Human Exploitation Unit Meant to Combat Human Trafficking In Kane Co.

KANE COUNTY, IL — The Kane County State's Attorney's Office has formed a new specialized team dedicated to investigating and prosecuting human trafficking offenses, including sex and labor trafficking.

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced the formation of the Human Exploitation Unit team during a press conference Monday. The unit will operate within the office’s Criminal Division and will be overseen by Christine Bayer, first assistant with the state's attorney's office.

“The creation of this unit is a crucial step toward ensuring that human traffickers are identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser. “When I first ran for office in 2020, and again in 2024, I pledged to bring a fair and balanced approach to prosecution. While I remain committed to rehabilitative efforts for those who can benefit from them, I will not hesitate to aggressively pursue individuals who prey on the most vulnerable in our community.”

The HEU is funded through a $1 million grant from the state of Illinois, secured with the support of State Senator Linda Holmes, according to a news release. The funding will allow the unit to provide specialized training, enhance investigative resources and support victims of trafficking.

The HEU was established in response to the rising incidents of human trafficking in Kane County and the need for enhanced training and investigative resources. This initiative builds on the success of the Child Exploitation Unit, which has led to the arrest of 44 individuals for child pornography offenses since its inception in late 2022.

“This is a great example of the collaboration between the St. Charles Police Department and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office,” said St. Charles Deputy Chief Eric Majewski. “We are happy to offer our resources to assist with the important work of the Human Exploitation Unit. The St. Charles Police Department Facility was constructed in 2019 with future growth in mind. The office space in our investigations division and the computer infrastructure in our digital forensic lab have benefited the Child Exploitation Unit. We will continue to work together, and I expect similar success with this new endeavor.”

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, human trafficking prosecutions nationwide have more than doubled from 2012 to 2022. Despite this increase, many cases remain unreported or improperly investigated, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office.

In Kane County, sex trafficking cases have historically been treated as prostitution offenses, and potential labor trafficking cases have gone largely unexamined due to resource constraints. Moving forward, the HEU will work closely with law enforcement agencies in Kane County, providing investigative assistance, specialized training, and resources to combat human trafficking, prosecutors said.

“I applaud the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office for creating the Human Exploitation Unit to target, expose, and stop those who seek to exploit others,” said St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek. “These are insidious crimes that know no borders and can affect any community. I am so proud that the St. Charles Police Department will be supporting the important work of this new specialized team. This new unit represents a commitment to the safety and well-being of our community, while also sending a clear message that exploitation in any form will not be tolerated.”