Two weeks ago, the FBI in Houston busted an alleged sex trafficking ring. Federal prosecutors claim the ring operated out of several Houston bars and brothels and the suspects charged “premium prices” for sex with underage girls.
The girls were kept locked in a second-story room above a bar. According to investigators, clients were told which girls “had been used more and which ones were ‘fresh meat.'”
In 18 months, their traffickers earned more than a million dollars from selling them. Some of the survivors were as young as 14 years old.
When news broke, the Love146 Texas team was in a school classroom less than four miles away providing prevention education to youth. Some of the students were as young as 14 years old.
After hearing what happened, students reflected with our prevention educator, Carolina Fuentes, about the raid operations that happened in their neighborhood. There was a sense of urgency in the questions they asked. The risks felt real to them. Prevention education was more relevant than ever in their lives.
The risks to our youth are real.
The need for prevention education is critical.
