Trial Underway For Philadelphia Man Charged With Human Trafficking
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Trial is underway in a federal case of alleged human trafficking for sex.
KYW's Tony Hanson reports the defendant, from Philadelphia, allegedly used force and threats to control his prostitutes, including a girl who was just 16-years-old at the time.
The first witness, the juvenile, now 25, has testified she worked for defendant Rahim McIntyre for about two and a half weeks, all the money went to the defendant. She says McIntyre was very controlling, she saw him beat another woman with the heel of a shoe she bought without permission.
The witness says they needed permission even to eat. She fled in the middle of the night. And she has told the jury McIntyre flaunted his many ostentatious rings purchased with money from their work.
But the defense attorney, who has conceded McIntyre was a pimp, has challenged the credibility of the alleged victims, suggested they are trying to avoid prosecution, and he has told the jury the prosecution will not be able to prove its case.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty.
