Charleston County ranks 2nd in reported Human Trafficking cases in SC – Live 5 News

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – Attorney General Alan Wilson says Charleston County has the second-highest number of human trafficking cases reported in South Carolina to a national hotline last year, based on the latest data.

Wilson, who released an annual report on South Carolina's efforts to prevent and respond to cases of human trafficking, was careful to add that this does not necessarily mean Charleston County has the second-highest number of actual cases; the rankings merely show where the most reports of human trafficking come from.

“I believe the metrics indicate awareness more than activity,” he said. “That doesn't mean there's not activity going on in another surrounding county, it just means that more people are aware.”

The total number of trafficking cases reported to the hotline in 2022 was 124, with 277 likely victims, the report states. A breakdown of the 277 cases reported in 2022 shows that 132 cases involved labor trafficking, while 117 involved sex trafficking. Twelve reported cases alleged both labor and sex trafficking while the remaining 16 were listed in the report as “other/not specified.”

Click here to read the full report at the South Carolina Attorney General's website.

Of those 124 reported cases, Greenville County had the most. Richland, Horry and Spartanburg Counties rounded out the top five, he said.

Wilson said the 2022 Human Trafficking Task Force Annual Report showed the total number of human trafficking victims increased over 2021′s total of 206 and 2020′s total of 179.

The data also shows there was a 458% increase in labor trafficking victims with a 44% increase in victims who identified as Latinx. Overall, there was a 128% increase in victims' use of the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

SLED investigated 416 cases statewide in 2022

Not all cases, however, are reported through the hotline, Attorney General's Office spokesman Robert Kittle said. Other cases are reported by those mandated to report cases by law like agents with the Department of Social Services and teachers. Those instances are generally made to area law enforcement or directly to SLED.

SLED says it investigated a total of 416 cases in the state in 2022. The agency said of the 416 cases it investigated, 399 cases involved minors while 17 involved adults. Sex trafficking accounted for 98% of the cases SLED investigated, the report states. Females accounted for 312 of the 399 juvenile victims while males accounted for the remaining 87.

Members of the Latino or Hispanic community made up the largest ethnic group of human trafficking cases SLED investigated. The agency investigated 152 cases involving members of that community, 141 cases involving white victims and 135 involving Black victims. The remaining 12 were listed as “not specified or unknown” in the report.

Wilson praises task force's success, convictions

Wilson touted the 10th anniversary of the state task force, saying he was proud of the work it has accomplished.

“Its efforts to educate and equip people in how to combat human trafficking are making South Carolina a safer place to live,” Wilson said. “The work is not finished, but our defenses against this horrendous crime are getting stronger every day, and we're committed to the fight.”

In 2022, Wilson said 23 people had been charged in connection with human trafficking, some with more than one charge, totaling 34 criminal charges in the state. In one of those cases, a defendant pleaded guilty to three charges of human trafficking and 19 charges were dismissed in favor of the guilty plea. That defendant was sentenced to five years in prison, credited for serving 185 days and the remainder suspended to three years of probation.

The first jury trial involving human trafficking of a minor in state court resulted in a conviction in Lancaster County, Wilson said. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole because of this conviction and his prior record.

Wilson said a total of 32 cases were closed in 2022, 28 were dismissals. Of the 28 dismissals, all but six were related to guilty pleas on related charges or the adoption of the case by the federal government.

Wilson said there were more cases of labor trafficking than sex trafficking reported in 2022.

The top sex trafficking venues were identified as hotel/motel-based commercial sex, pornography, illicit massage/spa businesses, personal sexual servitude and home-based commercial sex. The hotel or motel-based sex services account for 38% of reported cases alone, the report states.

The report identified the top labor trafficking venues as forestry/reforestation, hospitality, manufacturing/factories, landscaping services and agriculture farms/animal husbandry. The foresting industry accounts for 55% of the reported cases in the report.

A release from the attorney general's office states efforts to train multiple professional sectors continued throughout 2022, with an emphasis on law enforcement, lawyers, and victim service providers. These efforts focused on the ability to identify a victim of human trafficking, thoroughly investigate cases, and provide trauma-informed, victim-centered care to survivors.

“Members of the State Task Force continue to bring awareness of human trafficking in communities across our state,” task force Director Kathryn Moorehead said. “In 2023, we will be rolling out new initiatives including increased labor trafficking awareness campaigns.”

Increasing awareness and education regarding labor trafficking continue to be a priority for the Task Force.

“We will not stop with this crusade until we have eradicated human trafficking in the state of South Carolina,” Wilson said.

To report an incident or seek victim services, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The Hotline is confidential and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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