Human Trafficking:
The New Game in Town

Background
• Instructor Byron Olivere
• Grand Prairie PD 2002-2018
• U.T. Arlington PD 1992-2002
• Experience
– Supervision
– SWAT Sniper
– Tarrant County Narcotics Task Force Detective
– Investigator

2015 Texas Heat Map

2016 U.S. Heat Map

U.T. Austin Study

Penal Code
• Trafficking of a Person
– PC 20A.02
• (3) Traffics another person and, through force, fraud, or
coercion, causes the trafficked person to engage in
conduct prohibited by PC 43.02 (Prostitution) - PC 43.03
Promotion of Prostitution - PC 43.04 Aggravated
Promotion of Prostitution - PC 43.05 Compelling
Prostitution

Force
• Force: beatings, rape, physical confinement,
kidnapping, denial of food/water, denial of
medial care/medications, denial of
contraceptives/condoms, forced abortion,
forced to give up custody of children, forced to
use drugs, forced participation in violent or
sexual acts, forced to lie.

Fraud
• Fraud: deceptive employment offers,
deceptive marriages, deceptive promises of a
better life.

Coercion
• Coercion: psychological or mental abuse,
document confiscation, fines for rule
violations, control of children, photographing
in illegal situations, forced to watch
pornography to learn prostitution or stripping,
forced to meet quotas, control of money.

Trafficking Continued
• Can be used against the person causing the
person to engage, or a person receiving a
benefit from participating in a venture that
involves the described activity.
• Adult – F2
• Child (Younger than 18) – F1
– Does not matter if the defendant knows the age of
the victim

Compelling Prostitution
• PC 43.05
• Knowingly causes another by force, threat, or
fraud to commit prostitution
• Adult – F2
• Child (Younger than 18) – F1

Promotion of Prostitution
• PC 43.03
• Other than a prostitute a person Knowingly
receives money or other property pursuant to
an agreement to participate in the proceeds of
prostitution
• Solicits another to engage in sexual conduct
with another person for compensation
• Adult – MA
• Child – (Younger than 18) F2

$$$$$$$
• Estimated 100,000 children in the United
States involved in sex trade
• Sex Trafficking makes up 71% of reported
trafficking cases
• Estimated that 4.5 million are in forced sex
exploitation globally
• (Polaris Project 2015)

$$$$$$$
• Very Low Risk
• Very High Reward
• Top 3 most profitable transnational crimes
1. Drug Trafficking
2. Human Trafficking
3. Illegal Arms Trade

Crime Theory
• Contemporary Crime Theory:
– Traffickers rationalize the gains to be made from
the sale and enslavement of humans against the
risk of detection and apprehension by law
enforcement.
If gains outweigh the risk, human trafficking
will continue to thrive.

$$$$$$$
• Pimps in Dallas earn an average weekly gross cash
intake of $12,025, according to the Urban Institute’s
Justice Policy Center, which conducted a study that
estimates the underground commercial sex economy
in eight major cities. Among the seven other cities,
the highest average weekly earnings per pimp are in
Atlanta with $32,833 and the lowest average weekly
earnings are in San Diego with $11,129.41
• (Texas DPS 2014 Assessing the Threat of Human
Trafficking in Texas)

$$$$$$$
• Sex traffickers in Texas range from individuals to
organized enterprises. Many gangs in Texas and
elsewhere in the United States are currently engaged
in sex trafficking and compelling prostitution.
Individual gang members also engage in this activity,
possibly independent of the operations of the gang;
we have limited information regarding Mexican
cartels directly involved in identified sex trafficking
operations in Texas.
• (Texas DPS 2014 Assessing the Threat of Human
Trafficking in Texas)

$$$$$$$
• (U) Throughout the United States, gangs have
expanded into human trafficking involving minors
and adults due to the potential for high,
renewable profit and low risk of detection. Gangs
are frequently recruiting victims through false
promises of wealth and affection, but
continuously compel the services of their victims
through forceful means.
• (Texas DPS 2014 Assessing the Threat of Human
Trafficking in Texas)

$$$$$$$
• (U) Gangs involved in sex trafficking in Texas
• • Barrio Azteca
• • Black Gangster Disciples
• • Bloods
• • Crips
• • Sureños
• • Tango Blast
• (Texas DPS 2014 Assessing the Threat of Human
Trafficking in Texas)

Polywood Crip Case

Why Its Easy
• No equipment needed
• Just need a “Bottom Girl” or a Associate with
who can succeed in the “Grooming Process”

The Grooming Process
• The perpetrators of trafficking employ a “grooming
process” to draw their victims away from their homes or to
gain the trust and dependency of young victims who may
have run away from home. The first step is often the
development of a relationship with an older man, who the
victim comes to regard as her “boyfriend”.
• The perpetrator assesses the victim’s needs (vulnerabilities)
and offers material items as “acts of love”. The adolescent
female may be enticed to begin a sexual relationship with
her “boyfriend”. The adolescent will be encouraged to stay
away from home for increasingly longer periods of time,
eventually leading to her not returning home at all.

The Process
• The process of Human Trafficking can be
broken into 4 categories
– 1. The Victim
– 2. The Trafficker
– 3. The Grooming Process
– 4. The Customer

The Victim
• Victims do not choose to remain enslaved.
• They do NOT however, attempt to escape for
fear of harm for themselves or their families.
Victims are under control, or under the
illusion they are under the control of
traffickers at all times.

Control of the Victim
• First achieved through false sense of security
• Routine violence or threats of violence
(physical assault or rape also used to “break-
in” victim)
• Restricting movement of victim
• Brainwashing

Control of the Victim
• Psychological manipulation
• Isolation
• Constant supervision
• Dependence on drugs and alcohol
In essence, three main elements are used to
control victims: force, fraud, and coercion.

What to Look for…
• Tattoos/Brands
• Do not have their own identification
• Look to someone else to answer questions
• Do not have a purse or any normal personal
belongings
• Sex paraphernalia
• Laptops
• No Vehicle

Branding

Evidence
• Obviously, not every person who has a tattoo
similar to these is being trafficked, but it is a clue
to dig a little deeper
• While you can encounter a trafficking victim or
trafficker on any type of call, you should be more
aware during:
– Disturbance calls at Hotel/Motels
– Noise Violations with multiple people at
Hotels/Motels
– Women walking parking lots at Truck Stops or busy
convenient stores

Department Policy
• In the event you locate a Human Trafficking
ring, what is your first step?
• Do you have an in house Detective with
training in this field?
– Human Trafficking investigations have many
caveats that make them much different then a
“basic” sexual assault investigation

Investigation
• A Human Trafficking investigation can include
many aspects including:
– Multiple Suspects
– Multiple Victims
– Multiple Jurisdictions/States
– Multiple types or crimes encompassing Human
Trafficking
• Kidnapping/False Imprisonment/Assault/Aggravated
Assault/Sexual Assault/Aggravated Sexual Assault/etc…
• Must be collaboration

Advertisement
• The world of Sex Human Trafficking hides online,
and a majority of investigations start there
• www.backpage.com is the top website to find
victims of Human Trafficking
• Backpage cooperates very well with Law
Enforcement subpoenas in comparison to other
websites
• Other websites include; www.myredbook.com,
www.mocospace.com, and www.facebook.com
etc..

Approach
• Use calm and non-threating statements
• Males already have a huge dis-advantage with
a female trafficking victim, adding the uniform
and badge make it almost impossible to get
the truth
• Most of the victims have not had positive
encounters with the Police in the past
• Tevla Story

Challenge in Dealing with Victims
Frequently victims:
• Distrust outsiders, especially law enforcement
• Do not self-identify as victims; often blame
themselves for predicaments
• Although many victims have been beaten and/or
raped, current situation may still be better than
where they came from
• May be unaware of rights or may have been
intentionally misinformed about rights in this
country
• Fear for safety of families

Forensic Interview
• Police Officers or Detective should never
interview a minor that is a possible trafficked
victim. Basic information is ok, name, date of
birth, address and phone number.
• A forensic interview should be arranged as soon
as possible. Forensic interviewers are the
experts. What questions they ask, they have to
testify for in court. SO DON’T INTERVIEW A
MINOR! Next slide is possible questions that you
might give the forensic interviewer as a guide.

1. How did you meet your (friend/pimp/controller)?
2. Did the pimp have a nickname, street name or alias?
3. Did the pimp insist that you adopt a street name, nickname, or alias?
4. Did the pimp move you around to different locations? If so, how did you
travel? How often?
5. Did the pimp make you get a tattoo with his/her name, a phrase or symbol
or mark you in any other way (branding), ect?
6. How were the commercial sexual services advertised? Where did it take
place? Do you know a phone number that was used to advertise online?
7. Were you ever physically hit or slapped by the controller or anybody else?
Can you tell me about a time when that happened?
8. Did you ever see any other person being physically hit by the controller or
anybody else? Can you tell about a time when that happened?
9. Did the controller compel multiple people to engage in commercial sex?
What were their ages?
10. How were you recruited? Through the pimp or through other victims?
Were you ever asked to recruit other people?
11. Was there any other criminal activity present (gangs, drugs, theft)? Did
anyone ever pressure you to engage in any sexual acts against your will?
12. Did anyone ever take photos of you and if so, what did they use them for?
Were these photos ever sent to other people or posted on an online forum
(Craig’s List, Backpage)?
13. Did anyone ever force you to engage in sexual acts with friends or business
associates for favors/money?
14. Were you required to earn a certain amount of money/meet a nightly
quota by engaging in commercial sex for someone? What happen if you did
not meet this quota?
15. What were your expectations of what would happen if you left this
person/situation or if you didn’t do what this person told you to do?
16. Did anyone ever threaten you or intimidate you?

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Eccie Review

Investigative Questions
• Were they forced to have sex as part of
employment?
• Can they freely leave their place of
employment?
• What happens if they make a mistake at
work?
• Does the employer hold wages?
• Are there guards or video cameras to monitor
their activities?

Investigative Questions
• Did they come to the U.S. for a specific job or
purpose?
• What type of employment do they have?
• Who is their employer?
• How much money are they paid a
week/month?
• Do they owe any money and/or services to
their employer?
• Is there an employment contract? What are
the terms?

Investigative Questions
• Has victim or their family been threatened
with harm if they try to leave?
• What is their understanding of what would
happen if they tried to leave?
• Have they been physically harmed, deprived
of food, water, sleep, medical care, or other
life necessities?

Investigative Questions
• Are they allowed to buy clothing and food on
their own?
• Can they come and go as they please?
• Can they freely contact (phone, write) friends
and family?
• Are they free to have a relationship with
someone?
• Are they isolated from the community?
• Can they bring friends home?

The Trafficker
• Almost always believe they are the smartest
person in the room, and usually refer to
themselves as “business men” or “rap artists”
• Local Traffickers are seen as a traditional pimp
• Traffickers are usually male, but can be females
• Usually have experience in narcotic trafficking
and or gang life
• Females usually serve as recruiters or the
“bottom girl”

The Trafficker
• Low risk of being apprehended or punished
– False sense of security
– Law enforcements preoccupation with sale of
drugs and weapons
• Number of people working Narcotics/Gangs?
• Number of people working VICE?
• Very high profit margin
– Dope can only be sold once, humans can be sold
over and over to a number of different customers

Terminology
• 304: Referring to a “Hoe”
• Bottom Girl: the top ranking girl with a pimp, also
doubles as a recruiter
• Buster: a wanna-be pimp
• Curb Crawler: Corner prostitute
• Daddy: what the females call their pimp
• John-Trick-Date: Customer of the female
• (Urban dictionary 2015)

Terminology
• Lot Lizard: Female working a truck stop parking
lot
• Peel a trick: When the female steals from the
customer
• Rasberry: a female working for a dope fix
• Rent Boy: male prostitute
• Stable: a group of females that are controlled by
a single pimp
• (Urban dictionary 2015)

Enforcer
• Many traffickers employ an enforcer to keep an
eye on the victims and make sure that they do
not get robbed or try to leave
• May be called a “guard,” or “roof”
• Provides protection for place of business
• Minimal protection provided to victim
• Enforce demands placed on victims
• Verify victims do not escape
• Make sure customer pays for services

Why the Trafficker Thrives
• Unclear targets for investigation
• Lack of tools by law enforcement to conduct
effective investigations
• Lack of trained law enforcement

The Customer
• Can be any age and any race
• Are willing to pay for services without the fear
of being caught
• No way to really characterize the customer,
they come from all backgrounds

The Customer
• The only way to truly impact the rise of
human trafficking is to reduce the demand
– As long as there are numerous people who are
willing to pay cash for illegal services, there are
traffickers who will exploit the market

Where are the Customers
• Superbowl
• All Star Games
• Horse Races
• Concerts
• Large Award Ceremonies
• Truck Stops
• Hotel/Motels

Investigations
• Be proactive
• Collaboration with other law enforcement
agencies both local and Federal
• Collaboration with social service providers
• Safeguarding the rights of victims and
ensuring their safety
• Awareness of legal issues
• Engaging the community

Investigations
• Allow enough time
• Do not make promises
• Be aware of Stockholm Syndrome
• (feelings of trust or affection felt in certain
cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a
victim toward a captor.)
• Cultural/Religious background awareness

Investigations
• Interview victim and trafficker separately
• Find a trustworthy interpreter
• Give victim choice of male or female
interviewer
• Informal conversation vs. Direct Questioning

Investigations
• Understand that these types of cases take a lot of
time, and a lot of work
• Interviews with the victim need to be done
correctly the first time to reduce the stress you
are placing on them leading up to a court date
• Understand that a large number of victims will
recant their stories due to fear of retaliation and
being un-able to acclimate themselves with the
real world

OPS
• Resources
– HSI
– FBI
– ATF
– Adjoining Jurisdiction

OPS
Case Agent
UC
Entry Team
Counter Surveillance
Transport Team
Who picks the roles?
Who runs the op?

Online Escort Sites
• Based on Department policies and website filters
for MDC access, Officers should be familiar with
online prostitution sites.
• Look at these sites and become familiar with the
people posting online is a great starting point for
self initiated activity
– Learn Hotel/Motel furniture
– Understand that these types of investigations usually
include illegal narcotics, guns, gang members, and
other low life criminals

Final Thoughts
• Human Trafficking is a horrendous crime that we
should be focused on not only as Police Officers,
but as a human in general
• No one, no matter their background or prior
criminal transgressions, deserves to be a sex slave
• Traffickers are the worst of the worst, they steal
peoples lives, make them feel as if they have no
self worth, and force them to be raped over and
over with no concern for their mental and
physical well being

Final Thoughts
• What would you want done if it were your
child, sister, mother, etc…
• Use common sense
• Do not let your guard down and become so
compassionate you lose your safety and
tactics
• WIN and Go Home