Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Angelique Danisse Epps and Antione D. Ford met two runaway sisters (14 and 15 years old) in Omaha, Nebraska and transported them to Grand Rapids, MI. Epps had a record of prostitution offenses, and planned to teach the girls how to be child prostitutes according to the GR Press. Ford is a gang member, and both Epps and Ford may have been attached to a murder as well immediately before they left Omaha.
Location
United States · Grand Rapids, MI · 2001 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
Epps and Ford were awaiting prosecution; I have not been able to find a sentence. This was, however, before the TVPA revision of 2003 and 2005.
The girls were rescued and returned to thier family. The 14 year old testified in court; the 15 year old ran away again soon after rescue.
Returned home--but the 15 year old ran away again.
"Woman planned to 'teach us' to be prostitutes, teen testifies; A hearing begins for a pair who befriended two runaways and brought them to Grand Rapids." Grand Rapids Press, Aug. 1, 2001
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.