Hidden in plain sight: Sex trafficking in Reno
Note: This article discusses sex trafficking and violence. If you or somebody you know may be a victim of trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1‑888‑373‑7888, or refer the list of resources at the end of this article.
By Nicole Fernandez
After being abducted at gunpoint and trafficked across state lines following an online encounter, a Reno woman endured months of captivity and abuse before a stranger’s vigilance led to her rescue—a story that exposes the crisis of sex trafficking in northern Nevada.
Experts warn the line between sex work and trafficking is often blurred by coercion and manipulation, with most victims targeted by people they know, and vulnerable groups like LGBTQ+ and homeless youth are at greatest risk.
As trafficking increasingly moves online and traffickers exploit moments of distraction and vulnerability, local advocates and law enforcement are intensifying efforts to protect at-risk populations, support survivors and urge the public to recognize red flags and report suspected trafficking—reminding the community that awareness and action can make the difference between captivity and escape.
Lynn’s survival story
“I woke up in a warehouse with my hands tied behind my back, and girls lined up next to me,” Lynn, a Reno local, said. “I just remember the gun. Then I woke up there, waiting to be bought and transported somewhere else.” Lynn is not her real name but is being used to protect her identity while sharing her story.
What began as an online connection with a potential customer quickly became a brutal example of sex trafficking in Reno. Lynn met a man through a social app where he responded to her posts geared toward a single night of sex work.
“He saw something wasn’t right — and he didn’t ignore it.”
When Lynn arrived, the stranger pulled out a weapon and chloroformed her. The attacker then transported Lynn to California and kept her under confinement. For months, her trafficker raped her and sold her to men.
Lynn escaped only because one of those men who paid for sex with her noticed signs of fear, scripted speech and guarded body language. Her client knew the signs of sex trafficking, and it saved her life.
The scope of the crisis
U.S. Law defines sex trafficking as when fraud, force or coercion induces a commercial sex act. Though critics argue that legalized sex work implies consent, experts and survivor advocates insist that sex trafficking cases blur the line between legality and autonomy.
“Prostitution is falsely attributed to feeding the criminal enterprise of sex trafficking, which is pervasive in Nevada,” said Madison Johnson, a published scholar at UNLV. “Sex work and sex trafficking are both transient and discreet in nature and thus are difficult for law enforcement and casino workers to distinguish between the two.”
In trafficking, consent means more than simply saying “yes.” Sex trafficking and consensual sex work differ profoundly: trafficking is controlled by outside forces, while true consent requires the uninfluenced freedom to say “no.”
Melissa Holland, co-founder and executive director of Awaken Reno, said “…True consent is freely given, without pressure, power imbalances or leverage. None of that exists in trafficking, so it can never truly be called consensual.”
The Polaris Project reports that traffickers often make individuals appear to consent by using tactics like financial coercion, manipulation and violence—methods that strip away their agency. In these cases, individuals base consent on survival and desperation, not a free choice to exchange services for monetary gain. Research shows that many trafficking victims do not recognize themselves as being victims due to various factors surrounding their consent to participate in sex work.
Nevada ranks 15th in the nation for the number of human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2025. Out of 236 reports, 78.4% involve adults and 19.9% involve minors. Interviews with local residents and organizations show that incidents of sex trafficking in Reno are steadily rising, driven by the city’s location, culture and vulnerable populations.
Sides of the trade
Nevada is a hub for sex trafficking in the United States today, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Reno’s location along the I-80 and I-580, proximity to California and its transient population make it a trafficking location.
Reno is also home to events that attract thousands of people each year, drawing traffickers and outsiders to the city for potential victims. In an interview, Washoe County Human Services Agency officials said, “Reno’s major highways and large events attract traffickers.”
More than 1,500 women and girls are sold for sex every month in Nevada, often through online platforms, according to Awaken.
Personal bonds
Officials with the National Human Trafficking Hotline said in an interview that 81% of sex trafficking victims are recruited by someone they know well. Of those cases, 42% involve a family member and 39% involve an intimate partner.
“It’s not a common form of recruitment for a trafficking situation for someone to be abducted,” said Megan Cutter, director of National Human Trafficking Hotline. “That’s not to say it never happens. But most commonly, the trafficker is someone that the person being victimized knows whether they’re a family member, a friend, an intimate partner, someone that they love and that they trust, even.” said Monica DuPea
Monica DuPea from the Nevada Youth Empowerment Project (NYEP) said, “It starts as a favor to secure housing, drugs or to make their partner or family happy. Then, sex work becomes a regular occurrence, which is highly common with youths since they are so vulnerable and trusting with those they believe love and care about them.”
She said that can look like a romantic partner who becomes abusive and controlling, a parent or family member exchanging access for money, drugs and resources or a coach, teacher, pastor or other authority figure grooming a child over time.
“A total stranger trafficks less than 1% of survivors that come to Xquisite,” said Brenda Sandquist, executive director of Xquisite, a nonprofit focused on victims of human trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence. “More often than not, a survivor is groomed to believe that they are not being trafficked at all. Many victims don’t even think they are being trafficked until they are confronted with that possibility later on in their lives.”
Traffickers exploit an estimated 300,000 children every year, according to data from the FBI. In many cases, family complicity goes unrecognized due to abuse masquerading as trust. A teen may appear to be in a relationship or helping their family, when they are, in reality, being sold and manipulated for another person’s gain.
A survivor tells The Polaris Project, “It took me 10 years to realize: Hey. Wow. I was trafficked, because my situation was so different from what I had seen represented as trafficking.”
Traffickers manipulate situations to keep victims unaware of their abuse. The Polaris Project reports that traffickers groom many sex trafficking victims into believing they choose to engage in commercial sex and that they “owe” their traffickers for money, shelter and protection.
The online trap
The second growing face of sex trafficking in Reno is online grooming, mirroring the more dramatic, violent scenarios people often associate with fiction.
Social media, chat apps, gaming platforms and dating sites are now common hunting grounds for traffickers. Predators exploit anonymity and emotional vulnerability to build fake relationships. Then, they lure victims into dangerous situations under the guise of love, employment or friendship.
The Department of Homeland Security, in a social media safety resource, notes, “While social media platforms are excellent tools for connecting and sharing information, features like user profiles, timelines, status updates, friend lists and messaging services can allow dangerous actors to gain insights into your daily activities. This information may be used to disrupt your life or target you, your colleagues, or your family.” PHOTO: Kaboompics via Pexels
The Department of Homeland Security states, “While the Internet is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, predators oftentimes take advantage of this and actively stalk online meeting places such as chat rooms and social media sites to lure their victims.”
Awaken estimates that over 5,000 women and girls are being sold for sex illegally online at any point in time.
The United Nations reports that there are a few actions that are essential to ensure one doesn’t fall prey to traffickers online. These include being wary of jobs that seem too good to be true, refraining from oversharing, only accepting friend requests from trusted people and keeping private information to oneself, such as location, personal stories, fears and goals.
Sharing limited information reduces risk by giving predators less to exploit.
Situational awareness
Although cases that are random make up a small percentage of trafficking cases, some people still fall prey to traffickers by being unaware of their surroundings and potential markers of a trafficker in their midst. Research in situational crime prevention shows that a lack of environmental awareness significantly increases a person’s vulnerability to harm, particularly in public spaces where offenders seek easy targets.
Distracted people are easy targets. When walking, sitting in a car, entering homes or grocery stores, many people have their heads down staring at their phone while being completely unaware of their surroundings.
Survivors have repeatedly shared how traffickers take advantage of moments when people are emotionally or physically distracted. When a person is tuned out, they are accessible to potential traffickers.
Organizations such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security outline several approaches to reduce one’s vulnerability in public places to prevent abduction by a trafficker: Traffickers operate in areas where individuals are distracted, such as parking lots, transit stations or isolated walkways. Awareness in these areas include having keys in hand, scanning the area consistently and emergency services readily available to call.
According to a public safety guide from the Department of Homeland Security, the use of cell phones and headphones should be used cautiously in unfamiliar or high-risk areas. Maintaining regular check-ins with trusted individuals can add an extra layer of safety, as well as keeping someone else aware of locations and plans at all times.
Experts also recommend always acknowledging intuitive responses. A sense of unease is a warning sign, not an unreasonable fear. When discomfort or fear arises, treat it as a valid warning and tell a trusted person where the danger is taking place. Take immediate steps to create distance from the threat and involve law enforcement.
LGBTQ+ and homeless youths
Homeless youth and LGBTQ+ teens are especially vulnerable to sex trafficking. Often already disconnected from protective structures, they’re easy targets for promises of food, shelter or affection. Safe Embrace, a Reno-based organization, houses all genders who have been sex trafficked and provides a safe space for people of all ages.
“Women are portrayed as primary victims of trafficking,” said Leslie Berg, the client services manager at Safe Embrace. “It’s important to remember the LGBTQ+ community and homeless youths are also large targets. It’s not just chains in a basement; it can be control, coercion and manipulating people based on their need to survive.”
“When young people grow up with trauma, you can’t judge how they try to survive.”
According to the National Network for Youth, 1 in 5 runaway and homeless youth are a victim of human trafficking, including sex trafficking. While homeless, 68% of youth reported being trafficked or engaging in survival or commercial sex.
“When young people grow up with trauma, you can’t judge how they try to survive. Many have been groomed from childhood to believe their only value is in being used. That makes sex work feel less like a choice and more like the only option they’ve ever known,” Holland from Awaken said.
According to the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges based in Reno, roughly 60% of children trafficked for sex had contact with the child welfare system. A study from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that among runaway youth likely trafficked, 88% had been under social services or foster care when they left.
Escaping sex trafficking safely
When survivors leave a trafficking situation, they aren’t just running from a trafficker. They’re escaping a network of people, including community members and even family, who were profiting off their existence. The profit loss makes them a target. Survivors need more than bravery to leave. Survivors need a solid, protected exit plan.
The National Trafficking Hotline recommends creating a safety plan, which includes assessing the current risk and identifying potential safety concerns, creating strategies for reducing the threat of harm and outlining real responses when safety is threatened.
Local organizations like Awaken, Safe Embrace, Exquisit, The Eddy House, NYEP and trusted law enforcement officials can help create exit strategies specific to the individual. These groups offer essential services, from emergency shelter to trauma-informed care, while collaborating to relocate survivors to secure locations where traffickers, families or enablers cannot reach them.
Refuge for Women, which operates national safe‑houses, offers specialized emergency and long‑term housing for sex trafficking survivors, often for up to 12 months. These are secure, undisclosed locations staffed and structured around evidence‑based, trauma‑informed care.
Their goal is to physically remove survivors from dangerous environments and give them time and space to rebuild without immediate threats. They are one of the many organizations fighting to protect survivors, as well as Safe House Project, Hope Against Trafficking, Unlikely Heroes and Covenant House International.
Sandquist from Exquisit explains why this matters: “When survivors remain local after escape, the chances of removal from care or revictimization spike. Relocation in partnership with national organizations, law enforcement and when necessary, the FBI, provides a plan that will work best for the individual’s needs,” she said.
Survivors of sex trafficking in Washoe County can receive a forensic medical exam with the support of trained advocates in the Victim Services Unit with Crisis Support Services who document every detail, available at any hour of the day for support and direction. The process follows trauma-informed care, ensuring survivors are treated with dignity, given choices and connected to ongoing support while their experience is carefully recorded.
“We slow down the process, give choices at every decision point and reinforce that the survivor is the one in control. Sometimes, that means respecting their choice to walk away and return later,” said Shaun Mabanta of the Victim Services Unit. By providing 24/7 crisis support services, victims are able to find resources that will help them develop a case with law enforcement, talk with a trained advocate and find a bed for the night.
Efforts to tackle sex trafficking
Law enforcement in Reno prosecutes traffickers instead of punishing the people they exploit, which is a relief for survivors who come forward.
Law enforcement officers often withhold information because their undercover operations demand secrecy. In sex trafficking cases, they avoid public disclosure to protect ongoing investigations and safeguard victims.
Chris Johnson, public information officer at the Reno Police Department, emphasized that recovering from sex trafficking requires a deeply individualized and long-term approach.
“You can’t apply a generalized advocacy model to something this personal,” he said.
Since launching in 2020, Reno’s HEAT (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) unit has investigated trafficking cases. Detectives create online profiles that mimic real victims to target predators on platforms like Roblox, YouTube and other messaging apps.
“Traffickers exploit whatever is missing in a child’s life—love, safety, a sense of belonging,” Johnson said. “They often invest weeks or months to gain control.”
After recovering victims, police collaborate closely with victim advocates and NGOs like Awaken. Together, they work to break trauma bonds, coordinate relocation on a case-by-case basis and monitor survivors’ long-term well-being—even years later.
Johnson pointed to the Northern Nevada Anti-Trafficking Task Force, a multi-agency coalition that meets monthly to shape policy and influence legislation. Law enforcement and advocates regularly present real cases to lawmakers to push for systemic change.
He also urged parents to take control of digital safety—not just by installing monitoring apps, but by having honest, ongoing conversations with their kids about grooming, exploitation and boundaries.
“This is your phone that they get to use,” he said, stressing that parental oversight plays a critical role in protecting children in online spaces.
In cases involving minors, the Nevada Department of Family and Child Services uses its Human Trafficking Coalition to provide resources, housing and legal assistance for youth victims and monitor their cases with the Washoe County Human Services Agency.
The Department of Health and Human Services has emergency funding to help survivors of human trafficking relocate when they’re in dangerous or unstable situations. Local agencies can request support through the VHT Emergency Services Request Form when searching for housing, transportation and emergency services for survivors of sex trafficking.
Relocation is a huge facet that is supported by law enforcement, government and local agencies in Reno. Traffickers often use surveillance, community networks and emotional pull using trauma bonding and emotional manipulation to reclaim control.
“You can’t just give someone a bed and say ‘you’re safe now,'” DuPea of NYEP said. “They need years of healing, therapy [and] relationships with people who won’t manipulate them. They need a glimmer of a future without being victimized again.”
Law enforcement will manage cases that involve relocating victims to a new area, providing mental health services and legal assistance. By moving survivors to secure, unknown locations, national organizations that serve trafficking survivors can sever those connections.
“Partnerships with local police, the FBI and trauma‑aware facilities are essential pieces of helping survivors find safety,” said Xquisite’s Sandquist. “The police departments in northern Nevada work closely with local agencies to ensure that sex trafficking victims have a chance to survive.”
Warning signs of sex trafficking
Sex trafficking victims don’t always look like victims. Many aren’t shackled or locked in basements. But rashes or scars around the wrists and ankles can show that the horrors are persisting behind closed doors.
Trafficking victims are in public, often being a coworker, a teenager at the mall or a student. Victims are still attending school and work, while being coached to smile, lie and never ask for help.
Advocates urge people to stay alert for red flags: a much older “boyfriend” or a secretive, overly intense new relationship; sudden withdrawal from family, friends or school; and the appearance of expensive items with no clear source of income.
Other warning signs include constant phone calls or texts tracking someone’s location, visible fear of being watched or punished and tattoos that resemble names, barcodes or symbols of ownership. Victims may also show hyper-vigilance, use scripted language or struggle to speak for themselves.
Traffickers often keep victims sober during their time with clients, exacerbating their propensity for bruising when fighting men back. Traffickers know buyers want the fantasy to feel real, and that requires someone who can act out the role.
“There’s a period when pimps don’t want the girls to be on drugs. The addiction usually develops later, as a way to numb the pain. In the beginning, everything is about catering to the buyer’s fantasy,” Holland said. “They’d rather have someone who can act out the role, so the scene feels more real. Survivors are dehumanized in the process. The traffickers won’t let them party or use drugs because it doesn’t fit the image they’re selling.”
Addiction usually comes later, when survivors use drugs to cope with the trauma. Trafficking doesn’t always look like drugs and parties. Many victims are trapped in every stage of abuse, including the moments when they are kept sober.
See something, say something
Most people want to help, but don’t know how. And for good reason: confronting a trafficker can be dangerous. But reporting? That can save a life.
Representatives from Safe Embrace, NYEP, Xquisite, Awaken and local law enforcement all agree: “If something feels wrong, it probably is. Trust your instincts and say something.”
If you suspect someone is under duress or involved in trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 and notify local law enforcement.
The Reno Airport and other locations with the Safe Place sign can be places where trafficking victims can get help to escape.
Take notes on everything in sight. License plates, descriptions of people and behaviors, times and locations matter.
Victims may be under threat or supervision if they are in public. Confrontation can backfire or cause further harm, putting the one intervening in danger.
Discreetly take pictures of the people you suspect are involved with the trafficking at hand, and give them to local authorities. This can help save someone’s life.
Listen without judgment. Survivors often blame themselves. Listening, taking note of concerning factors and supporting the individual’s honesty is vital.
When someone appears confused about where they are, speaks in a scripted or robotic way or shows signs of neglect like dirty clothes, untreated illness or malnourishment, they may be under coercive control and unable to leave the situation freely.
The Human Trafficking Hotline identified 112,822 unique cases of human trafficking since 2007, and anonymous tips identified more than 218,000 victims.
Surviving trafficking is only the beginning. Many survivors are trafficked again when they lack long-term housing, employment support and trauma-informed care.
A rare escape, and a call to act
The survivor at the start of this story is still healing. Her experience was brutal. Her escape was rare, but her message is clear.
“He saw me,” she said, referring to the client who helped her escape. “He saw something wasn’t right—and he didn’t ignore it.”
In cases of sex trafficking in Reno, most victims don’t get the chance to escape, but awareness and action can change that. The most ordinary situations are where you should always be aware and alert. Trafficking can be obvious, but more often than not, it hides in plain sight.
Resources
National Human Trafficking Hotline: Available 24/7, nationwide.
Call: 1‑888‑373‑7888
Text: “Be Free” to 233733
Reno Police Department – Victim Services Unit: Immediate victim advocacy and crisis support through RPD.
Call: (775) 657‑4519
Safe Embrace – Reno/Sparks Crisis Hotline: For immediate local help with domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking survivors.
Call: (775) 322‑3466 (Available 24/7)
Exquisit (Northern Nevada’s “Diamond Strong Freedom Center” ): Immediate support for trafficking victims and domestic assault. Available 24/7.
Call or Text: 775-434-7255
Reno & Northern Nevada Anti-Trafficking & Homeless Youth Support Network
Awaken: Faith-based nonprofit providing prevention, education, housing, and holistic restoration services for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.
Safe Embrace: Operates the largest safe house in the Reno–Sparks area, offering emergency shelter, counseling, legal support, and crisis intervention for trafficking and abuse survivors.
Eddy House: The central intake center for homeless and at-risk youth (ages 18–24) in Northern Nevada. They offer drop-in services, emergency shelter, meals, counseling, and transitional living programs.
Nevada Youth Empowerment Project (NYEP): Empowers homeless young women with housing, support services, and advocacy—often coordinated through Eddy House and partner organizations.
Project Help Network (PHN): Provides comprehensive wraparound services, including housing, employment aid, legal help, and innovative shared‑living models for trafficking survivors and homeless individuals.
Exquisit: Based in Carson City, this nonprofit empowers survivors of sex trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault—offering trauma-informed support groups, legal services, and a 24-hour emergency hotline.
Reno Police Department HEAT: The RPD’s specialized unit for combating human exploitation and trafficking, which includes rescue operations, victim advocacy, and long-term safety support.
Crisis Support Services of Northern Nevada’s Victim Services Unit: VSU’s team of trained advocates provides 24/7 crisis response, emotional support, and guidance through medical exams, police reports, and community resources—helping survivors move from victimization toward healing.
