Woman Coerced Runaway Teen Into Prostitution Scheme Out Of Cherry Hill Hotel, Authorities Say

A Westville woman has been indicted on charges she recruited a 16-year-old girl to engage in prostitution with her in South Jersey, and for soliciting clients on Backpage.com, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said on Thursday.

Barbara B. Cantz, 22, was indicted on first-degree charges of conspiracy, human trafficking, promoting prostitution and promoting organized street crime, as well as second-degree charges of facilitating human trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child.

The investigation began in April, when Cherry Hill Police received information that Cantz and the girl were both engaging in prostitution. They notified the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, which alerted the Division of Criminal Justice, which conducted the investigation.

“Cantz allegedly lured a young runaway into a life of prostitution for the despicable purpose of increasing her own profits,” Porrino said. “Our human trafficking laws are intended to protect vulnerable victims and provide stern punishment for those like Cantz who are charged with exploiting them.”

Cantz met the girl in early 2016 and invited the girl to move in with her at a hotel in Cherry Hill, Porrino said.
Police say Cantz was a prostitute, and she encouraged the girl to meet men with her and engage in prostitution so that they could make money.

She had the girl place advertisements with photos of herself on Backpage.com and another website to solicit clients, police claim. She allegedly told the girl to post pictures of them together so they could make more money.

Police say Cantz also asked the girl to provide photos of herself in her underwear, so Cantz could send the photos to prospective clients.

Cantz arranged for them to see men together for sex at various locations in South Jersey, making appointments with up to four men in a single day, Porrino said.

“Our human trafficking unit will continue to partner with law enforcement throughout New Jersey to rescue victims and prosecute those who commit these crimes,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Often these crimes are hidden, so we urge members of the public to call our human trafficking hotline if they see a child or teenager in suspicious circumstances.”

The first-degree human trafficking charge carries a sentence of 20 years without parole to life in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. The other first-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Porrino and Honig urged anyone who suspects human trafficking to call the Division of Criminal Justice’s confidential Human Trafficking Hotline 1-855-END-NJ-HT.

The attached image of Barbara Cantz was posted on the Attorney General's website