Wichita Falls native and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today revealed his Fugitive and Special Investigation Units arrested Deondre J. Jenkins, 27, on felony human trafficking charges. The victim is a 16-year old female runaway who the defendant trafficked and forced into prostitution.
The investigation commenced with a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Based on the referral Abbott's office identified a 16-year old runaway girl who appeared to be engaging in prostitution. The investigation further determined that Jenkins had recruited the young woman and forced her to engage in at least 100 paid sexual encounters. It is also alleged by the Texas Attorney General (OAG) that Jenkins kept the proceeds for himself.
According to SIU investigators Jenkins transported the victim to Austin, San Antonio and Dallas. Reports show he used online advertisements to solicit paid sexual encounters with the girl.
After tracing his most recent online advertisement to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, SIU officers with help from the Texas Department of Public Safety made contact with the Milwaukee Police Department. Milwaukee officers found the victim and took her into protective custody based on information provided by Texas law enforcement officials. She was then transported back to Austin.
Jenkins was arrested Wednesday when he was returned to Texas.
The defendant has been charged with one count of trafficking a child for sexual purpose, a first degree felony punishable by up to life in prison. He is now incarcerated in the Travis County, Texas jail with a $75,000 bond.
Human trafficking is a major problem in the Lone Star State as well as the entire nation. Even the Super Bowl is an event which reportedly is afflicted by many cases of kidnapped young women being forced into sex by traffickers.
In response to this, the State of Texas took steps to fight human trafficking by creating the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force. Abbott chairs the Task Force.
The human trafficking slavery business is a blight not only on Texas, but also the entire United States.
Any readers who believe they may have knowledge about any human trafficking crimes should contact the Texas Attorney General's Office immediately.
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