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It's truly hard to believe that something like this can go in the modern U.S., but a sex trade ring was broken up this week in Houston, and several suspects are in custody.
The sex trade ring involved young girls who were allegedly pistol-whipped, taken from their homes and forced into prostitution. Women and girls as young as 16 were victims in the sex trade.
Fellow examiners Sarah Estrella as well as William Pfeifer, Jr. have more info on the case.
Arrests of five people were made Monday and Tuesday, and a sixth remains on the run.
The Houston Press reports that John Butler, 47, William Hornbeak, 34, Jamine Lake, 27, Andre McDaniels, 39, and Kristen Land, 28, all of Houston, as well as Tulsa, Okla., resident Ronnie Presley, 35, are named as suspects in the case. Presley remains at large.
The suspects allegedly hid their sex trade ring by using businesses like massage parlors, modeling studios and health spas.
They are charged with conspiracy to traffic women and children for the purposes of commercialized sex; sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; and other offenses, according to the police station.