KENNER, La. — Two women were arrested and charged with sex trafficking after Kenner Police got a tip and rescued a 15-year-old girl who, according to a report from our partners at The Times-Picayune, was being taught how to “work Bourbon Street” through advertised sex acts.
On Friday, Jazmin McKinnie, 31, of Mt. Claire, Louisiana, and Cora Beuving, 26, of Scappoose, Oregon, pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Jefferson Parish court.
According to our partners, Kenner PD detectives believe the women, along with a man not yet arrested, planned to teach the girl how to participate in commercial sex acts.
The rescue was a result of Kenner authorities acting on a tip from federal authorities that the girl, a runaway from Texas, was staying with the women and the man at a motel in the 2800 block of Williams Boulevard.
On May 25, police investigated the motel and confirmed the tip.
Kenner Police Detective Katherine Stroyewski told the news outlet, that investigators learned that Beuvig and the man allegedly helped the girl post advertisements for sex acts online that included photos of herself.
Text messages obtained by investigators showed the women’s plans to show the girl how to “work Bourbon Street” Stroyewski said at a court hearing in June.
Beuving told authorities she didn't know the girl was 15 and believed she was in her 20s, according to Detective Stroyewski.
Beuving is being held on a $255,000 bond and McKinnie on a $250,000 bond.
The arrests come as the FBI recognizes World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
“Right now across the FBI we have more than 1,600 pending cases involving human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Division.
“The overwhelming majority of these cases involve U.S. citizens who are recruited and trafficked right in their hometowns and even their homes. We understand the victims of these crimes are often coerced with money or drugs and our victims specialists work closely with them to reduce the trauma of the criminal justice system and ensure their needs are met every step of the way,” added Myrthil.
Since 2020, the FBI has received nearly 2000 human trafficking tips from the public.
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