In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11, 2025, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office is recognizing and highlight the work that the Human Trafficking Task Force has accomplished this past year.
The Berks County Human Trafficking Task Force recognizes that trafficking is a human rights violation that not only assaults the integrity of every victim but is an affront to the residents and citizens of Berks County and the surrounding area. The task force’s mission is to aggressively investigate, identify, and prosecute individuals and organizations involved in the trafficking of innocent individuals under those laws associated with sex and labor trafficking victims. The task force uses a holistic, victim-centered approach to proactively investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes.
The task force is made up of members of local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, as well as trained advocates and community partners. The task force conducts trafficking stings, provides support for identified victims of trafficking, and conducts community outreach and education.
In 2024, the task force conducted two stings to identify those seeking to have sexual contact with minors and another sting to identify those soliciting adults for sexual contact.
In 2024, the task force arrested 9 individuals for attempting to solicit sexual contact with minors, and 20 individuals for soliciting adults for sexual contact.
The task force assisted the Bern Township Police Department in an investigation into labor trafficking, where the task force was able to provide support to the victims. Additionally, the task force assisted two neighboring counties task forces.
The task force’s work seeks to strengthen our community and prevent trafficking. In order to do so, the task force recognizes the importance of providing a holistic approach to preventing trafficking. This includes efforts by advocates who assist victims and by providing education to law enforcement and the community.
The task force is equipped with trained advocates that can assist a victim immediately after being rescued through our collaboration with ZOE International, an international organization that works to fight human trafficking by prevention, rescue, and restoration.
The ZOE advocate acts as a caseworker and assists the victim each step of the way toward a restorative plan and more importantly, gives the victim 24/7 emotional support so the victim has the services and support in place that they need.
In 2024, ZOE advocates were able to interact with 6 victims during Task Force operations, offering support and access to services.
The task force partners with ZOE international to:
Identify youth who are vulnerable to being trafficked or who have previously been exploited. Once identified, ZOE then provides ongoing advocacy services for those children and their families. ZOE facilitates preventative, educational conversations to encourage and ensure their safety from human trafficking in the future. As needed, ZOE advocates meet regularly with at-risk youth and facilitate mentorship with the youth.
Assist victims and survivors of human trafficking on an as-needed basis through legal, medical, and criminal justice systems. The task force provides emotional and legal support for victims and survivors of human trafficking through court cases, trials, and investigations; advocacy, support, safety, and confidentiality through relationship with a ZOE advocate; and works closely with victims to identify their unique needs and connect him/her to service providers, local resources and national resources for ongoing help and restoration.
On one occasion a ZOE advocate was able to provide support following an intervention of victims of labor trafficking.
Visit local Children’s Homes, Children’s Shelters, Youth Intervention Centers, Prisons, and groups that serve at-risk and vulnerable populations to educate on human trafficking and online safety. ZOE helps to identify victims and ensure connections to direct-care services. Through outreach programs, ZOE facilitates groups that encourage physical, emotional, and mental growth of the child and works closely with children who have been trafficked previously and advocate for them through the process of healing, restoration, and reintegration.
ZOE provided anti-trafficking curriculum and activities to over 7 residents at Mary’s Shelter in Reading. 1 of those youth requested individualized and on-going mentorship
Provide human trafficking awareness and training to churches, social workers, social service agencies, businesses, non-profits, schools, health care workers, community groups and hotels. Our presentations educate participants, so they gain a better understanding of human trafficking both locally and nationally so that they are equipped to identify, respond and address the needs of victims in their workplace and community.
In 2024, ZOE facilitated over 19 training and awareness events, engaging more than 1,100 participants in training sessions and reaching an estimated audience of over 8,000 through awareness-related initiatives.
Some examples of community outreach and education include:
The Task Force provided human trafficking training to Berks County Children and Youth Services, Berks County Intermediate Unit, county agencies, homeless service providers and multiple Berks County hospital personnel (administrators, nurses, security officers).
In May, the Berks County Task Force hosted training sessions attended by over 60 law enforcement officers/detectives and representatives from the Lancaster and Berks County Human Trafficking Task Forces. The training provided invaluable guidance on optimizing coordination and outreach between law enforcement and advocates, emphasizing the importance of nurturing relationships with trafficking victims through compassion, consistency, and sustained effort.
Coordinator Brad Ortenzi testified at the Pennsylvania Senate Committee hearing in January 2023 on the Human Trafficking prevention programs established in Berks and Lancaster counties.
The task force partners with North Star Initiative:
North Star Initiative’s community funded the creation of a new emergency shelter to serve survivors with immediate need. This shelter opened in Fall 2024 and is available for victims with a desire for immediate placement in a safe shelter. North Star Initiative liaises with law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s office to provide emergency care for victims.
North Star Initiative (NSI) hosted an annual awareness event, Welcome to the Battle in Jan. 2024, bringing together the community to join the battle to end trafficking. North Star is again hosting this event dedicated to empowerment (recognize the myths and know the facts!) and collaboration (meet the organizations working together to end trafficking!) on January 28, 2025. Details and registration at https://www.northstarinitiative.org/events/welcome-to-the-battle-2025.
“The Best Thing That Happened to Me”: Diane’s Journey from Exploitation to Freedom
In March 2023, a ZOE Advocate first met Diane (name changed to protect her identity) during a Berks County Human Trafficking Task Force sting operation. Diane’s story echoed the experiences of so many others trapped in sexual exploitation. She shared that she had been “in the life” since the age of 19, was battling addiction, and had two daughters she deeply cared about.
Over the next year, the ZOE advocate consistently reached out to Diane, offering encouragement and resources. Even when Diane wasn’t ready to respond, the ZOE advocate remained a steady presence, ensuring Diane knew someone cared. Then, in February 2024, the ZOE advocate received a message that made the months of persistence worthwhile.
Diane shared incredible news—she had turned her life around. She was clean, had left exploitation behind, and was working a legitimate job with a fencing company. With gratitude in her heart, she explained how pivotal her recent experiences had been: “I’m trying to rebuild and make new paths for myself, so I honestly think that getting caught in the sting was the best thing that happened to me. I just wanna say your team and organization is awesome, and if there is anything I can do for you guys, please reach out.”
Diane expressed her desire to live a new life, away from the chaos and harm she had endured for so many years.
At ZOE, our advocates remain committed to walking alongside individuals like Diane, offering compassion, resources, and a way out of exploitation. Every call, text, or outreach effort is a seed of hope, planted in faith that transformation is possible. Diane’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.
Collaboration Brings Freedom and Hope
In April, two individuals were rescued from a labor trafficking situation through the collaborative efforts of the Berks County Human Trafficking Task Force and local law enforcement. These survivors were provided safe housing and essential resources as they prepared to testify against theirexploiter. Berks County Victim/Witness Advocates played a key role in addressing their immediate needs, ensuring they felt supported during this critical time.
ZOE International reached out for community assistance, the response was immediate. Two local churches and a women’s ministry stepped in without hesitation, donating gift cards, clothing, shoes, and personal care items. This outpouring of generosity demonstrated the power of collective action, turning a moment of crisis into a story of hope and restoration. Together, we showed that no one fights trafficking alone.