9/6/23

THE YAVAPAI COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS ASSIGNED TWO OF ITS PEOPLE TO AID IN THE INVESTIGATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. CHRIS WILSON – THE DIRECTOR OF YAVAPAI SILENT WITNESS – AND SAMUAL CONTRERAS HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO THE AGENCY'S FIRST HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATORS. 

THE POSITIONS ARE FUNDED BY AN ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING GRANT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTIMATES THERE ARE BETWEEN 30 TO 50 VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN YAVAPAI COUNTY. TRAFFICKERS DO NOT ONLY TARGET IMMIGRANTS, BUT ALSO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR OR ESTRANGED FROM THEIR FAMILY.

SINCE 2013, AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT YAVAPAI COUNTY HAVE CONDUCTED NUMEROUS STING OPERATIONS, WITH THE LAST TWO RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF EIGHT PEOPLE TRYING TO HIRE UNDERAGE GIRLS. 

SHERIFF DAVID RHODES SAYS, “PROTECTING SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY HAS TO BE A PRIORITY."