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Human trafficking expands beyond immigrants, young people and sexual work

Brent Batten
Naples Daily News Columnist

Accounts earlier this month of a sex trafficking ring operating in Southwest Florida described a problem firmly rooted in the Hispanic community.

Victims brought into the U.S. illegally, held captive by Hispanic traffickers. Language barriers, a fear of deportation and a distrust of authorities all conspiring to keep the victims from accessing help.

But victim advocates say they have seen a shift in the nature of human trafficking in the region.

Operations such as the one uncovered through a two-year investigation in Collier, Lee, Hendry, Polk and Miami-Dade counties still exist, as evidenced by the arrests of 15 people and the rescues of six victims who were brought to the U.S. illegally. But no longer is the crime confined to the immigrant community, according to advocates who routinely work with sex trafficking victims.

Over the past several years, more and more victims are women who were born in the U.S., they say.

“When we first started in 2004-2005, we saw almost all the victims were foreign-born,” said Nola Theiss, executive director of the Human Trafficking Awareness Partnership in Fort Myers.

“Now a lot of the victims are our own children,” Theiss said. “Traffickers realize it’s cheaper to get someone who’s already here than paying to smuggle them into the country.”

Linda Oberhaus, executive director of the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Collier County, has seen the same thing.

“People seem to think it’s international,” she said. “When I first saw the story, I thought, ‘That’s going to perpetuate the stereotype (that human trafficking is isolated to the immigrant community),’ ” Oberhaus said.

But at the shelter, which has served more than two dozen victims of sex trafficking in the past few years, the majority of victims are women from the United States.

About 17 percent of the cases originated in Collier County, 25 percent originated elsewhere in Florida, 50 percent elsewhere in the United States and only 7 percent were international cases, Oberhaus said.

“It hasn’t always been that way,” Oberhaus said.

She agrees with the assessment that traffickers find it’s cheaper to exploit victims already here. “Traffickers know what to look for. They’re not looking for bright, college-bound girls. They’re looking for girls with vulnerabilities,” she said.

Young women who have been abused, run away from home, have addictions or mental health issues are prime targets for traffickers.

“There are so many vulnerable people walking among us,” Oberhaus said.

“There are a lot of ways victims can be manipulated by the traffickers,” Theiss said.

Anna Rodriguez, founder of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, cautions that other stereotypes about human trafficking don’t always bear out in real life.

Victims aren’t always young.

“Everybody has concentrated so much on the minors,” Rodriguez said. “There’s very little services for the adult victims.”

And while sex trafficking grabs headlines and turns stomachs, most victims of human trafficking are forced into other types of labor, including in the hotel, restaurant and construction industries, Rodriguez said.

Theiss said traffickers share common traits.

“They’re evil people who are looking for victims because every victim brings them money. They don’t care about the wellbeing of the victims.”

The recent case in Southwest Florida, while not necessarily indicative of  the trends the advocates are seeing, can elevate awareness of the problem, Theiss said.

“This is a prime time to teach people about human trafficking. People need to know,” she said.

Connect with Brent Batten at bebatten@naplesnews.com, on Twitter@NDN_BrentBatten and atfacebook.com/ndnbrentbatten.

Mending Broken Hearts Luncheon

By Jean Amodea
Daily News correspondent

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s signature fundraiser, Mending Broken Hearts with Hope luncheon March 12 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort raised $741,591 this year, drawing 720 benefactors at $350 per ticket.

“This is the event’s 15th year, and it has grown in scope and success. It is this sort of community support that has provided the wind beneath The Shelter’s wings for more than 25 years,” said Executive Director, Linda Oberhaus.

“We are humbled and inspired by the confidence the community has placed in us, and it is our resolve to continue to be faithful stewards of that trust.”

The proceeds will benefit The Shelter’s mission “to protect, prevent and prevail over domestic violence through advocacy, empowerment and social change.”

About 720 altruistic supporters, dressed in frocks and suits with complementing or matching handbags and shoes representing virtually every major designer, made an eye-appealing entry into the pre-event area.

While sipping iced tea and cocktails, some guests perused more than 100 silent auction items from local eateries, businesses and spas, while others shopped a Designer Boutique, also open the day before the event that featured local and national vendors.

Among the top items up for bid were six course dinner with wine pairings for 30 by executive chef John Welch at Avenue 5 ($7500 value); an 18-karat white gold and diamond butterfly necklace from Yamron Jewelers ($3000 value); and a luxury motor yacht Barton and Gray Mariners Club Cruise for up to three couples for two to three hours ($3500 value).

A special drawing of a 24-month lease for a 2015 Mercedes E350 Sport Sedan ($19,900 value) and a $1,000 Saks gift card added drama to the event.

Just after noon, resort staff chimed guests into the massive reception tent, replete with glistening chandeliers.

Tables dressed in ivory linens were dotted with a fluff of purple tissue from gift bags placed atop white garden chairs. Provided by Chico’s FAS Inc., which shared signature sponsorship with Arthrex Inc., each bag contained a necklace and a glittery heart pin.

In addition to table floral arrangements of colored hydrangeas and tulips, elevated wired, bird cage style centerpieces festooned with hanging ivy and feathered craft birds, created and underwritten by Shelter trustees Candace Raveis and Annette Pakula, were spectacular room focal points.

After opening remarks by NBC-2 News anchor Kellie Burns, special recognition was given to event chairwoman Gwyn Sanford, vice chairwomen Candace Raveis and Bev Haas and honorary chairwoman Dr. Mana P. Holtz.

Enjoyed by guests, a luncheon of white miso brushed salmon, sesame basmati rice cake, coconut broth, shiitake scallion and edamame was followed by a sweet finish — a milk chocolate tart with passion fruit and mango coulis.

Afterward, Oberhaus presented the Shelter address, followed by keynote speaker, Lynn Rosenthal, director of external affairs for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Washington, D.C., office and former White House adviser.

For more information, call The Shelter for Abused Women & Children at 239-775-3862 or visit www.naplesshelter.org