OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A Sand Springs woman's gripping tale of becoming a child prostitute at age 11 captivated a legislative panel exploring ways to deal with what police say is a growing problem of human trafficking in Oklahoma.
Jeannetta McCrary told lawmakers how she went from a straight-A cheerleader to a life of sexual exploitation and prostitution as a victim of child trafficking in the 1980s.
With its capital city located at the crossroads of three major interstates, authorities say Oklahoma is a prime destination for human traffickers, and lawmakers are looking to enact tougher laws designed to get a handle on the problem.
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Director Darrell Weaver says his agency now has a new, seven-man unit dedicated to fighting human trafficking.