have been smuggling a truck full of migrants, investigators say.
Majority of sex trafficking crimes start online, ChildSafe advocate says
Read full article: Majority of sex trafficking crimes start online, ChildSafe advocate saysA Bexar County child protective advocacy nonprofit says the majority of child sex trafficking cases start online these days. It's imperative that parents stay vigilant to what their children are doing and posting on social media.
Texas teen goes to restroom at NBA arena. Police find her 10 days later in Oklahoma hotel sold for sex
Read full article: Texas teen goes to restroom at NBA arena. Police find her 10 days later in Oklahoma hotel sold for sexHow does a 15-year-old girl go to a bathroom at an NBA arena, never make it back to her seat, and ends up being found a week and a half later being sold for sex in a hotel more than 200 miles away? That’s what the family of the teen want to know -- especially because they say there are so many people, including police -- who could have prevented the incident from happening.
What’s Up South Texas! Woman turns her painful past into a resilient future for victims of violent crimes
Read full article: What’s Up South Texas! Woman turns her painful past into a resilient future for victims of violent crimesA San Antonio woman is turning her painful past into a bright and resilient future for victims of violent crimes across south Texas. Margaret Fernandez is the founder and CEO of the non-profit 3rd Street Closet.
Sex and slave labor is a problem in Bexar County, local survivor advocate says
Read full article: Sex and slave labor is a problem in Bexar County, local survivor advocate saysChara McMichael with BCSF Health and Human Services says children as young as 4 years old have been victims of human trafficking in the Bexar County community.
Thistle Farms: Hope and Healing for Human Trafficking Survivors
Read full article: Thistle Farms: Hope and Healing for Human Trafficking SurvivorsNASVILLE, Tenn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Along with Mexico and the Philippines, the United States is considered one of the worst places for human trafficking. There is not an official total on the number of victims, but the estimates have it in the hundreds of thousands. Many programs focus on getting survivors out of human trafficking, but what will their lives be afterwards?
How to recognize human trafficking, stop it and help others
Read full article: How to recognize human trafficking, stop it and help othersMore than 12 million people are victims of human trafficking. Here’s how you can recognize it, stop it, and help others. Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, and it’s getting worse! If someone is pushing your boundaries ever, remember trafficking is gradual and happens little by little. It’s important to emphasize that human trafficking and modern slavery is a hidden crisis.
Traffickers targeting people online more than ever before, experts warning parents
Read full article: Traffickers targeting people online more than ever before, experts warning parentsSAN ANTONIO - – At home, online, disconnected with free time, people are more vulnerable to traffickers than ever before. Local organizations that help trafficked youth say teens and parents need to be on the lookout for online predators who are constantly grooming their next victims. The pandemic has forced many kids to move both their school and social lives online and predators are noticing. “To the parents, if your young person in your home, let’s say they’re going to meet their friend John, you need to ask, who is John? “What I tell my kids and what we tell our kids with our organization, ‘It’s not that we don’t trust you.
Missing children rescued in Georgia sex trafficking bust
Read full article: Missing children rescued in Georgia sex trafficking bustATLANTA, Georgia – Nearly 40 missing or endangered children have been rescued by federal and state agents during a law enforcement operation in Georgia, authorities say. Marshals Service announced Thursday that 13 missing children were found and an additional 26 endangered children were rescued during the two-week operation centered on Atlanta and a city to its south, Macon. Nine people were arrested on charges including sex trafficking, parental kidnapping and custodial interference, as well as registered sex offender and weapons violations. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child,” said Darby Kirby, chief of the Missing Child Unit. One in 6 of the endangered runaways is likely to become the victim of sex trafficking, authorities said.
Local human trafficking morphs in face of pandemic, affecting kids at home
Read full article: Local human trafficking morphs in face of pandemic, affecting kids at homeSo that trafficker can come in and be that trusted person,” Paul explained. The following are signs of trafficking:A young person out in the streets that is not making eye contact, they seem a little confused, lost, or out of itA young person has an adult with them and you can tell there’s no family connection. The adult may have constant physical contact with the young person, who may be wearing hyper-sexualized clothing, abnormal for their age. All those locations are Safe Place sites and the staff is trained to help you. They will ask where you are and direct you to the closest Safe Place and resources.
Human trafficking suspect accused in case involving 2 teenage boys arrested
Read full article: Human trafficking suspect accused in case involving 2 teenage boys arrestedSAN ANTONIO – A 27-year-old man was arrested Friday in a human trafficking case involving two teenage boys, San Antonio police say. Officer Alisia Pruneda, a spokesperson for the San Antonio Police Department, said Zachary Neauhaus was arrested on the Northeast Side after the teens made an outcry to police following months of interaction with the suspect. Pruneda said the victims knew Neauhaus because they were buying drugs from him and had exchanges with him for about eight months. Eventually, Neauhaus started asking the teens for explicit pictures and sexual favors in exchange for drugs, police say. Neauhaus faces two counts of continuous trafficking of persons because it was longer than 30 days, Pruneda said.
Debrief: Courtney Friedman discusses SA airport campaign that helps human and sex trafficking victims
Read full article: Debrief: Courtney Friedman discusses SA airport campaign that helps human and sex trafficking victimsA new partnership between the San Antonio International Airport at the Department of Homeland Security is aimed at helping victims of sex and human trafficking. Highways, buses, trains and planes are all used as modes of transportation for human and sex traffickers. The DHS Blue Campaign educates people to help identify survivors and stop traffickers. GMSA @9 talks with Courtney Friedman to found out more about the DHS Blue Campaign. San Antonio airport officials want to teach you how
Trafficking survivor holds seminars to educate, warn community members
Read full article: Trafficking survivor holds seminars to educate, warn community membersSAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio sex trafficking survivor is using her voice during National Human Trafficking Awareness month by holding a town hall seminar on the subject. Human trafficking increase expected during Super BowlFor weeks she was kept in a tiny room, repeatedly sold for sex. Man arrested in human trafficking operationPerez said by continuing the conversation, trafficking can be prevented and lives can be saved. Law enforcement is encouraging the public to learn the signs and red flags of human trafficking, and who to call if those signs are present. Blue Campaign by David Ibanez on ScribdThe National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-(888) 373-7888.
Man sold woman for sex, SAPD says
Read full article: Man sold woman for sex, SAPD saysSAN ANTONIO – A 39-year-old man sold a woman for sex for several years before he was finally arrested Thursday on charges of human trafficking, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said. Joseph Sanchez Davila solicited the victim for prostitution on a website, McManus said. The affidavit said the victim told police there were three forced sexual encounters with that man. SAPD was made aware of the sex abuse since August, but couldn’t arrest Sanchez Davila because no one was willing to testify against him. ‘My Prince Charming turned into a monster’: Local woman survives sex traffickingHe said the arrest was "appropriate" since January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Ride along: Outreach director seeks to help homeless youth before they’re victims of human trafficking
Read full article: Ride along: Outreach director seeks to help homeless youth before they’re victims of human traffickingHe called Roy Maas staff who immediately came to pick them up and take them to the shelter. "If they can't get them from a street youth, they're going to go after foster kids. They're going to talk online for weeks and months. Once they get them to meet up face to face, either they're going to run away with them. Roy Maas staff is available to help at (210) 340-8077 and through email info@rmya.org.
Ride along: Outreach director seeks to help homeless youth before they’re victims of human trafficking
Read full article: Ride along: Outreach director seeks to help homeless youth before they’re victims of human traffickingRide along: Outreach director seeks to help homeless youth before they’re victims of human traffickingPublished: December 22, 2019, 10:21 pmFor a minimum of 16 hours a week, one man hits the streets of San Antonio, looking for homeless or trafficked youth.
‘My Prince Charming turned into a monster’: Local woman survives sex trafficking
Read full article: ‘My Prince Charming turned into a monster’: Local woman survives sex traffickingNow that she’s safe, she has dedicated her life to telling her devastating but important story in hopes of saving others from the terrors of sex trafficking. Someone took advantage of me.”Soon, the woman began selling Solomon to men in exchange for drugs. For a chicken nugget meal at McDonalds I would have to have sex with somebody,” Solomon said. During that hours-long ride, Solomon said he sent women into motels to have sex with men, and took the money they brought back. “My Prince Charming turned into a monster like that,” she said, snapping her fingers.