COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A girl and two women have been rescued after being forced to work as sex slaves according to Columbus Police.
28-year-old Antwan D. Williams Sr. from Canal Winchester has been indicted on seven charges including promoting prostitution and pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor, among others. Police said Williams Sr. advertised his victims online for commercial sex and child pornography. The victims include a minor girl from Youngstown, a woman from Columbus, and a woman from the state of Georgia.
Police said a vigilant Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the signs of human trafficking and helped saved the victims.
Jessica Graham with Survivor’s Ink, a non-profit that helps victims cover up brandings put on by traffickers, teaches everyone from sorority girls to police officers to know the warning signs of human trafficking.
“Training everyone to understand to know what to look for and know what they’re looking at,” she said. “Get out there and get educated because a lot of people are blind to it.”
She also spends a lot of time out on the streets; trying to help victims too scared and too broken to speak up.
“The one thing that these women are dying for is for love. Somebody to care about them and there are people out there that care,” said Graham. “They need to know that and that’s one thing that they don’t because they don’t trust anyone because they don’t think anyone cares.”
Police said a Sheriff’s Deputy who knew what to look for tipped off the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force which led to the girl and women’s freedom.
Graham said so many are still in danger.
“To any of those women who are out there and are suffering you know all I have to say is there are people that care,” she said.
The Ohio Human Trafficking Commission said 13 is the most common age Ohio youth become victims of child sex trafficking.Nationally there are more than 100,000 estimated child victims.
The Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force said Columbus ranks 4th in the nation for human trafficking. There are many warning signs of human trafficking.
They include someone who:
- is not allowed in public alone
- not allowed to speak for themselves
- avoids eye contact, is fearful, submissive or tense
- afraid of law enforcement
If you suspect human trafficking call the national hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Williams Sr. is being held at the Franklin County Jail before his scheduled arraignment on Wednesday.