Have you been charged with Human Trafficking in Texas or another state in the U.S.?
Finding federal or Texas state defense lawyers in Texas that fight human trafficking cases can be difficult. You may not even understand why you’re facing human trafficking charges to begin with. If you find yourself suddenly being investigated or charged with human trafficking related charges, you need to hire the best criminal defense attorneys you can find that handle both state and federal cases, because you will most likely be facing charges in both domains.
Trafficking of Persons in Texas
Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General said that Human trafficking = modern-day slavery. He also warned that the victims are exploited in at least one of two ways:
- Commercial sex through prostitution, pornography, stripping, live-sex shows, mail-order brides, military prostitution and sex tourism; or
- Forced labor (agriculture, domestic servitude, and sweatshop)
Adults vs. Minors
In Texas, charges for trafficking a minor are more severe than adults. Let’s look at a breakdown between the charges of trafficking a person over and under 18 years of age.
Charged with Trafficking an Adult in Texas
Under Texas Penal Code Section 20A.02, a person commits an offense if the person knowingly commits the crime of “Trafficking an Adult” if the person is over the age of 18:
(1) traffics another person with the intent that the trafficked person engage in forced labor or services;
(2) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (1), including by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services;
(3) traffics another person and, through force, fraud, or coercion, causes the trafficked person to engage in conduct prohibited by:
(A) Section 43.02 (Prostitution);
(B) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(B-1) Section 43.031 (Online Promotion of Prostitution);
(C) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution);
(C-1) Section 43.041 (Aggravated Online Promotion of Prostitution); or
(D) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(4) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (3) or engages in sexual conduct with a person trafficked in the manner described in Subdivision (3);
Charged with Trafficking a Child in Texas
Under Texas Penal Code Section 20A.02, a person commits an offense if the person knowingly commits the crime of “Trafficking a Child” if the person is under the age of 18:
(5) traffics a child with the intent that the trafficked child engage in forced labor or services;
(6) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (5), including by receiving labor or services the person knows are forced labor or services;
(7) traffics a child and by any means causes the trafficked child to engage in, or become the victim of, conduct prohibited by:
(A) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young Child or Children);
(B) Section 21.11 (Indecency with a Child);
(C) Section 22.011 (Sexual Assault);
(D) Section 22.021 (Aggravated Sexual Assault);
(E) Section 43.02 (Prostitution);
(F) Section 43.03 (Promotion of Prostitution);
(F-1) Section 43.031 (Online Promotion of Prostitution);
(G) Section 43.04 (Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution);
(G-1) Section 43.041 (Aggravated Online Promotion of Prostitution);
(H) Section 43.05 (Compelling Prostitution);
(I) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a Child);
(J) Section 43.251 (Employment Harmful to Children); or
(K) Section 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of Child Pornography); or
(8) receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves an activity described by Subdivision (7) or engages in sexual conduct with a child trafficked in the manner described in Subdivision (7).
Human Trafficking: Felony Charges 2nd and 1st Degree
In all human trafficking cases in Texas, you will face either 2nd or 1st degree felony charges depending upon the offenses that apply. Here’s how to know what charges you could be facing:
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an offense under this section is a felony of the second degree. An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree if:
(1) the applicable conduct constitutes an offense under Subsection (a)(5), (6), (7), or (8), regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the child at the time of the offense;
(2) the commission of the offense results in the death of the person who is trafficked; or
(3) the commission of the offense results in the death of an unborn child of the person who is trafficked.
(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both sections.
(d) If the victim of an offense under Subsection (a)(7)(A) is the same victim as a victim of an offense under Section 21.02, a defendant may not be convicted of the offense under Section 21.02 in the same criminal action as the offense under Subsection (a)(7)(A) unless the offense under Section 21.02:
(1) is charged in the alternative;
(2) occurred outside the period in which the offense alleged under Subsection (a)(7)(A) was committed; or
(3) is considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser included offense of the offense alleged under Subsection (a)(7)(A).
Human Trafficking at Major Sporting Events
Former Ex-CIA Agent who started DeliverFund pointed out in an interview with Patrick Bet-David that they found with much of the economy shut down that human traffickers were looking to find places where they could make much larger profits. Some of their main targeted locations included the Super Bowl, FIFA, the Olympics, etc.
Find Human Trafficking Defense Attorneys
It can be difficult to find criminal defense attorneys that will even touch a human trafficking case. At Cofer Luster Law Firm, P.C. we know that even the most difficult criminal cases to defend still need effective representation to e0nsure that the law is properly executed. We ensure that our clients have their rights’ protected when charged with human trafficking crimes. If you’re looking for human trafficking defense attorneys, we can help.
