McHenry County Blog

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

CHICAGO MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BRINGING MINOR TO ILLINOIS FOR PROSTITUTION; ADMITS FORCED SEX-TRAFFICKING OF FOUR VICTIMS

CHICAGO — A Chicago man is facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison after pleading guilty today to transporting a minor from Wisconsin to Illinois for prostitution.

The defendant, CARL BRANDON SMITH, also admitted that he engaged in forced sex-trafficking of the victim, as well as a second minor and two young adult women.

Between 2010 and early 2012, Smith forced his victims to engage in commercial sex acts, used physical violence, and threatened to kill them if they ever left him.

The guilty plea was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Thomas R. Trautmann, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Smith, also known as “Moo,” 25, of Chicago, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5 by U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve. Smith has remained in federal custody since he was arrested last April last and charged with two counts of sex-trafficking of a minor and by force, two counts of sex-trafficking by force, and one count of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution.

According to a plea agreement, Smith met Victim B in December 2010 and began contacting her via phone, text, and social media, asking her to move to Chicago, intending that she be his “girlfriend” and also engage in prostitution.

In February 2011, Smith drove from Chicago to Victim B’s residence in Wisconsin, and then drove her from Wisconsin to his apartment in Chicago, acknowledging that she was under 18 at the time.

Once in Chicago, Smith “dated” Victim B for approximately a week before Victim B began working as a prostitute under his employ.

Between February and July 2011, Victim B engaged in commercial sex acts at Smith’s direction. Smith acted as Victim B’s pimp, advertised her for commercial sex on internet sites, and instructed her to have sex with customers in his apartment and in area motels. Victim B had sex with numerous men per week and gave a portion of the money she earned to Smith.

As part of the guilty plea, Smith stipulated that he acted as a pimp for Victim A, also a minor, and forced her to engage in prostitution during 2010.

Smith inflicted physical violence on Victim A when she gave him “attitude” or when she indicated that she no longer wanted to work as a prostitute.

On one occasion, Smith beat Victim A so severely that one eye swelled shut.

Similarly, Smith stipulated to using and threatening violence against both Victims C and D, both adults, while acting as their pimp and forcing them to engage in commercial sex acts in 2011 and early 2012.

The Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force assisted in the investigation. The government is being ­represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Grohman and Felicia Manno Alesia.

At the Algonquin Founders’ Day Parade, I got the picture you see below of the Red Dress

Red Run 5K Run/Walk to Raise Funds to End Child Sex Trafficking in McHenry County and Beyond

ALGONQUIN-Local moms Kristen Guerrieri and Cortina Nystad aren’t running through downtown Algonquin in scarlet dresses and worn running shoes just for exercise.

They’re running to save the lives of young girls being sold into the sex trade.

After learning about two little girls from Cambodia-each clad in a red dress-that were sold into the sex trade in 2011, Nystad and Guerrieri donned their crimson best and took to the street to get the message out.

On weekly runs down Route 62, the two moms developed The Red Run 5K Run/Walk, which will host its inaugural event on August 11 at Presidential Park on Highland Avenue.

200 participants are expected at the USATF-certified race, which will benefit

• the Salvation Army PROMISE (Anne’s House), a local residential program that provides aftercare for victims and
• Love146, an organization that provides prevention and aftercare solutions internationally.

Prizes will be awarded for the top male and female finishers and for the top three finishers in each age category.

“I envision a sea of red,” said Nystad.

“We will run or walk in red to honor victims and to raise awareness about this horrific epidemic.

“We will be saying, ‘Not in our backyard.’”

To bring light to another form of human trafficking- slave labor-participants can take the Slavery Footprint lifestyle survey, which assesses how many slaves provide services for an individual based upon the products he or she buys. A grand total will be announced on race day.

“Most people think of human trafficking as something that happens overseas, but the reality is it is happening right here-not only in Chicago, but in the suburbs,” said Guerrieri.

“Here in the U.S., victims aren’t typically kidnapped or trapped in a brothel as is often portrayed on TV.

“They meet someone at school, at the mall, or online, and are lured in.”

“As many as 25,000 females are exploited every year in Chicago alone-with the average age of entry being 12-14 years old,” Guerrieri continued.

“We must band together, educate ourselves, and say, ‘Not in our town! Not our children!’”

The event will feature:

• Raffle prizes (including artwork by Buy Art Not People, Chicago Cubs rooftop tickets, Chicago White Sox memorabilia, gift certificates to local businesses)
• Vendors that support victims and survivors of human trafficking (including WAR Chest Boutique-Naperville, which supports the organization Women At Risk)
• An inflatable bounce house for kids
• Music by K-LOVE radio

For more information or to register for the event please visit theredrun.org.

Registration is $25 in advance of the event or $35 at the door. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kristen Guerrieri at kristen@theredrun.org.

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Or you could just send a contribution to Red Dress Foundation, Box 339, Algonquin, IL 60102.