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You are Invited to Governor’s Proclamation Signing, Wednesday January 15 Declaring January 2025 “Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month”

The NAHT will host a public proclamation signing by Governor Kim Reynolds, designating January 2025 as “Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.” The proclamation declaration will take place on Wednesday, January 15 at 11:30 a.m. in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Building in Des Moines. To download a copy of the “Save the Date” flyer, please tap here.

Before you depart for the State Capitol Building, please wear something blue. January 11 is National Wear Blue Day. This is the international color for human trafficking awareness.

During “Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” the NAHT asks all modern day abolitionists to recommit themselves to eradicating the evil of enslavement. Human trafficking is a modern form of the oldest and most barbaric type of human exploitation. It has no place in our state. During the month of January 2024, let’s not simply reflect on this appalling reality. Instead, we must pledge to do all in our power to end the horrific practice of human trafficking/modern slavery that plagues innocent victims around the world.

Worldwide, an estimated 50 million people are currently victims of human trafficking. That’s a 10 million increase since 2019. Human traffickers prey on their victims by promising a life of hope and greater opportunity while delivering only enslavement. Instead of delivering people to better lives, traffickers profit from the labor and toil of their victims, who they force – through violence, drugs, and intimidation – to work in the sex trade in hotels/motels and illicit massage businesses, and as slave laborers, in factories, on farms and fishing vessels, in private homes, and in countless other industries.

Five 2025 Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards will also be presented by the Governor and NAHT on January 15, immediately following the proclamation signing. We will announce these five anti-trafficking heroes in the January 2025 blog post/newsletter.

Iowa Survivor of Child Trafficking, Author of New Book, “She Survived”

Brittany Sowder holding her book, “She Survived”

Brittany is a passionate advocate for survivors of abuse and human trafficking. Drawing from personal traumatic experiences, she aims to raise awareness and foster conversations about these crucial issues. Through writing, Brittany hopes to empower others to share their stories and seek healing in their journeys. When not writing, Brittany enjoys spending time with their family, husband and daughter, engaging in community outreach, and supporting initiatives that promote awareness and prevention of trafficking.

Brittany has received many distinguished service awards including:

  • Outstanding Service Award – 2013 – Iowa Attorney General’s Office
  • Youth Advocacy Leadership Award – 2014 (Youth & Shelter Services)
  • Maggie Tinsman – Heroism Award – 2014
  • Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Serviced Award – 2016 – Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking, presented by Governor Reynolds

Brittany is dedicated to continuing the fight against human trafficking by sharing her personal story within the pages of her book. She hopes it will inspire strength and serve as a guiding light for those in need of hope and empowerment.

Go to Brittany’s website to order “She Survived.” Please see several articles and a TV news interview with Brittany in the listing at the end of this newsletter.

Ask Your City Council to Adopt a Local Proclamation for January 2025

2023 Iowa Human Trafficking Statistics

Another important request to all Iowa anti-trafficking advocates is to approach your city council and/or county board of supervisors about declaring January 2025 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in your local community/county. Here is an example fill-in-the-blank proclamation that you can propose to be adopted.

Once your city and/or county local governments vote to adopt the proclamation, they will publicly present it to you at a meeting. You can attend the meeting and interact with your council or county supervisors. What a great way to create public awareness and recognition of this growing problem across Iowa and within your own home community.  Use this proclamation acceptance script to respond to your city council. When you speak to the city/county please share data as shown in the chart.

Two Burlington Women Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Charges

A Burlington woman was sentenced to thirty years in federal prison for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, attempted sex trafficking of a child, and sex trafficking three adult victims.

According to public court documents, in 2022 Miesha Lasha Stanley, 32, used force, fraud, and coercion to compel victims to engage in sex acts with customers in exchange for money. Stanley took some or all of the money that the victims earned. Stanley used the victims’ vulnerabilities, which included lack of stable housing, drug addiction, abusive relationships, and lack of familial support, to compel them to engage in paid sex acts. Stanley allowed the victims, most of whom were females in their late teens and early 20s, to live at her residence in Burlington. Stanley posted sex advertisements for the victims online, communicated with customers, and arranged for customers to engage in sex acts with the victims at her residence and other locations. Stanley also conspired with co-defendant Rosella Marie Taylor to sex traffic one of the victims.

After completing her term of imprisonment, Stanley will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On April 1, 2024, Taylor, 36, was sentenced to 122 months of imprisonment for conspiring to sex traffic, attempting to sex traffic, and sex trafficking two victims. To read more, tap here.

Iowa Man Charged with Sex Trafficking 14 Victims and Sexually Exploiting One Minor

A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an Indictment today charging an Ames man with 15 counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion, one count of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography.

According to the Indictment, Carl Dale Markley used and attempted to use fraud and coercion to cause 14 victims to engage in commercial sex acts. The sex-trafficking charges allege that Markley began trafficking one victim as early as 2004, and between 2004 and April 2023, Markley trafficked or attempted to traffic each of the 14 victims. In addition, the Indictment states that from August 2020 to October 2020, Markley sexually exploited (or attempted to sexually exploit) one 15‑year-old minor by using the minor to create child pornography, and that Markley knowingly possessed child pornography.

Markley made his initial court appearance today before a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

Markley is charged with 17 offenses in total. Each of the sex trafficking charges carries a 15-year mandatory minimum prison term, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Sexual exploitation of a child carries a 15‑year mandatory term of imprisonment and a maximum term of 30 years in prison. The charge for possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Richard Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

The Ames Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.

Iowa needs to do more to combat human trafficking

Editorial by Teresa Davidson, NAHT Board Member and co-founder and CEO of Chains Interrupted based in Cedar Rapids

Human trafficking is a grim reality in Iowa.

In 2023 alone, the Iowa National Human Trafficking Hotline received 200 calls and helped 68 victims. Additionally, the Iowa Victim Service Call Center received 301 calls, 33 of which involved minors. These reported incidents are just the tip of the iceberg, accounting for less than half a percent of all trafficking cases. Extrapolating numbers from the US State Department suggests that more than 100,000 Iowans are victims of human trafficking. This number should alarm us all. Change is long overdue, and we desperately need our elected officials to take action.

Over a decade ago, Iowa had no system in place to help victims of human trafficking. But because Iowans care, communities came together to address the issue. We built an infrastructure to support trafficking victims, whether they are exploited for sex or for labor. Many victims are children, forced into these situations to survive, exploited for sex or work in exchange for necessities like food, shelter, or safety. Trapped in a cycle of dependency on their traffickers, these minors often have nowhere to turn.

Today, eight organizations across Iowa provide residential programs dedicated to meeting the unique needs of trafficking survivors. However, these nonprofit organizations are severely underfunded, constantly struggling to stay afloat. Their essential work is hampered by a lack of resources. To read more, tap here.

Secretary of State 2024 Human Trafficking Awareness Webinar

A one-hour human trafficking awareness webinar was created by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office and the Blue Campaign, which is a department of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The purpose of the webinar is to “learn something” about what human trafficking is, the signs of human trafficking and what you can do if you spot them, and more.

The SOS office has uploaded the recorded webinar to YouTube, and you may now watch it here.

Below is a link to the Blue Campaign’s website, as well as to the IBAT (Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking) & SAH (Safe At Home) websites. All of these websites contain information and resources, and each have free e-newsletters that you may subscribe to through the websites. Also, below is information about human trafficking tiplines, and information about Iowa-specific resources for reporting suspected human trafficking. If you see something suspicious that appears to involve immediate danger, please do not attempt to confront the suspect(s), and instead please call your local law enforcement agency immediately.

  • Blue Campaign website: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign
  • Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) website: https://ibat.iowa.gov
  • Safe At Home (SAH) website—Newsletter sign-up is on the homepage of the website in the bottom right corner: https://safeathome.iowa.gov
  • Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) Tip Line — To Report Suspected Human Trafficking to Federal Law Enforcement: 1-866-347-2423
  • National Human Trafficking Hotline — To get help: 1-888-373-7888, or text ‘HELP’ to 233733
  • Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking website: https://stophtiowa.org
  • Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking (OCHT) Human Trafficking Tip Information Reporting Form —There is an option on this form for your information to remain anonymous with your tip submission if you wish: https://stateofiowa.seamlessdocs.com/f/DPS_HT_Tip_Form

 TV News Clips & Articles

By on December 2, 2024   /   News