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CHICAGO -- Alex Campbell was an expert in his field, according to authorities.
His "field" was the underground world of human trafficking, known familiarly as pimping and prostitution, and Campbell, according to investigators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was a master pimp.
"On a scale of one to 10, he’d be a 12," said DHS investigator Gary Hartwig. "I’ve been in law enforcement for 24 years, and he is actually the worst case of human trafficking we’ve identified in Chicago. Probably nationally."
Prosecutors call Campbell a "predator" and say he targeted foreign-born women with questionable legal status. They say he’d use their precarious status, coupled with heavy doses of violence and intimidation, to control the women and force them into "a form of modern-day slavery."
Last November a federal judge sentenced Campbell to life in prison. It’s believed to be the first time a "pimp" has been sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking in federal court in Chicago.
The federal case against Campbell was bolstered by four women who came forward to testify against him in court. In an effort to protect her identity, NBC Chicago will identify one woman only as "Sarah."
'It still hurts so bad'
In a sit-down interview late last month, Sarah said was completely controlled by Campbell to the point where she felt she might lose her life if she dared to disobey him.
"He told me many times that he would kill me," she recalled.
Prosecutors believe Campbell was grooming Sarah to become a prostitute. It started, they say, with Campbell giving her a legitimate job at one of his Chicago-area massage parlors. They say he then became her friend and eventually her boyfriend. Attorneys say he then began to isolate her and beat her. Then he literally branded her.
"I still have those tattoos, and I can’t get rid of them," Sarah said. "I’m trying to remove them for a long time -- like two years -- and they are still not coming off. It still hurts so bad."
Investigators say Campbell branded most all of his victims. On one woman, they say he tattooed an manifesto so long it covered almost her entire back.
"For him, it let the world know that these women belonged to him," said assistant United States Attorney Diane MacArthur, part of the team that prosecuted Campbell.
Steve Grimes, another assistant U.S. Attorney, said the women would have to explain the markings on their bodies for the rest of their lives anytime they met someone new.
"That was part of his plan," said Grimes.
In court, prosecutors also alleged that Campbell would exact fines from the women he controlled. In the case of one victim, he levied a fine of $14,000 for her to get a green card. She got another $5,000 "fine" simply because she didn’t call him.
A recording of a phone call between Campbell and that woman was played in open court:
Woman: "You telling me that I didn’t call you, that’s why I have to give you $5,000?"
Campbell: "I said you got to give me $5,000 ... and you gonna pay it ---."
Woman: "Yes. You told me --"
Campbell: " ... because you are -- listen! This is my last word to you, and you’d better be glad I’m giving you up to f---ing Sunday to f---ing bring a f---ing-a-s payment in. If you don’t f---ing bring in at least $500 mother-f---ing dollars, we will go to f---ing war. Now get my mother-f---ing money."
Sarah said that in Campbell’s world, beatings were common and intimidation was constant. He even used blackmail, she said, taking a page right from one of two books investigators found in his possession: "The Pimp’s Bible."
"[Sarah] tried to get away," said Grimes. "He forced her to drink alcohol and made her have sex with another woman while he videotaped this. He then threatened to send that video to her family, to expose her, if she did not come back into his grasp."
In court documents, attorneys for Campbell said he maintained his innocence and challenged the allegation that Sarah and others were being held against their will.
"Each expected something from him," Campbell’s attorneys state in the court documents. "Each was more than happy to accept what he gave; all this before the relationships turned ugly."
Prosecutors and investigators said they're pleased with the fact that Campbell received a life sentence in court.
"In the truest form of the word, he is a predator," said Grimes.
Sarah eventually escaped from Campbell and reported him to police. She is now married and doing well.
And if someone thinks it can’t happen to them, Sarah says to think again.
"It happens," she said. "It can happen easily to anyone."
Indicators of Human Trafficking:
- Is the victim in possession of identification and travel documents? If not, who has control of the documents?
- Was the victim coached on what to say to law enforcement and immigration officials?
- Was the victim recruited for one purpose and forced to engage in some other job?
- Is the victim's salary being garnished to pay off a smuggling fee? (Paying off a smuggling fee alone is not considered trafficking.)
- Was the victim forced to perform sexual acts?
- Does the victim have freedom of movement?
- Has the victim or family been threatened with harm if the victim attempts to escape?
- Has the victim been threatened with deportation or law enforcement action?
- Has the victim been harmed or deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care or other life necessities?
- Can the victim freely contact friends or family?
- Is the victim a juvenile engaged in commercial sex?
- Is the victim allowed to socialize or attend religious services?
If you have any evidence of human trafficking, or if you are aware of anyone who is being exploited for prostitution, you should call investigators at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at 1-866-347-2423.
Leave a Comment:
I'm happy he is behind bars. I can also see why people have problems trusting cops.
One descriptive word...
Scumbag.....
Well,...........that about sums things up!
Hey.... Domewars.... what does -" people have problems Trusting cops" have to do with this Post????.... Campbell was not a cop!.... Nowhere in this Article does it say he was!............Do you have Problems with Reading Comprehension??? .....What is going on in that Dome of yours???..........He was an expert in his FIELD which was Human Trafficking and was a Master Pimp!!!...........He was a Tyrant,"Predator" and human Scum!!!!.........He is Finally off the Streets.
Let them women decide his punishment and let him experience the same pain he gave to them. There's no reason the american taxpayer should reward him with a clean bed, bars, and food everyday. If that's not enough, then 1 appeal, 1 bullet.
Huh? What does this have to do with the article? It was the cops who saved these women's lives.
This was Federal Court and early release does not exist, you get ten years you do ten years.
Based on the description in this article, I highly doubt he's the worst human trafficker ever...
make no mistake, he's not a good guy and deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life.
If the police think this guy is the worst, I think they're pretty damn naive about whats happening out there and how much worse it actually is than this guy. If our justice system was really interested in routing out this kind of evil in the world (or even just in america) it would be pretty darn easy...but I think there's a vested interest in making sure that prostitution still exists, it serves a lot of needs for a lot of "upstanding citizens" who dont seem to think there's anything wrong with the "business".
Legalizing it doesnt change the desperation the women are in that cause them to resort to this line of "work". It doesnt change how damaged they are to even choose that option, if it's even a choice. It doesnt change how ruthless the "pimps" or legal brothel owners can be. It wont erase how easily the most vulnerable people in our society will end up being forced into this work because of their legal status (similar to the abuse that migrant farm workers receive because their employers know they arent legal and cant speak up about the abuses they are experiencing).
At the end of the day, im glad this one guy is behind bars for life.
I wont be happy until all the rest are with him.
Slavery. He should know better.
This would be a good place for the Death Penalty. But only if there were no doubt. He will run his business from behind bars. This and drug dealer and rapist should Die. That is the only way to stop them. Just like we have seen over and over, they get out and go right back to it and kill, Rape, sell drugs and Traffic people. Kill them.
Jessica, please share your criteria by which you claim the police are naive. What experiences or knowledge do you have that pales the experience and knowledge of the law enforcement officers'?
Life in prison? Should be executed. Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for this guy for the next 30 years.
Chicago. It's just hard to express in terms descriptive enough, the economic development plan which transpires in The Windy City. Human trafficking, illegal drugs, gangs, exceptionally high homicide rate, poor literacy rates, Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife pleading guilty over the illegal appropriation of political monies. It's no wonder Detroit is having such a rough time keeping up with the neighbors. Progressive Political Solutions.
I'd personally like to see a death sentence for crimes of this nature, especially when the victims are underage.
Some how, I feel justice wasn't served correctly in this case. This is a federal case too, so that just means every tax payer is pitching in to keep this trash fed, clothed and shelter. I rather give my 2 cents to some starving kid in a third world country.
Well there's part of the problem right there. Life sentences should be routine in these cases.
It seems that the 9 (and counting) who voted up his silly and misinformed post are as dense as Domewars is...
Regarding the pimp, Campbell, life imprisonment is not harsh enough punishment for that dirtbag!
they should have hanged that piece of garbage...
But of course it would be CHICAGO.
Yep, and who do we know from Chicago ? Thats correct, Obama ! Now America is aware why he takes us so lightly. His focus isn`t on other`s, look where he`s from, and the things that happen there. You probably could`nt be a citizen in that city and not become infected by all that stuff. Why did it take "Sandy Hook" to happen before he addressed anything regarding guns, and the effect they are having on our society? I sometimes wonder, prior to the young girls death in that city, did the other 570 + victims of gun deaths matter? He never said anything about this prior to the young ladies shooting. I guess, if you live there your not really affected negatively by gun violence, drug violence, or anything else unless your the President and its politically benificial to become involved now that innocent children have died. The tears, all the retoric, especially as it relates to this "doom, and gloom" stuff coming out of his mouth, this guy is full of it period.
If a white man has slaves he's a racist and a black boy has slaves he's a pimp ? LMAO
That's because the pimp's slavery has nothing to do with a particular race. Your comment however indicates you are likely a white racist yourself so understanding that difference may be a problem for you.
Actually considering that slavery is alive and well in Africa today and the Black community has the majority of slave owners inthe US - defined as pimps, you're wrong.
silver - just curious, how come the white person is a MAN and the black person is a BOY?
since im a fan of history, I know exactly why you said that...silver boy.
fyi - sexual slavery = pimp.
white men enslaving illegal mexicans on their farms, just your run of the mill slavery...not pimping.
not that hard to grasp the differences.
now, black men enslaving white men to do manual labor...thats slavery my friend, plain as day.
good grief, silver boy...you should probably just keep your redneck mouth shut.
It's a good thing we are all created equal. Considering 75% of the crime is black, could you imagine if they were superior to us? Hah
Jessica, where do white men enslave Mexican farm workers with beatings and rape? Where do they kidnap them or lie to them about the job they're going to do? Most illegal Mexican farm workers travel voluntarily from area to area following the crops. Yes, they're paid too little for the work they do but they are free to return to their homes in Mexico.
Pimping girls is a different and more coercive situation.
silver-594739
Really? You really can't be that proud of being ignorant can you?
laztstrall
Huh? You think people of skin color darker than yours is inferior to you? Lets see how you do standing in the sun for say a day with no sun screen and only shorts, and then come back and tell us how superior you feel.
Don't feed the trolls
In the Northwest part of Africa people are "captured" and sold as slaves. Most of these people are black and they are captured by ,,, you guessed it,,, members of the radical Muslim Brotherhood. Yes, the religion of love and peace is trafficking in the slave trade even as you are reading this. Doubt me? Simply google it and read all the disgusting details for yourself. Makes one wonder how any person of color was ever able to change their name to Kareem, Muhammed, Rashad or anything else that pays homage to the Muslim faith. This is not a racist rant, it's fact.
And of course since the continent of Africa is populated solely by Blacks and that all American pimps are Black as well...I guess your assertion is true. Can you define doltdom for me please.
Chicago. Murder, mayhem, pimps, gangs, crooked politicians....What more could you ask for?
Alan-962575
Don't kid yourself. This horrific degradation and brutalization of young girls and women happens all over this nation.Victims are often runaways, who get befriended and sucked into the system just as the video shows. I worked with countless girls who had runaway from home problems and gotten caught up into this trap.
They are easy marks to pick off the streets, hanging out looking obviously out of place at bus stops, gas stations, highway rest stops, downtown streets far too late at night.They all have that same look in their eyes broadcasting they need a friend to help them. Working sex slaves are even trained to look for fresh "meat" to add to the club. I've seen them on the West and East coast, North and Southern states, big cities and smaller ones that might shock you.Pimps are getting smarter, moving out of the cities like lice fleeing an exterminator.
As hard as we tried to convince some girls to stay in a safe place until families could come and get them, it was painful and heart wrenching at times to realize some girls refused to listen. Leading to at least three murders in our county.
Ultimately the laws must be a lot tougher, and parents educate their daughters about the dangers on the streets. Including how to handle problems in their own relationships in the family so children don't leave upset. Prevention is still the best defence in these types of awful crimes.
windancersong - there's a difference tho'. THESE are chicago VALUES! The stuff that makes rahm and president stinky (bo) proud.
steve - go sell your partisan ignorance somewhere else, no one but fools are buying it.
figure out how to grow up in the meantime, it'll serve you well the rest of your life.
windancersong
Agreed. However, let's not forget the "throwaway teenagers" whose parents care so little for them that they don't even want to feed and clothe them much less educate them about the dangers of predators.
There's an excellent program for homeless teenagers in Boston, Bridge Over Troubled Waters. I just wish there were more programs out there nationwide. Any money invested in these programs helps us all, as a nation, in the long run.
Also ladies,
Be careful not to feed the trolls.
Also, the sexualization of our culture and especially of younger and younger girls leads to them thinking that it is a way to get status and freedom.
Look at Toddlers and Tiaras. Once they dressed like little girls. Now, like Jon Benet Ramsay, they dress like little hos.
Alan, in answer to your question, the only thing more that I could ask for is that Obama and his minions be returned there ASAP without protection of any guns. Would seem like the right thing to do since they think all citizens of the US should be treated this way except for their elite crowd. I don't think they warrent any of our money or care because they should be treated EXACTLY as they are wanting the American Citizens to be treated.
99% of slave owners in the world are Muslims. But no one wants to talk about that.
At least this "pimp" was an extreme example. In a country of 310 million people if you look hard enough you can find anything. For the Muslims it's a way of life.
used to be the christian way of life, until those damn liberals ruined everything...
you can thank a progressive that we've evolved, you're welcome
Off topic. Don't feed him.
amazing...blacks are always complaining about the slavery there forefathers went through and this black man uses it for his personal gain....really hope he is abused in prison by his brothers..
In most prison culture its the pimp that is admired as part of twisted culture and attitude. These tend to be the "alpha male" of prison along with big time drug dealers. There is documentary movie called "American Pimp" that interviews actual pimps and the culture they exist in and brings out fact from pimps that is a black mans game (Hispanics also very active)They are not treated as the lepers that they are in these disfunctional societies but are treated with almost reverence as they drive through neighborhood in expensive car while wearing flashy jewelry as if preening peacock. When the subject of anti pimp legislation has come from womens groups in past it has been black activists such as Al (The pimp) Sharpton who have fought many times as it represents their constituents. To all the "squares"(ie white bread types) in Minn. with your low crime; don't drink the kool aid of multiculturalism but instead maintain the status quo. Keep this pimp culture refuse out.If you are mad and don't agree with comment just remember the words of civil rights activist, "the truth will set you free".
And still the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois tell their citizens they don't have a right to defend themselves.
Show me 1 source in which the city of Chicago or the State of Illinois has SAID, Americans do not have the right to defend themselves. Stop drinking the NRA Kool Aid.
Actions speak so much louder than words.
Windancer, what nation? What are you talking about? Nation? Canada? Uganda? Nation?
Be careful not to feed him....
Chicago values. The stuff that makes Rahm and President Benghazi proud!
If he's off topic, don't feed him.
As a Black businessman in a highly competive business in the Black community, he may have to cut a few corners in his employment practices and benefits packages but as long as he pays the minimum wage and provides Obama care for his employees he should be fine with the government.
The only reason blacks in American whine about slavery is for whatever free stuff they can get from any sympathizers...you can take the Africans out of Africa but you can't take Africa out of the Africans...
Many of these woman were from Russia, Ukraine and such and were white, at least one of the girls had a masters degree in teaching she had earned before coming to the USA. What has Africa slaves got to do with this story of Human Trafficking? If some of these girls had obtained their degree before coming here it is pretty obvious they were not looking for handouts.
They are only guilty of trusting the wrong person who seen them only as objects to abuse.
Dee, how sad is your life that you walk around with such a pathetic view of things?
let me guess, you claim to be a christian too, eh?
jesus is proud, im sure.
cit -
You didn't notice the slave master was "BLACK"...you probably don't know that is was Africans that rounded up other Africans and sold them into slavery...the original slaves in America were brought to America by the British purchased from the Africans...this was before the Revolutionary War...there's more to history than what happened yesterday...
Jessica -
I have a very realistic view. I'm certainly no christian nor do I believe in anything such as a mythical god. I'm capable of thinking for myself, can you say the same?
be careful not to feed the trolls
dee ten, or whatever, your drool cup needs to be emptied.
Jessica:
Wow. I'm glad you're not racist, but you're definitely prejudiced.
I'm a Christian, and am not racist. I support equality FOR ALL (hey! That includes gays and lesbians getting married!). You're just like racists, looking at the traits of some, and assuming ALL in the group are like that.
That's like someone saying "Oh, you think X, Y, and Z? I bet you're (insert race here), too".
Your mother is proud, I'm sure.
@cit liberty- the article also stated many of the women were here with questionable or no documentation. That seems to have contributed to a lot of these women's woes, educated or not.
You guys are chum for trolls
Disgusted. I am glad these women escaped and he can no longer do this to another person.
Here I thought we solved the slavery question 150 years ago, silly me.
Isn't this outside the scope of the DHS ?
The judge said to him "you are going to prison for the rest of your life".
Then the judge turned to the taxpayers and said "screw you".
I'm sure he will get what he "deserves" in the Pen. Maybe that and a little more.
I was hoping so, but apparently pimps and high level drug dealers are prison royalty.
Good for that judge! Only thousands more scumbags to go! Get them all.
Castration followed by forced feeding would work fine for me.
I hope he soon gets a new meaning to feeling full from his fellow prisoners. I hope they treat him all purdy like.
I encourage anyone interested in the topic of pimps and pimp culture to watch the documentary "American Pimp". This truly is a black mans game and about 99% of arrested pimps are black men and many of the Ho's are intimidated white girls as "A" list pimp must have white girls in harem. If this were white men into this and blacks girls being pimped out there would be never ending NAACP protest. If you reside in area that has this plague then encourage local mugshot listing of arrests as sale paper local to me has done for past few years just to enlighten people. This is largely considered many to be victimless crime so these pimps grow old in the profession with little if any time served.
I here what your sayiung, however "white America" engages in this as well.This would be no differant than me saying that "cocain is a white mans game" Neither is true, criminal activity does`nt discriminate, and neither should you however close to the truth you may think . Pimping ? I would argue that this President is "pimping" America to Niger, in support od France ? Aren`t these the guy`s who left us in Vietnam to finish something they were engaged in? Not sure, but these types of efforts should be spent on getting America back and working, staring another war (which will ultimately will be engaged in) won`t solve America`s domestic problems. He says we need to address these things, then leave the African problem to France. Unless, seeing American lives lost in another country is acceptable.
Federal prison for life is too light a sentence for slave owners. They should be sold into slavery abroad, in Baluchistan.
There, they should be worked and abused, regularly beaten, then healed, then sold to a more sadistic owner. Only then, will they begin to understand the powerless nightmare that is a slave's experience. Their hellish condition should be filmed, and shown at sporting events, gambling casinos, hip-hop dives, and other places where misogynistic gangsta men tend to congregate.
There was a made for TV movie from about 20 years ago about actual case of middle class white girl with big dreams going to east coast city that was ignorant to reality of same. She was enticed by pimp under false pretenses and over course of several days was "broke" by pimp by repeated rape and beating until she was under his control. She was eventually murdered by pimp and discarded in back alley like a dog. Her parents launched their own investigation and uncovered facts of case that cops had no interest in. This was what made movie so entertaining as they uncover the largely unknown (to middle class whites) world of the pimp. The only gripe I had about the movie was they cast a white man as the pimp and the actual pimp was (u guessed it)
The northern states were always big into slavery...the British colonies in America were full of slaves...slavery in America started right there in the northeast...the only reason the north went away from slavery was when the European immigrants coming into America in sufficient numbers to make slavery in the north a bad deal...hiring a trained self motivated worker from Europe was much cheaper than having to support 15 African slaves trying to do the same job...
He'll pay for this in his next life. Here on earth, he'll be made something of a king in prison and he will still have his a$$ kissed, only this time by other prisoners that he'll train so when they get out they can do the same thing to women. Honestly, the hatred men have for women in this world because they can't man up and get some security and self-esteem is astounding.
And I disagree with the young woman, Sarah, that this can happen to "anyone". It cannot happen to women who are strong and value themselves. Such a woman would instantly see the red flags and never get involved with such a man. This man targeted the women he did for a reason - because he is a coward who hates strong women and needs to overpower weaker ones.
May he rot in Hell.
it's a shame that people like you have to rely upon a ficticious afterlife to punish these criminals, relying on a myth to solve problems is the reason we have so many problems, stop it.
He should have gotten life. That being said, if our immigration laws were enforced women wouldn't risk coming here illegally and wouldn't be vulnerable to people like him. In my opinion the US government has been an enabler of scumbag's for way too long.
AKansan, most of the ladies did and do come here legally. They either overstay their visas or their status would become changed by engaging in Prostitution.
He went from porch monkey to the monkey in the pen