CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The FBI is looking for potential victims of two over-the-road truckers, one from the Chicago-area, who allegedly kidnap women and demand ransom for their release.
It is also alleged that the two men tried to make the women work as prostitutes.
The local suspect is 35-year-old Pierre L. Washington, of Chicago. He is the owner of a trucking company called God Got Me LLC, based in Palatine, according to the FBI. Washington is also an over the road trucker, but at this time, his routes are unknown.
He was arrested in Chicago in March 2021 by the FBI in reference to an ongoing investigation.
The second man is 25-year-old Brian T. Summerson, of Dillon, South Carolina. He was arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida and charged with battery cause bodily harm, false imprisonment, and tampering with a witness calling 911, according to the FBI.
Summerson is an over the road trucker with a primary route of I-95 from New Jersey to Miami, as well as Chicago and Kansas City, Missouri. When meeting potential victims, he tells them his name is Von or Vaughn, the FBI said in a release.
Two two are accused of kidnapping, beating, and assaulting women along routes stretching from Chicago to New Jersey and down to Florida.
According to CBS 2, a grand jury indictment handed down March 25 said Summerson held women against their will, physically assaulting them, and sometimes transporting across state lines as he coerced them to work as prostitutes under Washington.
If a woman would not work as a prostitute, Summerson would try to extort money for her return, using the phone or the internet to make ransom demands, the indictment said.
The number of alleged victims is unclear. The investigation is still ongoing.
Electronic devices that were seized were reported to contain photos, videos, and texts involving alleged victims.
Anyone with information, including potential victims, is asked to email investigators at truckervictims@fbi.gov.
Responses are voluntary, but the FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes. The FBI will provide victims with information, assistance, services and resources.
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