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A 15-year-old girl said she was passed off to multiple men in exchange for money, Kentucky police said.
Steven Hargrove, 40, of La Vergne, Tennessee, was involved with the girl for “some time,” according to Kentucky State Police.
The girl’s mother said she was following a vehicle her missing daughter was in Monday night in Daviess County, state police said. She told police the car stopped at a gas station, where an officer soon arrived, according to an arrest citation.
Memphis, Tenn.– D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced an indictment agains a 54-year-old registered sex offender. The indictment alleges that in February 2020, Patterson was found to be in possession of a cell phone that contained images and videos of child pornography. Further investigation resulted in identification of the children depicted, and Patterson’s role in producing the images and videos, which were made between December 2019 and February 2020. The children were all under twelve years of age, and at least one was younger than ten.
When so many were focused on the new epidemic, Mimi Nikkel’s mind turned to one that already existed in human trafficking and prostitution.
“Demand goes up when people are experiencing fear, stress and anxiety,” she said.
Co-founder of the organization says the sex trafficking numbers are up during the pandemic and the virus is making it harder to get to the women.
“The opportunities for them to get to safety is actually lower and it has created a challenge in our response. Also being able to find placement for them because just like many other medical facilities and shelters, they are overrun right now and not accepting new individuals for their own safety,” says Sarah Mckinnis, Co-Founder of Willowbend Farms
In Northeast Tennessee, eight men were arrested in an undercover operation for child sex trafficking. The operation lasted two days TBI human trafficking unit and detectives with the Johnson City Police Department. Last week, authorities places ads on websites trying to identify people that were seeking commercial sex acts with minors. The operation also focused on identifying victims.
Tennessee has had 823 human trafficking cases reported since 2007. 93 cases last year. Chattanooga has a higher risk of human trafficking then most other cities in Tennessee. Chattanooga is close to Atlanta and has many busy highways like I-75 and I-24. Tennessee has community leaders and law enforcement officers that want to put a stop to human trafficking. Tennessee wants to provide support for the victims along with justice. They fully want traffickers to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Leah Gunn, has recently escaped sex trafficking after being trapped for nearly two decades, Leah is now working part time at RE+NEW+ALL, candle company in Memphis, TN, is providing survivors of sex trafficking the opportunity to have a new purpose. “In its earliest form, RE+NEW+ALL was not a business — it was art therapy.” Survivors are able to work part time and work on their goals whether it is reconnecting with a loved one or going back to school to get a G.E.D. Although, severe thunderstorms in January flooded their studio, their inventory was saved.
To learn more about RE+NEW+ALL and what they are doing in Memphis visit their website at https://www.renewallcandle.com/
Darrell Hampton, 30, of Memphis, TN, fired shots at the 17 and 18-year-old victims, told them they were not free to leave, told them he would take them to Atlanta to work and even told the 18-year-old he would kill her grandmother if she didn’t cooperate.
Former NBA player and one-time University of Alabama basketball standout Jim Farmer is facing a human trafficking charge in Tennessee.
Brian Curtis, 30, of Memphis, TN, has been charged with sex trafficking, kidnapping and assault after a 19-year-old woman told police Curtis held her in his hotel room, destroyed her cell phone and forced her to have sex with men for money. The victim was beaten so badly that she had to be taken to the hospital where she alerted the police.
Finding new and innovative ways to combat the demand for purchased sex, raise awareness to this nationwide epidemic, and provide safe environments for victims.