Fort Bend County is stepping up its fight against human trafficking with the launch of the Fort Bend Regional Anti-Trafficking Collective, a task force funded by a federal grant of more than $900,000.
District Attorney Brian Middleton emphasized the collective’s mission to eradicate human trafficking in the county.
“This was made possible by a federal grant that’s given us in excess of $900,000 to pursue our law enforcement objectives, which is to be relentless in our eradication of human trafficking in Fort Bend County,” Middleton said.
The task force is designed to address both sex and labor trafficking while supporting survivors through trauma-informed care. Middleton noted that human trafficking has been a top priority for his administration since he took office in 2019, leading to the formation of the Special Crimes Division.
“Traffickers have gone and are going to prison,” said Tracy Bennett, Chief of Special Crimes for the District Attorney’s Office. “They are getting double-digit penitentiary time as a result of the work that has been done.”
Bennett shared that the county has seen significant progress in prosecuting trafficking cases, including a recent case where an individual received 25 years in prison for continuous trafficking of minors. However, she highlighted the ongoing challenges, noting that the county currently has 21 felony trafficking cases pending.
The initiative will focus on three key areas: labor trafficking, male victimization, and trauma-informed, survivor-centered strategies.
Rhonda Kirkendall, the newly appointed task force coordinator, outlined the goals of the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective.
“The task force is designed to identify victims of all forms of human trafficking, to build a sustainable, proactive task force to investigate and prosecute both sex and labor trafficking, and lastly, to create victim-centered approaches that are tailored to the unique needs of survivors,” Kirkendall said.
She emphasized the importance of raising awareness within the community, particularly in industries vulnerable to trafficking, such as agriculture, hospitality, and construction.
“Human trafficking often operates in plain sight,” Kirkendall said. “Businesses may unknowingly contribute to this crime through unethical labor practices or supply chain vulnerabilities. However, these very businesses can play a pivotal role in combating human trafficking by embracing ethical sourcing and providing employee training.”
Kirkendall also shared her personal connection to the cause, revealing that she is a survivor of human trafficking and the only survivor in Texas to serve as a task force coordinator.
“Life has come full circle for me to now work in the very community where I was harmed,” she said. “It is not only an honor, but it is also a deeply personal mission.”