READING, Pa. —Pennsylvania State Police said they’ve shut down a human trafficking ring.
According to troopers, a confidential tip led them to investigate the human trafficking network in Berks County that operated from December 2019 through April 2020.
State police said they found six female victims between the ages of 20 and 35.
According to court documents, the ring used hotels in the Reading area.
Thompson took pictures of the victims and used dating sites to set up meetings, investigators said, and Rivera and Ellis utilized drugs to lure some of the victims into prostitution and control them.
Investigators said the victims received payments from the customers which they would turn over to Rivera, Ellis or Thompson.
Investigators believe the victims feared for their lives.
“Human trafficking is a top priority on our list, to bring justice to these victims and hold accountable who is responsible for developing organizations such as this one,” Cpl.
Brent Miller said.
Police are not looking for any additional victims and believe they’ve shut down the entire ring.
The following three people are now in prison and face a list of charges:
- Hector Rivera, 50, of Reading
- Dushawn Ellis, 31, of Reading
- Bridget Thompson, 36, of Lancaster