Florida 13-year-old Nicknamed ‘breadwinner’ by Sex Traffickers
https://www.13abc.com/content/news/UT-study-links-social-media-and-sex-trafficking-496046031.html
December 6, 2019
In a horrifying, but not unusual case of human trafficking, an unnamed 13-year-old Florida teen was nicknamed ‘breadwinner’ by sex traffickers after being forced to have sex with more than a hundred men over the course of a few weeks. The girl came forth to investigators and told them she ran away from home in Tamarac, a city in Broward County in May, because she was bored. She then met Souprina Blanc, who lured her in by asking if she wanted to make money, and then prostituted her twice.
The girl later met 19-year-old Racquel Bijou, who offered to help her make money, but when the girl agreed Bijou told her she would need to prostitute herself. Although the girl lied about her age and told Bijou she was 17, Bijou told her to tell everyone she was 21. The teen was forced to engaged in sex because she had no money or a place to go. Text messages were reported between the girl and Bijous that she prostituted herself multiple times, Bijous then told the girl to take picture of herself and sent them to 22-year-old Jeremiah Horenstein. The photos were then posted on websites that advertised sex work.
A few days after the girl disappeared, she texted family members and told them she had sex with “so many people.” One of her family members gave her phone to authorities who then went through the records and set a string. On June 11th they were able to arrest Blanc. In August Bijou and Horenstein were arrested and 25-year-old Ashton Lewinson was arrested in November. All four were charged with sex trafficking of a minor and are held without a bond. As on November 19th, Bijou plead guilty to sex trafficking of a minor and to cooperate with authorities.
Over 5.5 million children around the world have become victims of human trafficking. Sex trafficking is something that is happening everywhere, some reasons due to family disruption, economic disruption, civil unrest, or lack of human rights. Sex traffickers often use social media to talk to children, they often try to build a connection by praising one or promising them something. Once they make the connection, they lure them to meet them somewhere usually in a private area. Unfortunately, central Florida is not only a hub for tourism, but also for sex trafficking. It is important that you stay aware of your surroundings, if you would like to make a report or knows anything about a case related to human trafficking contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or email [email protected].
Maria Alejandra Villanueva • Dec 15, 2019 at 5:42 pm
I understand more of the topic and I’ve had a family member go through that so i know i hard to tell an adult but if its a situation you no that’s bad report it immediately. And this was very informational to be careful around strangers and always have someone close.