Two young adults have been charged after being arrested in February for suspected of sex trafficking. Joemarius Green, 22, and his girlfriend, Chantel Robinson, 19, were found at a hotel near Lambert International Airport after crossing state lines from Texas with two underage teens and taking explicit photos of them.
St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell tells KMOX it's important to know what to look for in cases of sex trafficking, and that it occurs right in our own backyards.
"It's hard to say with certainty that, 'Hey, this is going on.' And so people often don't want to get involved. But unfortunately, it only helps us identify these situations when we get information," Bell said. "So we just have to get the information. And it's just imperative that we do. And that if you think something doesn't look right, you know, chances are maybe it's not."
Both of the suspects were charged with sexual trafficking of a child in the second degree, and one of them was additionally charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Bell said that if they find out that force was used, they will "not hesitate to prosecute to the absolute limits of the law." That would mean life without the possibility of parole, he said.
Bell said that things like social media can both help and hurt the cause of finding victims of sex trafficking.
"You may have seen a social media post where somebody…they seem to be improper pictures, if you will, you know, sometimes those are individuals who are trafficking the person that you're looking at when you see a maybe a nude or partially nude picture, or something to that effect on social media," he said. "And yes, it is hard to track. So many ways that people can advertise and move about the country and connect with people from social media connect with potential people who would be willing to pay for sexual services, not knowing who these individuals are."
Hear more from St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell on the issue of sex trafficking in St. Louis:
Copyright 2023 KMOX (Audacy). All Rights Reserved.
Follow KMOX | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Listen on the free Audacy app.
Tell your smart speaker to play K M O X.
