MEMPHIS: Oct 21, 2014 Man faces 16 counts of Human Trafficking

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A Memphis man is in jail, facing 16 counts of human trafficking after one of his victims was able to escape and help lead investigators to his home.

Victims’ advocates say these women deserve justice, but the justice process can take a long time.

“These pimps and traffickers are very familiar with the law. They study the law and try and find as many loopholes as possible,” Kimberly Benson said.

She helps human trafficking victims and prostitutes reclaim their lives through the organization A Bridge of Hope. She says a lot of these victims pass through our region, and it’s a much bigger problem than anyone realizes.

“Because we are a major thoroughfare for transportation that makes us a thorough fare for bodies being transported,” she said.

Police say Travis Griggs, who used to live on Whitney street would beat his victims, leaving them disfigured when they would refuse to work for him. He even used websites like backpage.com to pimp out his victims.

He’s facing 16 counts of human trafficking and was already on probation when he was arrested in June last year. Now a judge will decide if he can continue to stay in jail.

“You can’t offend and then go back out like nothing has happened,” Benson said. “We need to make an example out of people who are continuing to belittle victims, and victimize.”

Benson says it’s hardest on the victims who can’t always hide from their abusers, because they know how to find them and that fear follows them around when the pimps are able to walk free.

Griggs will be back in court on November 4th.

You can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888.