Slavery In The Suburbs

Tracy Smith Explores The Business Of Human Trafficking... In America

(CBS)  Most people think slavery ended in America back in the 19th century. But thousands of people are sold in this country each year. Some are made to work for no pay. Others are forced into prostitution.

The government has funded 42 task forces across the country to root out human trafficking operations.

It's an industry that's worth some $32 billion worldwide. And as CBS News correspondent Tracy Smith reports in a series for The Early Show, it's making its way into America's suburbs.

At 17, Shauna Newell didn't see it coming.

"She was the new girl at school looking for friends," says Shauna.

A new girl in town invited Shauna for a sleepover in her Pensacola, Fla., neighborhood. A man posing as the girl's father slipped Shauna a drug. She woke up to a nightmare.

“My legs were being held,” she says. “And my head ... my hands were tied like this, above my head. And I remember saying, 'No, please don't do this. Stop.'"

While her parents frantically searched for her, Shauna was drugged, raped and beaten. Investigator Brad Dennis suspected Shauna was a victim of human trafficking, a growing problem in the Florida Panhandle.

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Reporter's Notebook: Tracy Smith

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"They know how to target these young, vulnerable teenage girls,” he said.

According to Dennis, the girls are moved around a circuit and sold for sex.

He says, "They're hitting all the major hotel industries and convention centers."

"The business of trafficking is an extremely lucrative business," according to Wan Kim of the U.S. Justice Department.

The U.S. government says human trafficking is one of the largest criminal industries in the world - second only to drugs - and the fastest growing.

"Human beings you sell and resell and resell and you're always making a profit," says Anna Rodriguez of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

The State Department says nearly 20,000 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year. Countless women are promised jobs, but then are sold for anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000 and forced into labor or prostitution.

One Haitian woman came here to be someone's nanny - but ended up a sex slave. She tells Smith she was tortured.

“These people are under extreme control, even death threats. This is one of the most horrific crimes that I have seen,” says Rodriguez.

The problem has moved beyond immigrant trafficking. The Justice Deptartment says increasingly young American boys and girls, like Shauna, are attractive targets.

“We find it in residential neighborhoods where usually young girls are being held - sometimes for periods of years upon years, in subjugation. They never leave the house. People don't even know they live there," says Kim.

In Shauna's case, investigators pursued a group of suspected traffickers in the Panhandle area. She was released after four days, but her captors remain at large.

[maire19]

This is so disgusting & if you search the internet or can bring yourself to watch TV programs dealing with this problem, you will be very, very alarmed. Two girls abducted in ohio & used to sexually service truck drivers in MI is another disgusting story. I just wanted to point out to CBS, this story ends incorrectly, Shauna's brother found her in the back of a car & he rescued her, her 14 yr. old brother! Police did nothing, no one has been charged or arrested. Her family found out later she had been sold on the internet for $300,000. It is very suspicious that no one has been arrested and the police are not questioning anyone, maybe the police in the Florida panhandle are profiting from human trafficking? How would one of those policeman feel if their daughter was raped, beaten, biten, drugged & penetrated with objects so that they were bleeding & bruised? How can panhandle law enforcement live with themselves? DISGUSTING ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[knikkinash]

I have three daughters and first thing after they get out of school they will see this report. Maby they can now better understand why mommy won't let them go where ever they want with people they know from school.

[cyberdjs4]

If I said it once, I''ve said a million times.

"The Human Spirit ALWAYS trumps the Holy Spirit."

If I were a religious person, I would say we humans are God''s biggest mistake.

But, luckily, I''m not.
I just quietly observe that the rest of the creatures on this planet don''t have these problems.

Sadly, we think we have dominion over everything so we don''t pay attention.

Judgment Day''s not coming soon enough.

[pkcricket-2009]

"Kids really are quite safe for the most part. But you would never know it from the sensationalism popular with the media."
Posted by oleander8 at 09:48 AM : Sep 13, 2007

Really? Are they? I mean, human trafficking is the third most lucrative business in the world...right? Sensationalism...suuuure...

[pkcricket-2009]

"Women can be human traffickers themselves..."
Posted by My_two_Cents at 12:45 PM : Sep 13, 2007

Women are definitely able to be human traffickers as well. Oftentimes women are used to lure the children or other women in because they are seen to be more trustworthy.

I''m just thinking of how many times I was in a situation where, with the wrong people, I could have been taken in. When I ran around with the wrong kind of girl in my apartment complex, we would visit older guys in their apartments...any of those could have been a dangerous situation. Somehow (God?), I was protected.

[bobacorn]

its because of all the swamp people ...

[rickysgirl2]

I commend the state of Florida in all of their efforts they have shown to help eradicate Human Trafficking. I have watched the series "Against their Will" and was truly shocked to see what is happening to our children. I was also happy to see the different organizations within the state of Florida who are doing something about this. Human trafficking is a heinous crime and it is happening all over the world, including the US. I think we need to join together and follow in the footsteps of the numerous people in the state of Florida. I comment Anna Rodriguez, from the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Brad Dennis with Klass Kids and the Clearwater Police Dept for their efforts.

[rickysgirl2]

I commend the state of Florida in all of their efforts they have shown to help eradicate Human Trafficking. I have watched the series "Against their Will" and was truly shocked to see what is happening to our children. I was also happy to see the different organizations within the state of Florida who are doing something about this. Human trafficking is a heinous crime and it is happening all over the world, including the US. I think we need to join together and follow in the footsteps of the numerous people in the state of Florida. I comment Anna Rodriguez, from the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Brad Dennis with Klass Kids and the Clearwater Police Dept for their efforts.

[toldyouso21]

I have 5 kids. Ages range from 10 to 26. My boys never went to sleep overs and even when in scouts or on soccer teams, or stufying Karate, I was there for all events and practices. In fact, I acted as assistant coach for some of the sports and also assisted in the scouting. My girls each have done 2 or 3 sleepovers. All girls with no men allowed. Most mom''s not only respected my rules but adopted them. Paranoid? You betcha. Restrictive? probably. But I have broad shoulders. I''d rather carrying the brand of overprotective or paranoid or former molest victim herself--than have my child go through stuff. At the end of the day--I want to know I did the best I could and never willingly offered my children up to harms way. If it means they do a few less sleepovers or all their play time is coordinated. planned and monitored--so be it. I don''t dismiss, trivialize or negate the times we live in---but I don''t give in to these times either. Parents should be the first and last line of defense for their kids--unfortunately many are way too trusting and gullible to be anything except enablers to their own child''s destruction.

[Krazcarl]

The scary part is there is market for this trash in the USA basicaly were talking about forced prostition if there were no market there would be no sellers every seedy eyed john will cry he had no idea but they make it a busness enterprise. If your not cool enough to get a date go home alone but there are people that will exploit others for thier own gratification be it cheap maids or lawn service or motel 66 the peddlers are a problem the buyers are the real problem.

[toldyouso21]

Posted by toldyouso21 at 11:25 AM : Sep 13, 2007
Whast if it a single parent, and it is a man? Does that make him instantly a perv? I understand that it is a crime of opportunity, but to generalize all men, that is not right.
Posted by Klingon69 at 12:06 PM : Sep 13, 2007


You are right, it is not fair, but since 95% of all molestations are committed by men--I''d have to err on the side of safety. If a single man wants to host a sleepover, for his own safety, he either should reconsider or have a female friend over to help and vacate the premises. Because the sad fact is--even if nothing happens, a man can be accused and his life ruined by people blaming him. To save the heartache on both sides of the issue, to not give people a stick to beat a person with. IN other words, don''t set up a situation where something COULD occur or a person could be accused. Let it go. A sleepover should not be a life changing event. It is not necessary to grow or nurture a child and if, as a single dad you have a kid who wants to go to a sleepover--I''d demand the same stringency. Since the majority of molesters are men--that means the odds are greater for harm when men are present than when they are not. Unfortunately we do not have a molester detector yet.

[toldyouso21]

Personally, I believe sleepovers SHOULD be shot down."[Posted by toldyouso21]

Personally, I think you are ridiculous - and paranoid to the extreme.
Posted by oleander8 at 12:23 PM : Sep 13, 2007


I''ll try to have a way for you to reach someone if and when you have kids--and after they finally let you know what happened to them when they were growing up.

With your outlook and mindset, your kids are victims waiting to happen--and they won''t have either a protector, a comforter or a listening ear in you. Talk about trauma--I''d rather be too cautious than be too gullible and put my kids or someone else''s at risk. Or do you have another agenda for pushing for "trust" in these times? The other poster was right...it is not just men who traffic or lure people--women often are the bait and the ones who mislead their potential victims. So....what is YOUR agenda oleander? (Like we all can''t see right through it--next you will tell us that most molestations don''t really happen and the kids "want it" ) save your sicko views kiddo, we smell you a mile off.

[my_two_cents-2009]

Women can be human traffickers themselves, so to specify no men at sleepovers is to suggest a false sense of security. This story is not about whether or not sleepovers even though I personally think it''s a bad idea in light of all the things that we hear about now in the media. This is about domestic human trafficking involving child prostitutes. We should focus more on removing the stigma associated with child prostitutes and see them as victims, not as perpetrators who should be stuck in Juvenile Halls.

[oleander8]

"Personally, I believe sleepovers SHOULD be shot down."[Posted by toldyouso21]

Personally, I think you are ridiculous - and paranoid to the extreme.

[ladyjaneg]

Um, not to sound weird, but women are perfectly capable of assaulting people too. I know it''s not as common, but the chance is there. Remember the girl who was brutally attacked by her "friends" at a sleepover? And women are capable of Sexxual assault as well---look at the sotry of the woman who was kidnapped and held against her will for a week. Not a sleepover, but prooves the point that women can rape too.

[klingon69]

If you still want sleepovers specify t no men can be in the home--and either accompany them there or ''''drop in'''' to confirm who is at the party or host them yourself

Posted by toldyouso21 at 11:25 AM : Sep 13, 2007
Whast if it a single parent, and it is a man? Does that make him instantly a perv? I understand that it is a crime of opportunity, but to generalize all men, that is not right.

[ladyjaneg]

I actually agree that sleepovers should be shot down. I knwo so many men and women who were assaulted...sExually and otherwise, and a lot of them happened at sleepovers...not necessariliy by the host parent, but by an older brother/sister, or one of the older brother/sister''s friends. I didn''t go to sleepovers, my parents didn''t allow it, even before there were hugely publicized reports of attacks and assaults during sleepovers. And I turned out just fine, thank you.

[mscullin1]

We Are Worth More!
In the span of 2 hours each and every day,
183 kids are lured into prostitution.

We Are Worth More! funded by Raise the Bar, a NC non-profit organization, is committed to creating awareness about human trafficking and stopping it in the United States. We believe that knowledge EMPOWERS and so we are asking corporations to join us help stop human traffickers abusing children. These children are forced to submit to unspeakable evils at a young age. Many lives are damaged forever. But there is hope.
"Since producing the movie A Dance For Bethany my wife and I have had a desire to get involved and be a part of the solution to this growing epidemic of human trafficking".
Marion D. and Yvonne Williams Raise The Bar Productions, Inc. Asheville, NC

See the movie trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md3ZYWCWVKs

How you can help: Visit http://www.adanceforbethany.com/ and help spread the word. Our plan is to have this film shown around the country and create awareness for We Are Worth More! Stop human slavery.
Marion D. and Yvonne Williams Raise The Bar Productions, Inc. Asheville, NC 828-243-3151

[toldyouso21]

You''''ve just shot down sleep-overs for kids. Posted by oleander8 at 09:48 AM : Sep 13, 2007

Personally, I believe sleepovers SHOULD be shot down. I used to counsel abused women and children and for those who were not molested by relatives, the events took place at sleepovers, scout campings, etc. (they used to be called slumber parties). often, despite a parent hosting the sleepover being trustworthy, they often have people in their home with other agendas. Maybe a mom goes upstairs when it is time for the kids to sleep and an older brother or father may lurk, and follow a girl or boy to the bathroom or even entice them away from the group.

It happens waaaaay more than you realize. Molestation is a crime of opportunity. Molesters have to practically be given access by a parent and actually encourage or actively place their kids in harms way--because they are too trusting. Sleepovers, sport events, school and Church functions are favorite venues for molestation and usually, the parent who loves that sleepover atmosphere the most--is the most gullible. If you still want sleepovers specify t no men can be in the home--and either accompany them there or ''drop in'' to confirm who is at the party or host them yourself

[zootallures2]

You are nuts, insane. The government is off the wall, the media sadistically absurd, the music and culture is remeniscent of the worst in history. I have no idea what you are all trying to prove? You are going to be satan''s slave for eternity. But, you know everything. You and Karl Rove can make your own reality. Tell it to the judge... you''ll find out what nothing you can do about it really means for a ever and ever.