Human Trafficking Ring In North Jersey Preyed On Teens: Prosecutors

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Two people have been accused of running a “human trafficking ring” in North Jersey involving three juvenile victims, state prosecutors announced Tuesday. A third suspect was also indicted after he allegedly paid to have sex with one of the teens.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police released details about two separate human trafficking investigations in Essex and Cumberland counties (see below).

ESSEX COUNTY

Prosecutors said Khailah Meekins, 21, and her co-conspirator, Donte Barkley, 28, both of Newark, were indicted after an investigation revealed that they were sexually trafficking two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old.

Prosecutors accused Meekins and Barkley of subjecting the teens to threats and physical violence, including hair pulling, biting, being hit with an extension cord, punching and stomping.

Authorities allege that Meekins and Barkley arranged the sexual encounters through smartphone apps, creating online ads that included nude photos of the juveniles. Meekins and Barkley would then bring the teens to short-term rentals and hotels, where their patrons were waiting to exchange money and sexually assault their victims.

Barkley allegedly arranged the sexual encounters for the trafficking victims, told them which sexual acts they were expected to perform and recommended to Meekins how much to charge the customers, getting a piece of the proceeds in return, prosecutors said.

A third suspect, Richard Johnson, 24, of Irvington, was indicted in August on related charges – including aggravated sexual assault (1st degree) – after allegedly paying for one of the minors to engage in sexual activity with him, prosecutors added.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

In South Jersey, a human-trafficking ring allegedly lured women from throughout the region and operated a brothel out of a Cumberland County home, prosecutors said.

Four people were indicted for their alleged roles in the criminal organization, which forced victims into prostitution out of a home on North Laurel Street in Bridgeton. The criminal organization picked up new women every week and forced them to perform sex with hundreds of men. They recruited the victims by lying that they would be working as "dancers," authorities said. Read More: Sex-Trafficking Ring In NJ Home Lured New Victims Every Week: AG

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