Fighting human trafficking is a tough, don’t you think Keeping the streets safe, the Illinois State Police (ISP) and local law enforcement cracked down on offenders in Monroe County, Illinois. They ran a two-day operation from July 31 to August 1, 2024. The main focus was on folks intending to engage in commercial activities around Columbia. They targeted those who lured minors into illegal acts – one of the main reasons behind human trafficking.

Meet The Offenders

Let’s introduce our ‘bad guys’, all hailing from St. Louis, Missouri. Each one racked up multiple felony charges mostly related to indecent interaction with children and some quite intense criminal activity.

• Deepak Chiluveru, a 24-year-old young adult, is now decorated with Class 3 Felony for both indecent child solicitation and traveling to meet a minor, along with Class 4 Felony for grooming and soliciting a meeting with a minor.
• Tuan M. Huynh, another name that comes up in this shameful list is facing similar charges as Deepak but with an added sting of armed violence charge which amplifies the severity to Class X Felony.
• Leslie M. Johnson does not look like someone you’d expect to see on this list at his age of 56 but indeed faces the same set of chargers as Deepak.
• Kawa M Shaker – Just like other three mentioned above he was also caught in act trying to enforce similar crimes at age 26.
• Roberto Rodriquez-Cordero– Similar charges only he had unlawful possession of controlled substances tucked under his belt too along armed violence adding severe weightage on his counterpart offenses making them Class X felony

A Quick Look at the Operation

This special operation was led by ISP’s Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Bureau). Alongside were Troop 8 Troopers, SWAT officers and the Intelligence Support Unit. Joining them were some local law agencies like Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Centralia Police Department and Southern Illinois Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

Human trafficking is a complex issue, but targeting people who exploit minors might be the solution to stop it. The joint effort aims to shatter criminal networks indulging in these repulsive crimes.

Unravelling Human Trafficking

Human trafficking sounds serious, right? And it is! It often involves force, fraud or coercion making people perform commercial actions or labor that they don’t want to. It’s a significant violation of human rights affecting millions across the globe. Traffickers typically focus on easy targets like minors with false promises or intimidation tactics.

The Power of the Community

The success of such operations heavily relies on citizen awareness and involvement. Your neighbors or even you could play a role in identifying suspicious activities related to human trafficking. Sights something fishy? Dial the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or shoot over a text to 233733

Broader Efforts Against Trafficking

This operation is not a one-time effort! It’s part of a broader statewide action to fight human trafficking. Different law enforcement agencies are joining forces and combining resources hoping to root out the causes behind these atrocious crimes and nab culprits.

If caught engaging in human trafficking, expect severe penalties – from lengthy prison stays (anywhere between 2 – 30 years) to hefty fines – which will definitely prick your pocket!

It’s worthwhile noting that these penalties vary based on the crime severity; prisoners can face up-to five years for Class 3 felonies, one-to-three years for Class 4 felonies, with Class X felonies wanting to keep you away from us for a good six-to-thirty years with no options for probation.

Looking Ahead

With ongoing efforts, we hope to continue protecting potential victims and preventing further instances of human trafficking. Vigilance – the name of the game – right?

In my opinion, citizens cooperating with law enforcement can help avoid these crimes in the future while supporting justice for past crimes. Through collective action, we can envision a future free of human trafficking where justice is served to all affected victims.