Share
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery.”
Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp says that is the unvarnished reality of prostitution and for those who become ensnared by it.
“They live in fear that the pimp is going to hurt their family.”
In an interview with GV Wire, Smittcamp says many are unwittingly lured in by traffickers who know how to prey on the trust of their victims – and even families.
Victims Feel Powerless to Escape
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing” is how Smittcamp describes many of these predators. “Sometimes (family members) think, ‘Oh look, he’s such a nice guy.’ Their daughter met the man of her dreams,” she said. “And, all of a sudden, she disappears.”
A perfect example of how such a scenario might unfold was the Christmas Day arrest of a Kennedy High School soccer coach in Sacramento on suspicion of selling underage girls.
Traffickers then “break” their victims with threats and physical violence. That leads to a feeling of utter powerlessness, Smittcamp says. “They’ve lost their self-worth and they live in fear not only for their own life, but they live in fear that the pimp is going to hurt their family.”
Fighting Back Against Trafficking
Gomez Guilty of Murdering Los Hooligans Bass Player
2 hours ago
Biden Says It Was a Mistake to Say He Wanted to Put Trump in a ‘Bull’s-Eye’
2 hours ago
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Appears to Confirm Delay in Aug. 8 Robotaxi Unveil Event to Make Design Change
5 hours ago
Smittcamp Asks Court to Drop His Lawsuit Against Controversial NW Fresno Project
6 hours ago
Measure P Arts Grants Spark Debate and a Meeting Tonight
6 hours ago
Tedford Exits Fresno State Football. Tim Skipper Is the Next Bulldog Up.
6 hours ago
Trump Receives Enough Delegate Votes to Officially be Republicans’ Nominee
7 hours ago
Man Dies After Rescuing His 2 Children in Mississippi River
1 hour ago
Categories
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15173402/A-photo-provided-by-Jesse-Pope-shows-Cody-Jay-Pope-right-with-him-in-2012.-The-authorities-found-the-body-of-Cody-Jay-Pope-a-41-year-old-Minnesota-man-who-had-disappeared-two-days-earlier-after-1024x538.jpg)
Man Dies After Rescuing His 2 Children in Mississippi River
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15150557/AP24197467333843-1024x576.jpg)
Is Inflation Finally Corralled? Powell Says Federal Reserve Believes It’s Close
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15171647/Los-Hooligans-court_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Gomez Guilty of Murdering Los Hooligans Bass Player
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15172819/President-Joe-Biden-arrives-to-speak-to-members-of-the-media-in-Rehoboth-Beach-Del.-about-the-shooting-incident-at-Donald-Trumps-rally-in-Pa.-on-Saturday-July-13-2024.-President-Biden-said-o-1024x538.jpg)
Biden Says It Was a Mistake to Say He Wanted to Put Trump in a ‘Bull’s-Eye’
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15144853/AP24197697589922_-1024x576.jpg)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Appears to Confirm Delay in Aug. 8 Robotaxi Unveil Event to Make Design Change
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15120621/lawsuit-against-respiratory-care-facility_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Smittcamp Asks Court to Drop His Lawsuit Against Controversial NW Fresno Project
![The Wines of Fresno: Tony Kirk, Birdstone Winery](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12152749/Tony-Kirk-Birdstone-Winery-016-1-1024x576.jpg)