Illinois man charged with trafficking woman from West Virginia for prostitution
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man from west suburban Aurora has been charged with trafficking an 18-year-old woman from West Virginia and forcing her into prostitution.
Christopher Munger, 43, is charged with one count of trafficking in persons, two counts of involuntary servitude, and one count of promoting prostitution.
DuPage County prosecutors said Munger met an 18-year-old woman online, drove to West Virginia where she was living in a group home, and brought her back to Aurora, where he arranged for her to meet with others for paid sex acts.
The woman was reported missing when she did not return to the group home where she lived.
Prosecutors said, on Nov. 22, Aurora police officers investigating online ads for prostitution were led to Munger's address. On Wednesday, undercover officers conducted a sting operation at Munger's home, arranging to meet the woman for sex.
At the time of the appointment, an officer gave the woman $400, which she slid under a door inside the home. After a brief conversation, the undercover officer told the woman he was going to leave, and when he left the room, he saw Munger picking up the money he had slid under the door.
Munger was arrested and at his first court appearance on Saturday, a judge granted prosecutors' request to have him held in jail until he faces trial.
"The charges against Mr. Munger are appalling," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. "The alleged exploitation of this young woman, whom he allegedly brought from her home to a place where she knew no one and forced her into the sex for his own monetary gain, should send a chill down the spine of each and every one of us."
Munger is due back in court on Jan. 6 for an arraignment hearing.
