Human Trafficking

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Human Trafficking Defined by Federal Law

“Human Trafficking” commonly referred to as “modern day slavery” is a global phenomenon involving obtaining or maintaining labor or services from another by the use of force, fraud, or coercion in violation of the individual’s human rights.

How Are Victims Trafficked?

Force, fraud and coercion are methods used by traffickers to press victims into lives of servitude, & abuse.

Force: Rape, beatings, confinement.
Fraud: Includes false and deceptive offers of employment, marriage, better life.
Coercion: Threats of serious harm to, or physical restraint of, any person; any scheme, plan or pattern intended to cause victims to believe that failure to perform an act would result in restraint against them; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.

**Force, fraud or coercion- do not apply for victims of sex trafficking under the age of 18.

It Is Happening Here! Stories About Human Trafficking

2010
John Dillinger Morgan was arrested for two counts of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking for allegedly pimping out two young girls— their ages 16 and 13. Morgan pled guilty on 5-21-11 to Sex Trafficking, 2 counts of Procuring a minor for prostitution, and 1 count of Lewd and Lascivious battery. He received 15 years in prison and 15 years of sex offender probation.

2011
Two teenagers who ran away from a local half-way house. Two weeks after running away, one of these teens was rescued in Minnesota after being prostituted by a pimp.

2012
Many males of Asian decent were discovered being loaded into a van where they were taken to work at a local restaurant.

2013
A 17-year-old human trafficking victim had been beaten by her pimp after refusing to participate in sexual activity. Her mother started trafficking her from a hotel in another county.

2016
14yr old black female reports having sex with people for money. Two females rescued from Atlanta & arranged transport to safe shelter (sex trafficking).

2017
10yr old & 12yr old in a parking lot soliciting for money for an organization that does not exist. Brought here from Orlando.

2018
44 yr old & 20yr old white females rescued from sex trafficking & assisted in getting to their homes out of state.

The Marion County Human Trafficking Task Force (2010) takes these cases and many others like them serious. Our goal is awareness & advocacy.

Ocala Police Department - 352-369-7139

Marion County Sheriff's Office - 352-732-8181

Marion County Human Trafficking Task Force Facebook Site

Human Trafficking - What to Look for?

Who Are the Victims?

A victim may look like many of the people you help every day.
Runaways and children in foster care are more vulnerable to being victimized.
Evidence of being controlled-- evidence of an inability to move about or leave the job.
Bruises or other signs of battering-- fear or depression.
Lack of passport, immigration or identification, non-English speaking.
Traveling sales crews- typically recruit young men and young women, primarily U.S. citizens, some under the age of 18. These victims often experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as a means of control.

Indicators in Places You May Not Expect

Businesses within your community could serve as fronts for trafficking...

Working Conditions:

Do the workers have freedom of movement?
Do they live and work in the same place?
Do the workers owe a debt to their employers?
Do the employers have control over their workers’ immigration documents?

Building Security:

Is it used to keep people out or to keep people in?

Appearance and Mannerism of the Workers:

Are there signs of trauma, fatigue, injuries, or other evidence of poor care?
Are the individuals withdrawn, afraid to talk, or is their communication censored?

Trafficking Indicators:

Lack of knowledge about what city they are in.
Claims to be just visiting and is unable to clarify where they are staying / address.
Loss of sense of time.
Numerous inconsistencies in their story.
Has few or no personal possessions.
Is not in control of their money, no financial records or bank account.
Is not in control of personal identification/documentation.
Is not allowed and/or able to speak for themselves (a third party does all the talking and may insist on being present and/or translating).
Lacks health care.
Appears malnourished.
Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture.
Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, nervous, and/or paranoid.
Avoids eye contact.
Is not free to leave or come and go as they wish.
The child is under the age of 18 and is providing commercial sex acts.
High-security measures exist around work and/or living locations.

Why Don’t Victims Seek Help?

Captivity, Confinement, and Isolation
Victims have been locked in rooms and trunks of cars and isolated from friends and family.

The Use and Threat of Violence
Victims have been beaten, raped, tortured, assaulted and threatened with weapons.

Fear, Shame, Self-blame and Hopelessness
Victims have been so traumatized, they blame themselves for their abuse and/or see no way out of the situation.

Dependency
Victims have become physically, financially, or emotionally dependent on the trafficker; they have bonded with the abuser through traumatic bonding (a.k.a. Stockholm Syndrome).

Human Trafficking on the Rise

After drug dealing, Human Trafficking is tied for second with the illegal arms trade for the most profitable illicit trade in the world.
Estimated $36 Billion Annually.
Florida is ranked in the top three of the United States destination states, with New York and California, for trafficking victims.

Contact & Resources

National Hotline: 888-373-7888

City: 369-7070 or County: 732-9111

Text: BEFREE

Survivor Rebecca Bender: rebeccabender.org

Printable Documents

Trafficking Controlled - English
Trafficking In Danger - English
Trafficking Isn't Skipping - English
Trafficking Selling Your Services - English

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