Sex Trafficking

Bloomington city leaders remain optimistic a modified plan to regulate massage businesses will still strengthen efforts to prevent human trafficking, despite the removal of an annual fee intended to fund investigations.

Human trafficking cases are on the rise in Central Illinois, according to a survivor's advocate. Carol Merna from the Center for Prevention of Abuse says the increase in reported victims is likely due to greater awareness about human trafficking, either through commercial sex or forced labor.

Bloomington is dropping the proposed licensing fees that massage establishments would have to pay to operate in the city. City staff had proposed a $250 annual fee to cover the cost of investigating the businesses to address concerns about sex trafficking.

Federal prosecutors said Friday a 29-year-old man from Normal has received a 10-year prison sentence for sex trafficking a minor.

A federal grand jury has indicted three Bloomington-Normal men on child sex trafficking charges.The U.S. attorney’s office announced the charges in…