U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett announced Tuesday that his office has filed a nine-count federal indictment against an Indianapolis man for human trafficking. These are first-of-a-kind charges in Indiana, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Indiana.
Senate bills stiffening the state’s synthetic drug ban and strengthening Indiana’s human trafficking laws were approved unanimously by the House of Representatives Committee on Courts and Criminal Code Wednesday.
A bill to strengthen the state’s human trafficking law – which was passed last year in anticipation of Indianapolis hosting the Super Bowl, has made it out of committee.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed Senate Enrolled Act 4, which more clearly defines human trafficking and strengthens penalties for that crime. The new law is effective immediately.
Senate Bill 4, legislation introduced to strengthen Indiana’s human trafficking statutes, has passed unanimously in the Senate. Legislators are pushing to make the bill a law before the Super Bowl in Indianapolis Feb. 5.
The Indiana attorney general says a stricter stance is needed.