Two people were arrested Thursday on human trafficking charges after police say they brought a minor from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids, gave her drugs and forced her into prostitution.
Tana Torres, 49, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with human trafficking, second-degree sexual abuse, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and prostitution. Jarod Anderson, 34, of Hiawatha, is charged with human trafficking, third-degree sexual abuse and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.
An Iowa law passed in 2023 made human trafficking a class A felony when it involves a minor, meaning that Torres and Anderson are facing life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
This is the first human trafficking charge involving a minor in Linn County since the law was changed, according to a news release from the Linn County Attorney’s Office.
Tana Torres (Linn County Jail)
According to criminal complaints, the sexual abuse and trafficking happened over a two-day period in May. Torres and Anderson picked up the minor in May and took her to the Quality Inn in northeast Cedar Rapids.
They gave her drugs, including methamphetamine, and took sexually explicit photos that they used to advertise for sex. She was then trafficked against her will, according to complaints.
Jarod Anderson (Linn County Jail)
The minor was reported missing and located by police in Cedar Rapids. She is now at a safe location, according to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Torres and Anderson were being held in the Linn County Jail.
“According to the Counter Trafficking Data Collaborative, there are millions of people worldwide and tens of thousands of people in America that are victims of human trafficking, and more than half of female victims are between the ages of 15 and 17,” Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said in a news release. “Runaways are at the highest risk of becoming victims. Because of the underground nature of human trafficking, many of these crimes go unreported. If you see something, report it immediately to law enforcement.”
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Tana Torres, 49, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with human trafficking, second-degree sexual abuse, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and prostitution. Jarod Anderson, 34, of Hiawatha, is charged with human trafficking, third-degree sexual abuse and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.
An Iowa law passed in 2023 made human trafficking a class A felony when it involves a minor, meaning that Torres and Anderson are facing life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
This is the first human trafficking charge involving a minor in Linn County since the law was changed, according to a news release from the Linn County Attorney’s Office.
According to criminal complaints, the sexual abuse and trafficking happened over a two-day period in May. Torres and Anderson picked up the minor in May and took her to the Quality Inn in northeast Cedar Rapids.
They gave her drugs, including methamphetamine, and took sexually explicit photos that they used to advertise for sex. She was then trafficked against her will, according to complaints.
The minor was reported missing and located by police in Cedar Rapids. She is now at a safe location, according to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Torres and Anderson were being held in the Linn County Jail.
“According to the Counter Trafficking Data Collaborative, there are millions of people worldwide and tens of thousands of people in America that are victims of human trafficking, and more than half of female victims are between the ages of 15 and 17,” Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said in a news release. “Runaways are at the highest risk of becoming victims. Because of the underground nature of human trafficking, many of these crimes go unreported. If you see something, report it immediately to law enforcement.”
Two charged with sex trafficking minor in Cedar Rapids hotel
Two people were arrested Thursday on human trafficking charges after police say they brought a minor from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids and forced her into prostitution.
www.thegazette.com
