MICHIGAN
Fox 17
[with video]
by Nicole DiDonato
Reporter
WEST MICHIGAN (June 23, 2014) — It’s a hidden crisis in West Michigan. Experts who work with victims of sexual crimes say thousands of minors are sold into human trafficking right in our own communities.
If you think human trafficking only happens in third world countries, think again.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates 300,000 minors are at risk of being sold every year in the U.S. And it’s happening even closer to home.
“Unfortunately the state department estimates in West Michigan alone, there are 2,400 minors for sale at any given time, mostly on the internet. And this is in the land of the free, ” said Rebecca McDonald, founder and president of Women At Risk International. …
WAR gets up to 20 tips a month and turns them over to law enforcement.
Just recently, police arrested WCSG radio personality, John Balyo, and charged him with first degree criminal sexual conduct. McDonald believes this is a wake-up call.
“Law enforcement is there to be the judgement,” says McDonald.
“Our job is to be compassionate and to reach out to the victims of this man who have years of recovery and to even his family members who are victims in this situation.”
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