Undercover Sting Ends In Prostitution Bust, OKC Volunteers Learn Human Trafficking Trends

Oklahoma City police busted a young woman and her alleged pimp on prostitution charges after an undercover sting.

Friday, March 7th 2014, 10:04 pm

By: News 9


Oklahoma City police busted a young woman and her alleged pimp on prostitution charges after an undercover sting. Police said the pimp was a woman.

Human trafficking experts said they have seen two notable changes with prostitution and sexual exploitation: The victims are younger, and the pimps are not just men anymore.

No Boundaries International is a non-profit Christian outreach, and volunteers are learning about these trends at the center in Oklahoma City.

Learn more about the No Boundaries International organization

"When I see a female out there doing the pimping, it doesn't shock me," Brian Bates said.

Bates is known for exposing Johns and prostitution in Oklahoma City. He was one of the presenters at a seminar at the No Boundaries center.

"The female pimp or the female human trafficker...she very much exists in Oklahoma," said Bates. "She's been arrested, she's been charged, she's been convicted."

Oklahoma City police said an undercover officer met with 20-year-old Leah Robinson at a hotel in the 3700 block of N.W. 39th St. on March 4, 2014, after answering her online escort ad.

When the officer arrived, 29-year-old Jaclyn Lewis was in the room with Robinson.

2/18/2014 Related Story: Human Trafficking Discussed At UCO

According to the police report, "Lewis said she was training the younger female to help her make money and get off the streets."

The report also stated, "Whenever the younger female had a question, she would turn to Lewis for answers."

"Right here, we talk to countless girls who are involved in this on an annual basis," Lori Basey, with No Boundaries, said.

Basey is a trauma therapist and said females who recruit girls are often victims themselves.

"'Why are you recruiting and why are you doing those things? You know the horror and the destruction?' And they said, ‘I didn't have a choice, he forced me to,'" Basey said of her encounters with prostitutes and pimps.

Basey said there is usually a man calling the shots for these females, and the women operate out of fear, hoping to deflect any abuse onto whoever they can recruit.

It is unclear if this was the case for Lewis.

Police said when Robinson agreed to have sex with the undercover officer for $125, both women were arrested.

Police said Lewis rented the room for Robinson and that gift cards,often used to place online ads, were found in Lewis' wallet.

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