3 Accused In Human Trafficking Scheme Arrested, Police Say

HOUSTON — Three people are facing charges related to human and sex trafficking, after police acted on a tip that a 20-year-old woman was being held against her will

Investigators with the Houston Police Department Human Trafficking Unit announced the arrest of Kevin Winston, 25; Martina Chambers, 20; and Mikia Collins, 19, during a news conference on Wednesday.

Fort Worth Police received a call on Tuesday from a woman who said her 20-year-old daughter was being held against her will.

According to investigators, the woman said she had not seen her daughter since late Dec. 21, when she'd traveled to Houston with a friend to look for a job.

"She and her friend were down here for a little while. It was close to the holidays and there were not a lot of employment opportunities available at that time,"said HPD Asst. Chief J.B Dale.

Her friend decided to return to Fort Worth, while the victim decided to stay at a hotel and look for work.

Dale said shortly after her friend returned home, Winston befriended the girl, paid for her hotel room, and made promises to help her.

"He told her all the things she wanted to hear, and a couple of days; three days after that, he tried to force her into prostitution," Dale said.

When the victim refused, Dale said he assaulted her and beat her.

Dale said the woman was able to ask a "john" to use his phone, and she got a quick call off to her mother in Fort Worth.

The woman's mother was terrified and called police to report her daughter missing, and that she was being forced into prostitution.

Dale said the woman's call was forwarded to investigators who found a prostitution ad that featured photos of the missing woman.

Undercover officers called Winston, and arranged a meeting at a Houston area hotel.

Less than an hour later, police met with Winston and immediately arrested him, as well as Chambers and Collins.

Winston and Chambers have pending charges of aggravated promotion of prostitution, compelling prostitution, and trafficking of a person, while Collins has pending charges of compelling prostitution and trafficking of a person.

Dale said if her mother had not acted so quickly and called police, there is a chance the young woman may have never been seen again.

Investigators said Winston, Chambers, and Collins had rented a vehicle and planned on taking the victim to New York on Wednesday.

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Image: HPD

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