Parents were sex trafficking 14-year-old daughter for as little as $20, SC sheriff says
A South Carolina couple is facing human trafficking charges after detectives found evidence they offered their 14-year-old daughter to men for as little as $20, according to the investigators.
The number of instances involved has not been revealed, but a search warrant showed the girl’s father made as much as $1,400 “just bringing his daughter back and forth,” the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office reported in a May 23 release.
Jail records show the couple was arrested April 6, just days after the investigation began. They are charged with trafficking in persons under 18 years of age and both were denied bond. McClatchy News is not naming the man or woman to protect the identity of their daughter.
Investigators have not said how they first discovered the girl was being abused.
“The case began in Greenville County, however, this mother and father live in Anderson County, prompting our Criminal Investigations Division to take action,” Anderson County officials said in the release.
“There was a concerted effort by these parents to find people that would give them money and basically their children were the currency.”
Detectives discovered the couple took the girl to an address in Greenville County “whenever this guy would ask,” Detective Will Freestate said. The man in his early 60s knew of the girl because she “was dating” his son, officials said.
“The little girl told me that she didn’t want to go over there any more, but her father would tell her she was going every time (the suspect) would text,” Freestate said.
“The guy would send them $20. We did a search warrant on their cash app and, in a month, I think this guy made $1,300 ...$1,400 just bringing his daughter back and forth.”
The Greenville County man was arrested April 25 and charged with participating in the prostitution of a minor, Greenville County jail records show.
A man from North Carolina also “took advantage of the parents’ offer,” and he was arrested in Polk County and charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.
To report potential trafficking situations, you can contact the national hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or chat with the online hotline.
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