Ashley was 16 years old and living in foster care in Minnesota. She connected with a man who promised to take care of her and be her boyfriend. He sent her bus tickets to join him in California. She ran away from foster care to be with him. When she arrived he forced her to sell sex. If she refused he beat her into compliance. Eventually Ashley decided to confide in a customer who took her to a hotel in a different city. At the hotel Ashely met a man who offered to protect her. He told her she would sell sex for him, but he would not beat her up. Ashley wanted his protection so she agreed. He took her and two other victims to cities across the U.S. She was sold for sex in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Illinois, and Texas. However, he didn’t keep his promise to Ashley. He took all the money she earned, beat her, and gave her drugs. He was arrested one night after getting into a fight. He pled guilty to sex trafficking and was sentenced to 15 years.
