Governor Inks Bills That Could Land Human Traffickers in Jail for Life

Tina Frundt was forced into prostitution at the age of 14.

She blamed herself for being raped and felt angry toward herself for not listening to the man she thought loved her when he told her to have sex with one of his friends. On Tuesday, Frundt, founder of Courtney’s House — a nonprofit organization committed to providing a safe place for child sex trafficking victims — was at the to watch Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) sign three bills that would prevent human trafficking.

“I am just so happy they’re recognizing that Virginia has a problem with human trafficking,” said Frundt, who manages a staff of four at Courtney’s House, and one case manager. “We have a long way to go, but this is a start.”

Delegates, various law enforcement agencies from around Virginia and several nonprofit corporations that aid victims of human trafficking packed a conference room Tuesday at the airport to see the McDonnell sign the three bills.

House Bill 1893 is the most stringent of the three bills McDonnell signed Tuesday. The bill, trafficking of a minor, is reclassified as a class two felony now. A penalty of 20 years to life in prison goes to anyone convicted of abducting a minor for the purpose of manufacturing child pornography or prostitution.

McDonnell also signed Senate Bill 1453, which requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to advise law enforcement agencies of human trafficking issues and House Bill 2190 which requires the Department of Social Services to develop a service plan for victims of human trafficking. McDonnell said between 4 million and 27 million people are said to be trapped in modern-day slavery around the world.

There are 46 states, including Virginia, that have specific laws against human trafficking, said James Dold, policy counsel for Polaris Project, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., that combats human trafficking.

Del. Tim Hugo (R-14th District) had no idea Centreville allegedly has a problem with human trafficking. A father of four young children, Hugo said something had to be done about human trafficking in Virginia.

“You don’t think this happens here but it does,” Hugo said. “Sometimes these people get off with no charges.”