Growing up as an only child, Jeni always wanted an older sister.
When Stacy asked to hang out, Jeni was excited.

Stacy bought Jeni clothes and took her to movies. She thought, “Maybe she’ll be the big sister I never had!”

After two weeks spending lots of time together, Stacy took Jeni to a friend’s house. When they arrived, Jeni thought, “This doesn’t look like a place Stacy would hang out,” but she didn’t want to ruin her
friendship, so she went in.

Inside were members of a gang. They acted friendly at first and gave
Jeni drugs to help her “loosen up.” Then they sexually abused her and locked her in a bathroom. They told Jeni she had to have sex with men for money or they would kill her. Jeni was terrified, so she did what they said.

After two long weeks of abuse, law enforcement intervened.They recovered Jeni and arrested her traffickers.

Our Victim Services team helped Jeni get all the care she needed and stood by her side through the court proceedings. Her traffickers looked on as she bravely recounted the horrors of her experience to the judge and jury.
Stacy and three of the gang members are currently serving time in federal prison and Jeni is doing well.

Jeni was exploited, used, and abused. She was traumatized but now she is
free and has a new life. There are thousands of people like Jeni who are still trapped, living with no hope for escape.