A handful of children freed from trafficking by their sports coach

The middle-school-aged kids in Latin America came to their sports club ready to play, to bond with their fellow classmates, and to engage in their love for athletics.

Unfortunately, their coach had other intentions.

It didn’t seem strange when the coach started offering the kids candy, food, even sports equipment. It just seemed like he was being kind. But it quickly became clear that he expected a terrible payment in return.

The coach abused these children, filming and selling the sexually explicit content online. He threatened and intimidated the kids, making them feel like they could not tell anyone.

Fortunately, one of the kids’ parents caught on. They contacted law enforcement, who asked The Exodus Road’s investigative team to step in and help. (AI image representative to protect survivor identity)

Fortunately, one of the kids’ parents caught on. They contacted law enforcement, who asked The Exodus Road’s investigative team to step in and help. Quickly, our advocates were able to prove that the coach was selling sexually explicit content of the minors — an act which always qualifies as sex trafficking. They also found that he had a prior history of arrest for prior crimes.

Law enforcement was able to arrest the perpetrator based on this evidence. The traumatized children are now receiving care from the government’s protective services.

This case is proof of how vital it can be for parents and caregivers to be educated in the warning signs of exploitation. To learn more about how you can equip yourself in that way, visit influenced.org.