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Human Trafficking Task Force

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that involves the illegal exploitation of the most vulnderable members in our society for purposes of commercial sex and cheap labor. To combat human trafficking, the United States Attorney's Office heads a task force comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that partners with non-governmental organizations who provide victim-services.

The law enforcement arm of the task force consists of several primary agencies:

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security InvestigationsHuman_Trafficking_Logo
  • U.S. Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General
  • U.S. Department of Labor - Division of Wage and Hour
  • U.S. Department of State - Office of Diplomatic Security
  • St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
  • St. Louis County Police

The victim services arm of the task force is the Rescue Service Team (REST). REST consists of numerous non-governmental organizations that are leaders in the field of providing services to victims of human trafficking. Some of those organizations include, among others:

  • Catholic Charities Southside
  • Healing Action Network
  • International Institute
  • YWCA Sexual Assault Center

The Human Trafficking Task Force is led by the U.S. Attorney's Office Human Trafficking Coordinator Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins.

If you have a tip regarding possible human trafficking, please call the hotline at 1-888-428-7581.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESS RELEASES

  • Scott F. Burow - Former deputy state juvenile officer sentenced to seven years in prison for engaging in illegal sex acts with a 15-year-old who was living in an Illinois group home (June 13, 2023).
  • Matthew N. Skaggs - A former police officer was indicted on sex trafficking charges involving minors (April 6, 2023).
  • Carrie Little - Olivette woman indicted and accused of coercing a minor into engaging in prostitution (April 28, 2023).
  • Donald Fields & Theodore Sartori - Two Franklin County men have been indicted on sex trafficking charges (Dec. 20, 2022).
  • Jeremy Rogers - Chesterfield man sentenced to 10 years in prison for sex trafficking of child (June 29, 2021).
  • La'Ron Clower - St. Louis man sentenced to 4 years in prison on racketeering and prostitution charges (April 17, 2019). 
  • Nakia Phillips - Farmington man sentenced to 22 years in prison for forcing a teen into prostitution (Dec. 19, 2018).
  • Sean O’Donnell - St. Louis man sentenced to 5 years on sex trafficking charges (March 16, 2018).
  • Thomas Szczerba - Houston man sentenced to 11+ years for prostitution crimes. (May 15, 2017). 
  • Kyle Maurice Parks - Ohio man sentenced to 25 years in prison for prostituting two teens (April 20, 2017).
  • Reginald Williams - Area man arrested and charged with transporting a minor for prostitution (August 12, 2014).
  • Jamal Brown - Chicago area man indicted on sex trafficking related charges (July 3, 2013).
  • Carl Matthews - Local man pleads guilty to sex trafficking charges (March 15, 2013).
  • Leon Pullen - Former Uplands Park police officer sentenced on civil rights violations involving escorts (Jan. 28, 2011).
  • Darril Gray and John Geiler - Two area men sentenced on federal juvenile prostitution charges (Sept. 14, 2007).
  • Johnnie Evans and Levorn Evans - "Evans Family" members sentenced as part of interstate prostitution ring (July 19, 2000)
  • Evans Family - Six Minneapolis men sentenced as part of interstate prostitution ring (April 7, 2000)
Updated June 21, 2023