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Human Trafficking Arrest Made in Des Moines, 3 Victims Rescued

A Des Moines woman has been arrested on human trafficking charges and police say three victims have been rescued following a months-long investigation.

Huirong Zhou, 42, is being held in the Polk County Jail on three felony charges of human trafficking.

The investigation began in January as police started looking into neighborhood complaints about suspicious activity as a massage parlor, Asian Tuina, at 852 Hull Avenue, according to Sgt. Paul Parziek with the Des Moines Police Department.

A search warrant was executed at the business and investigators found three adult female victims inside. They also recovered evidence indicating forced labor and commercial sexual activity seized in the case.

Polk County Victim Services is helping the victims with safe housing and other support and recovery services.

Warrant Sought for Pieper Lewis’ Arrest After She Walks Away from Probation Again

This Des Moines Register article was written by Phillip Joens

Des Moines sex-trafficking victim Pieper Lewis has again absconded from her probation in a manslaughter case, this time while at a facility in Georgia, according to court records.

Iowa probation officials have asked for the issuance of a nationwide warrant for her arrest, and the Iowa Department of Corrections confirmed Friday that her whereabouts are unknown.

Steve Davis, spokesperson for the Iowa Judicial System, said he did not know whether a warrant was issued, because under Iowa law, it would remain sealed until it is served.

Lewis, now 19, received a deferred judgment in September 2022 in the 2020 stabbing death of Zachary Brooks, 37, who she said she killed after he repeatedly raped her when she was age 15. Placed on probation, she cut off her ankle monitor and walked away from a Des Moines facility and was later arrested.

In May 2023, the Polk County judge in the case, David Porter, revoked the deferred judgment for voluntary manslaughter and willful injury and ordered her to serve 20 years in prison. But he then placed her on probation again, with the support of prosecutors, as Lewis’ attorneys sought placement for her in a facility more suitable than the one in Des Moines, which was intended for adult offenders. For more details, click here.

Step-by-Step Guide on Forming Partnerships to Benefit Trafficking Survivors

Click here for free training on how to build partnerships with the workforce and education programs for survivors.

June 22 Training for Iowa Men to Help Reduce the Demand

Submitted by Melody Stone, (NCICAHT) North and Central Iowa Coalition Against Human Trafficking

We are partnering with the national organization Street Grace to train teams of MALE volunteers in Iowa who will interface with sex buyers online through an advanced A-I assisted bot program. The purpose of this program is to reach out to sex buyers who may want help to stop their destructive behaviors or addictions. Research studies indicate that about 1/3 of buyers struggle with moral conflicts and shame. They want help to stop these habits, however don’t know where to turn to get that help. Street Grace volunteers intercept these buyers at the point of transaction to offer them support and restorative services. Street Grace also offers specialized training for law enforcement.

We believe this program will be a WIN-WIN for Iowa, addressing the issue of sex trafficking at it’s root. These restorative no-cost services will benefit communities, youth/families, law enforcement, buyers and victims and will create a stronger, safer Iowa!

Please forward this email to anyone who may be interested in learning more or joining a team! You do not need to be a technology expert to be an effective team member! The in-person training with Nick Lembo will be on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 9 am-2 pm in Des Moines. (Location to be determined.)

Please contact me (prairiemelody@gmail.com or 808-430-5710) if you want to be included in this training so I can add you to the official contact list.

Slavery in History is Now a Free E-book

The NAHT is pleased to share a new eBook, “Slavery in History: A Comprehensive Look at Slavery from 6800 BC to Now.”

Why this ebook matters: This eBook expands on the comprehensive timeline available on the Free The Slaves website, delving deeper into each time period and offering enhanced insights into the complexities of slavery through the ages. It is great for anyone seeking a better understanding of the historical scope of slavery and its persistent impact on society. You can access this invaluable eBook at no cost by clicking here.

This eBook is a testament to the unwavering commitment we all share in the fight against modern slavery. Accessing this resource offers a chance to deepen your understanding, fine-tune your advocacy efforts, and enhance your awareness as a global citizen.

New Georgia Legislation Strengthens Fight Against Human Trafficking

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed several pieces of legislation to cut down on human trafficking and exploitation of children into law. Iowa’s anti-trafficking advocates wish the Iowa Legislative would follow suit.

Senate Bill 370 will require businesses like convenience stores, hospitals, tattoo shops and massage parlors to post the human trafficking hotline number somewhere in their establishment.

House Bill 1201 allows human trafficking survivors who received first offender or conditional discharge status the ability to vacate such status for certain crimes, so long as the crime was a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking and defines the term “commercial sexual exploitation recovery center.”

House Bill 993 creates a felony offense for the grooming of a minor.

Kemp said for years, Georgia was considered a “hot spot” for human trafficking, but “thanks to the GRACE Commission, under the leadership of First Lady Marty Kemp, we have established Georgia as a national leader in this fight by passing legislation that cracks down on both traffickers and buyers while also, and even more importantly, empowering survivors.”

“I could not be more proud to sign the ninth piece of legislation brought forward by the GRACE Commission. Since its formation only five years ago, (it) continues to go after human traffickers and make sure that those caught in trafficking situations know in Georgia, there is always help for them. Both in getting to safety and in moving on to a better life,” Kemp said.

Three Free Resources Available for Parents

Most sex traffickers don’t cruise suburban neighborhoods in unmarked vans, offering candy to little children. Not anymore.

Today, they’re online — on social media, on gaming sites. Posing as teens or friendly grownups. Warming up to unsuspecting children and youth, especially those who feel a lack of love or connection at home for any reason. Our White Van Campaign alerts adults to the truth about predators’ online tactics.

  1. Our brand-new “Gaming Exploitation” flyer is a great resource for you to share  with your child or grandchild. It’s straightforward, easy to understand, and helps children and youth identify warning signs and predators online.
  2. “Caregiver Tips” is for any adult with children and teens in their life who are active online … nearly every young person in our culture today! You’ll receive tips and information for keeping the child you love safe online (and it’s available in Spanish, too).
  3. Print out “Rules for the Digital World” and hang it on your fridge at home or in your child’s room … and pass it along to your child’s school. It is a must-have checklist for children and teens who spend any time online.

Every person has a role to play in preventing and ending commercial sexual exploitation; a collaborative community response is critical.

New National Campaign Targets Online Exploitation of Children and Sextortion

A new national public awareness campaign aims to enlist more people, including kids and big tech companies, to crack down on online child sexual exploitation and abuse, crimes that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security say are reaching “epidemic proportions.”

The campaign, announced in April called “Know2Protect,” offers tools to help young people, parents and other “trusted adults” combat exploitation and abuse, as well as information on how to report crimes. It’s also designed to provide support resources for victims and survivors. To learn more, go to know2protect.gov.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children fielded more than 36 million reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation and abuse in 2023, which represents a 360% increase compared to 10 years ago.

“We in law enforcement cannot do the work of prevention, investigation and accountability, and victim protection and support alone,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said during a press conference in New York City on Wednesday morning. “We need everyone working together with us to forge an all-of-society effort against the global epidemic of online child exploitation and abuse. That is why we are launching Know2Protect.”

The volume of urgent reports involving a child at risk of imminent harm increased by more than 140% over the last three years, the secretary said.

In a statement, Mayorkas said “Know2Protect will help educate the public, save lives and prevent tragedies,” as online predators are increasingly targeting children and teenagers around the globe.

A related policy debate tied to sexually explicit images and online exploitation is unfolding on Beacon Hill, as lawmakers negotiate how to tackle revenge porn. Legislation in the conference committee looks to ban revenge porn, create new education and diversion programs that deal with teen sexting, and combat “coercive control” by abusers.

Forty-eight other states have already passed revenge pron laws. To read more about sextortion, click here.

Front Porch House Now Open

On Sunday, April 28, Dorothy’s House (located in Des Moines) opened the doors to the third phase of its program – Front Porch. During this phase, Dorothy’s House will subsidize participants in their very own apartment for up to one year. During the April 28 open house, visitors looked at before and after pictures of the apartments, visited a furnished apartment, and toured their training center/conference room.

For more information about Dorothy’s House and their new apartment program, go to dorothyshouse.org.

Human Trafficking and Prevention Training For Medical Professionals

The Hope Training is a survivor-informed, trauma-informed, patient-centered video based training that equips healthcare workers to identify potential human trafficking victims, give support, and offer resources. This training is produced by HEAL (Help, Education, Advocacy, Linkage). Visit their website training.safehouseproject.org and click on the “Get Trained Today” button to receive various training at a cost, and to learn more about HEAL’s program.

 TV News Clips & Articles

By on May 30, 2024   /   News