COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina today commemorates National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, as part of the 11th annual National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and affirms its continued commitment to work with federal, state, and local partners in combatting human trafficking in all its forms.
“Human trafficking is nothing short of modern-day slavery. It strips away the most fundamental promises of our country – life, liberty, and the right to be free,” said U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis. “Traffickers prey upon the vulnerable and push them into forced labor or commercial sex. That is why the fight against human trafficking is one of this office’s top priorities, and we must do everything in our power to bring swift prosecution against traffickers and to seek justice for survivors. We will work with our federal, state, and local partners to relentlessly pursue, prosecute, and punish those who exploit the most vulnerable in our society.”
Along with the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina is committed to continuing its victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to detecting hidden human trafficking crimes, holding perpetrators accountable, and restoring the lives of survivors, all while strengthening strategic anti-trafficking partnerships.
Federal agencies in the District of South Carolina, in conjunction with state and local partners, have investigated hundreds of leads linked to sex and labor trafficking in the last year alone. These investigations have resulted in numerous federal and state human trafficking prosecutions. Some of the major human trafficking cases brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the last year include the following:
In cases where a defendant has not pled guilty or has not otherwise been convicted, the charges in the indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
During this, the 11th annual National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina reaffirms its commitment to combatting the heinous crime of human trafficking, holding perpetrators accountable, and seeking justice for survivors. To report a tip or ask for help, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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