An estimated 50,000 women and children are forced into sex trafficking each year, according to Deliver Fund, a law enforcement training non-profit organization.
Kathy Jackson is one of the millions of survivors.
"I was being trafficked and couldn't get out of it," said Jackson. "I just couldn't get out of it. I had no money. They took what I had, my credit card, everything."
"I pretty much did what they said, went where they said," she remembered.
Jackson ended up in Las Vegas. While many see the beauty of large casinos, such as MGM Grand and Caesar's Palace, there is a dark side, including so-called "ghost crimes," where human traffickers operate in plain sight, setting up shop in hotels near casinos.
Illegal trafficking operations are so prevalent that the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Treasury partnered to bring awareness and train the National Indian Gaming Commission (NICG). DHS said national tribal leaders requested training through Blue Campaign, a public awareness initiative to educate industries on identifying and responding to possible cases.
However, "ghost crimes" continue in casino hotels nationwide.
Jackson's story started in Virginia, where she grew up in an affluent family. That's why she wants people to know that what happened to her could happen to anybody.
"I come from an affluent black family," she said. "It hits every economic or age group. It doesn't matter."
While in college, Jackson built friendships with a group of people. They even went on vacation together, and that's when Jackson said her problems started after her friends turned into her nightmare.
The people who she thought were her friends took her to several locations to work in the sex industry.
When she was brought to Sin City, she was taken to casino hotels. Jackson remembers times when she tried to communicate her fears with her eyes to no avail. She felt stuck and helpless.
It wasn't until Jackson had a heart attack at the age of 27 that her life was saved.
"So, they found that it was a weak valve, so they had to replace my valve," she explained. "A doctor was my saving grace. I told him my story out of just being tired. I told him I had been used and abused, and that's how I got out."
Jackson was referred to The WellHouse in Alabama, where she learned she was stronger, smarter and better. She was able to survive and tell her story to help others. The WellHouse has served over 700 women and children as young as 11.
The non-profit was founded by a survivor of human sex trafficking and is a haven for victims to live and learn. They learn how to survive but also learn about God.
The WellHouse CEO Carolyn Potter told 1819 News that she heard directly from survivors from casino hotels.
"It is a widespread, common belief among those of us who work in this industry that there is human trafficking happening at the hotels that are connected to the casinos and also many of our survivors who come to The WellHouse. Actually, most of them are struggling with addiction," Potter said.
And not only drug and alcohol addiction. Potter said she has also seen pornography and gambling addictions.
A survivor who completed a program at The WellHouse went back to Las Vegas, where she started a non-profit called Hookers for Jesus. The non-profit offers specific help to sex trafficking victims at the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
"I mean, you've got a large venue with many people, some local and some from out of town, who come there for that sole purpose," Potter said. "And drugs and alcohol and sex are an added attraction. That's just a common knowledge."
Potter said because of the risks, she is not a supporter of expanding gambling in Alabama.
"On a personal level, I'm not favorable towards any type of gambling," Potter said. "I think it's harmful because, again, it can become an addiction, and it can wreck a person's life just like drugs and alcohol and, in addition to that, sex trafficking."
"Why don't we find another way to make money, to bring income into the state if we're needing income for education?" she asked. "There are other means besides gambling. We could be creative. As a non-profit leader, I could be really creative and help with that."
Potter believes crime increases in all areas could impact Alabama if more casinos are open. She said the solution could be increased law enforcement in facilities.
Just like any business, Jackson believes there should be education about human trafficking.
"Maybe, you know, maybe some mandates need to be put up," she said. "They have to have security and have people that are looking for people like me."
"And instead of criminalizing the woman, let's start criminalizing these men and even these women because some of the women are more vicious," she added.
If there are going to be casinos, Jackson believes it is their responsibility to try and mitigate prostitution.
"Yeah, this business does attract this kind of element," Jackson said. "Let's try and move forward with some legislation, or the casinos could take responsibility and say, 'Hold on wait, is this lady in trouble?"
"You see them watching around; you think in Vegas they're walking around to make sure that the money's still there," Jackson continued. "Those cameras aren't caring about the women … We need to put a program in where our security officers and when we're looking in these cameras, we're not just looking at the tables, we're actually looking around at the people that are on these tables."
Potter has already spoken with multiple lawmakers. When gambling is considered each year, she takes action by offering statistics and possible solutions.
"I think the legislators need to take a hard look at what the potential for harm that it could do to our state," Potter said. "Because we know anytime there's sex trafficking, there's going to be other crimes. Look at the evidence. Look at the facts. Look at the studies that have already been done in other states."
"I can give my opinion," she added. "I can tell you what I've seen, but there are actual evidence-based studies out there that we need to look at. And we're a small state. Can you imagine seven casinos?"
The WellHouse changes and saves lives, but Potter said its purpose is not fulfilled if she doesn't follow her faith.
"God tells us to love him, and he tells us to love people," she said. "And since early on in my life, I have wanted to help people who were so suffering, people who just were at a disadvantage, and we know from working with the survivors who've been at The WellHouse, the vast majority, almost 100%, were first victimized as children."
"We are able to see many of them complete this program, stay connected to people who they met while they were in the program, and do really well with their lives," Potter explained. "For me, it's an eternal perspective. We offer them the opportunity to have faith, to know a true and living God and you know, we're all going to live somewhere in eternity."
To report suspected human trafficking, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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