Putnam County Rotary Club Raises Awareness About Human Trafficking Through Awareness Program

The Putnam County Rotary Club will host a human trafficking awareness program called 'Human Trafficking - A Real and Present Danger' on June 6 at L J's Garden Cafe in Magnolia. The event aims to raise awareness about human trafficking in central Illinois and the Illinois Valley. The speaker, Toni Lucas, will share insights into the scope of human trafficking and how to recognize and prevent instances within local communities. Lucas is a pastor, a member of the global Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking, and has organized Rotary's District Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. The event is open to the public on a first-reserved basis, with dinner costing $15 per person. To reserve a spot, attendees can text or email the Putnam County Rotary Club by June 4. [cbb67d0e]

In related news, a second conviction has been announced in a human trafficking case in DeKalb County, Georgia. Christopher Price, a convicted felon with two prior federal drug distribution convictions, has been convicted and sentenced to prison for trafficking a 16-year-old female. The victim had been missing for approximately six weeks when she was recovered in March 2020. Price is the second defendant to be convicted of trafficking this victim, with Trayon Moore having previously pleaded guilty in February 2024. Price pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and faces up to 40 years in prison. The Attorney General's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the DeKalb County Police Department investigated the case. The Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has rescued and assisted 129 victims and obtained 33 new convictions since January 2023. The unit currently has 35 defendants under indictment for sex or labor trafficking. Price will also be required to register as a sex offender. [af843031]