10 Human Trafficking Stories in America

The 10 human trafficking stories in America that we shared below are a stark reminder that the world’s superpower still has a lot to do to improve the quality of life of its people and stop one of the most horrific crimes one can think of (read our article about the top US cities for human trafficking in 2019). I would be hard-pressed to think of a crime worse than human trafficking; you are probably smirking right now at my naivete, considering that cannibalism, murder, rape and child molestation still exist. And while I agree those are terrible crimes as well, all the other crimes occur for a specific time period, and are then over, no matter the terrible consequences that linger on for years or even decades afterwards. However, human trafficking takes away the most basic right of a person, their freedom, permanently. And for me, that’s one of the most terrifying things I can think of.

Human trafficking is a global phenomena, with over 40 million (MILLION) victims, and is especially dominant in Asia; if you want to hear about human trafficking news in Asia, head on over to this link. The reason for its dominance in Asia is mainly because most of the countries there are developing and hence, it’s easier to slip through the cracks and commit crimes with little to no repercussions. However, we’re focusing more on one of the most developed countries in the world, one where human trafficking detailed stories should not exist, and yet, sadly they do. Human trafficking in the United States is a major issue, and unless it’s resolved soon, horror stories of human trafficking in 2018 and 2019 and further years will continue occurring, some of which you can read at 10 real life human trafficking stories.

I had the unfortunate job of collecting some of the most heart-wrenching stories I’ve ever read, stories which were incredibly painful to read. But this is an important task as only when everyone is aware of the brutality victims of human trafficking have to go through will change be sought and made. It is incredible that some of the worst human trafficking stories are from America, where freedom is still the dream. Before I begin, I would recommend that you keep a box of tissues by your side and another tab open with pictures of puppies, which may make this slightly, insignificantly easier. Or better yet, don’t read the rest of this article because these are really horrifying stories that will make your blood boil and may permanently change your opinion about the human race.

10. Shandra Woworuntu

Shandra Woworuntu came to America because it was the land of promise; instead, she became a victim of sex trafficking and lost everything. Shandra came to the US for a job in a hotel, but instead was taken to a brothel, and forced to have sex with dozens of men without being paid anything. However, she was lucky, insofar as you can call a sex trafficking victim lucky, that she was able to break free and run away and get help. In fact, she was even instrumental in getting her kidnappers thrown in jail!

9. Margeaux Gray

It’s not just random, strange looking men you have to be on the lookout for to avoid being sucked in to sex trafficking, sometimes the trafficker can be someone very close to you, as evidenced by the case of Margeaux Gray, who was trafficked at the age of 5 by someone she trusted. Even though she was able to escape, one of the very few lucky ones, she still has to live with the trauma of the abuse she suffered throughout her childhood.

8. Ali

It’s hard to find victims of sex trafficking speak out about it, which is why it wasn’t easy to gather 10 human trafficking stories in America. Ali, who was from a stable home, got addicted to heroin and started living in the streets, where she became entangled with human traffickers, and explained how they got a hold over their victims, to the point that she often felt obligated to do stuff for them because they were providing for her, even though she was a captive! It’s not clear when she escaped, but now she works at a treatment center and helps the other victims.

7. Anonymous

Another story where the sex traffickers were the family of the victim, this victim’s parents would earn money from strangers who abused their daughter, starting from when she was five years old. She was finally able to escape after several years of abuse, when her pimp caught her cheating on him and just kicked her out. Kind of anti-climatic end right? But that is the difference between the real word and the movies.

6. Christina

Christina may not be her real name, but her story is definitely real and every bit as terrifying as the others on the list. She was ensnared in the trade after her boyfriend bought her gifts, before telling her she had to pay him back and he’d kill her and her family if she tried to run away. You know how she escaped? She was busted along with her pimp for a fraud her pimp had been conducting along with trafficking, after which she was able to start a new life.

5. Sara

Another woman trapped in the sex trafficking business by a man whom she thought was her boyfriend, Sara had to spend 6 agonizing, tortured months servicing men against her will. She initially applied for a modeling job on the advice of her boyfriend, who it turns out had his own interests in mind. The job did not exist and she was eventually trapped as a sex worker. Thankfully, she managed to escape and find shelter.

4. Kendall

I don’t know how parents can even think of giving up their child for any reason whatsoever, let alone selling them as a sex trafficker. However, if anything proves that human beings can be absolutely awful, this story, and this article are compelling evidence. Kendall was sold by her parents to a life of serving as a sex slave to the rich and famous, a life which included black tie events and private planes, but the lack of any freedom. It’s been 5 years since she left that life, and I for one hope that she never has to go back to it.

3. Mary

This is a less typical sex trafficking story, in that Mary lived with her husband for 16 years, who was abuse to her in every way possible, even fathering four kids during the period. Further, whenever he was in need of money, he would have marry service other men. Fortunately, the police were suspicious of Mary’s husband Darrel when they were pulled over for a traffic violation, and directed Mary to a shelter, allowing her to escape her life in hell.

2. Natalia

Many women are lured to the United States with the promise of a better life, be it a safety, better education or a better job, and once they reach the promised land, they are trapped to the whims of their captors. This happened with Natalia too, who went from Ghana to the US in search for better educational opportunities, only to be a slave to a family for six years, before finally escaping and alerting the neighbors who called the authorities.

1. Keisha

The final one of the 10 human trafficking stores in America shows that simply escaping once is often not enough and can become a cycle of constant abuse. Keisha, who ran away from her foster family because of sexual advances made on her, relied on a man called Mastur D, who promised to get her back to her family but only if she was willing to sleep with other men. She was then arrested for prostitution which gave her a chance to break away. However, she was then sent straight back to the foster family, and she relied on Mastur D again, going back to prostitution, for which she was arrested again. This time, she realized that she was the only one who could break the cycle and sought help with Polaris, an organization dedicated to tackling human trafficking and helping the survivors.