Group Fights Collin Co Child Sex Trafficking
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MCKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) - Bold crimes are happening in plain sight, causing people to join together for the common goal of ending child sex trafficking in Collin County.
Experts told CBS 11 News that children in vulnerable situations can get swept up into a trafficking ring within 48 hours, and motels in McKinney along the North Central Expressway can make for 'easy way stations' in that process. Police are on alert for suspicious behavior and implore the public to keep an eye out, too.
Motels, convenience stores, even areas outside big box retailers are places in plain sight where sex traffickers prey on vulnerable children. One problem Stephanie Henry-Ricchi sees in Collin County is that some can't believe it's happening here.
"There's no way that we want to think that anything like sex trade goes on in our area, but even the people that are elected to take care of our city are recognizing it," Henry-Ricchi said.
The author and nationally recognized activist for victims of exploitation didn't have to look far from her hometown in McKinney to see young people in need.
"The 3000 kids that are homeless in Collin County, a thousand of those stand to be picked up by a trafficker, by a pimp," Henry-Ricchi said.
That's why she founded the Activism for Empowerment Task Force to bring together multiple groups that care about children and coordinate efforts to specifically prevent child trafficking. Henry-Ricchi says new websites often pop up selling children and within four hours can receive as many as 600 hits.
"So out of 600 hits on a website like that, those purchasers have to go somewhere to complete the transaction. Where's that going to be? It's happening in McKinney. It's happening in Plano," Henry-Ricchi said.
Experts are asking everyone to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior, but they warn not to approach a suspected trafficking victim because you could put them and yourself at risk. Instead call 911, so you can get trained professionals to intervene.
If you'd like to learn more about what you can do to help, you can download the Activism For Empowerment app for your smartphone and click on: activismforempowerment.com.
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