Enlarge Diane Schneider, President of the Charlotte AAUW, opened the workshop.

Posted: February 21st, 2012 Carla Hough

In 2009, Jorge Flores-Rojas was convicted of running a sex trafficking ring between Charlotte and Washington, DC. Picking up vans of young women and girls each week, some smuggled directly from Mexico, he would force them to engage in sex acts with as many as 20 men a day. This is not an isolated case.

Due to the active highways and high immigrant population, the FBI has ranked North Carolina as #8 on its list of states to watch for human trafficking. Charlotte, as the largest city between DC and Atlanta, is particularly vulnerable to becoming a hub for such activity. 

On February 18, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office and NC STOP joined forces to present the informative and engaging "Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery" workshop at Trinity Presbyterian Church. 

The morning began with an introduction by Diane Schneider, president of the Charlotte AAUW. Queen Thompson, an AAUW member who served as event chair, wanted to bring local attention to a subject that many don't often think of as occurring in their own neighborhoods. 

"We have learned from history that anytime there's a sore or virus that goes unchecked, it spreads," she said. The topic is one especially important to Thompson, who has served as a social worker for over 44 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenny Smith provided the legal definition of human trafficking as "compelling another to perform labor or engage in commercial sex acts by force, fraud or coercion." Many are undocumented and minors who are sometimes sold for sex acts by their parents. He pointed out that there are "more human slaves in the world now than ever in history."

Smith, a Charlotte native who graduated from Harvard Law, has been with the U.S. Attorney's office for 17 years and has worked on many high-profile cases in the state. According to research gathered from local initiatives and undercover operations, Charlotte is particularly susceptible to the opening of  residential brothels. 

Charity Magnusson is Director of NC STOP, a coalition dedicated to abolishing human trafficking. NC STOP follows the P.A.V.E model of Prevention, Advocacy, Victim Services and Education/Awareness.

As the average age of entry into prostitution is 12-13 years old, Magnusson showed Very Young Girls, a documentary that takes a gritty look into the  lives of teenage girls who were coerced into prostitution. Along with testimony from 13- and 14-year-old girls, there is also footage of two pimps themselves, who were hoping to get a reality show. 

Juanita Miller, Victim Specialist with the FBI, hopes others will join in aiding rescued victims rejoin society. According to Miller, who has been with the FBI for over 30 years, victims of human trafficking are traumatized, depressed, often suicidal and in need of food, clothes, medical attention, counseling, education and support.

Currently, the biggest area of need is housing. She hopes that more organizations will volunteer their time and any skills they may have to help victims adjust. Past volunteers have shared skills such as knitting or baking. Any organizations seeking to volunteer can get more information by calling (704) 672-6583.

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