3 arrested in human trafficking case

GREEN BAY (WLUK) — A human trafficking bust has landed three people behind bars in Brown County.

The sheriff’s office says investigators were tipped off to the activity starting Tuesday. The investigation ended with the arrests of a man, a woman and a girl.

“We received information of commercial sex trafficking and also human trafficking,” said Lt. Jim Valley with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

The identity of the teen is not being released. However, the two adults in custody are Alexus Williams, 22, Deon
Barron, 24, however no formal charges have been filed.

“It’s possible further arrests may be made, but we’re still trying to put all the pieces together,” said Valley.
And while police are requesting human trafficking charges against both, Williams is also facing a commercial sex trafficking charge.

“Commercial sex trafficking is receiving money for some type of sexual act or favor that is being done. Human trafficking is actually someone benefiting from that (sexual act),” explained Valley.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says human trafficking can happen anywhere, and officers are working to prevent it from happening in Brown County.

“We have found it has really expanded in our community and communities around, I think it has always been here,” he said.

“Things have happened to these ladies, or these young girls, or even young males,” explained Dawn Spang, with Eye Heart World. “Something has happened to them in their life to make them think that selling themselves or working for someone else who is selling them is their only option.”

Eye Heart World is a non-profit organization that helps victims of human trafficking. Spang explained while trafficking can happen anywhere, a lot of it is taking place online.

“These traffickers look for that vulnerability and the best place to observe people without it taking a lot of time is social media,” Spang said.

Eye Heart World is opening a home for trafficking victims in August. Spang explained the Rose Home will be for women 18 years of age and older.

Authorities say they are cracking down on trafficking activity and say it won’t be tolerated in Brown County.

Sheriff’s officials say the suspects are not expected to appear in court until Thursday.