More Arrests Expected in Linn County Prostitution Sting, Possibly Human Trafficking

A Marion police lieutenant says more arrests are expected from a last week that led to 40 arrests, and human trafficking was not ruled out as a possible charge.

Human trafficking is a problem often connected to prostitution. Thus far, there have been no human trafficking charges in the Linn County case, which was conducted with support from more than 20 law enforcement agencies.

When Scott Elam, Marion police investigations lieutenant, was asked if they found any evidence of human trafficking in their sting, he declined to answer, but offered a nugget of a hint.

"We still have some cases in investigation," he said. "There will still be some arrests made."

Some evidence points to a human trafficking presence in Iowa. According to former state senator Maggie Tinsman, Leonard Ray Russell was convicted of human trafficking in 2008, after bringing two runaway teens from Omaha to Iowa for prostitution and performing at strip clubs.

Earlier this year, led to human trafficking, pimping and pandering charges for a Waterloo woman accused of involving her younger sister in prostitution and allegedly taking money from her after she collected the money from these acts.

A Quad City Times story reported that Scott County is one of only 12 counties nationwide involved in a human trafficking study.

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