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CNN Live Today

Sex Slave Ring?

Aired January 16, 2003 - 11:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Arraignment expected today for the man accused of running a sex slave ring that's randomly kidnapped girls and young women and forced them into prosecution.
Our Jason Carroll has been following this story. Let's go now to Detroit and get the latest on this.

Hello, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And hello to you, Leon.

The prosecutor in this particular case says what we're looking at is just the tip of this iceberg. He says we can expect more victims to come forward. He also says that we can expect more arrests. At this point, one man has been arrested. His name, Henry Davis. He's 32 years old, originally from Chicago, Illinois. He faces charges of kidnapping, pandering, as well as criminal sexual conduct. He is the alleged ring leader in this forced sex prostitution ring. He operated a home here in Chicago. It was called "The Club." His operation also included homes in two other states.

During the press conference, the prosecutor on this particular case described exactly how the operation worked.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL DUGGAN, PROSECUTOR: It appears to have operated much like a cult. That is, they would pick on women or girls who were runaways, who we are estranged from their family, who they thought very vulnerable. They had something they called violating, which is all the people in the house would beat up a woman who has misbehaved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Detectives were able to crack the case after a 17-year- old girl, allegedly kidnapped last Thursday, escaped earlier this week. When Davis took this girl and some of the others out shopping, the 17-year-old girl escaped, ran over to a security guard and told the guard exactly what had happened to her.

Prosecutors believe this ring has been operating, actually, since 1995. But thanks to that 17-year-old girl, again, they were able to crack the case. Davis is expected to be arraigned sometime later on this afternoon, but again, Leon, the prosecutor in this particular case saying that we can expect more arrests in the future -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thanks, Jason. Jason Carroll, reporting live this morning from Detroit.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 16, 2003 - 11:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Arraignment expected today for the man accused of running a sex slave ring that's randomly kidnapped girls and young women and forced them into prosecution.
Our Jason Carroll has been following this story. Let's go now to Detroit and get the latest on this.

Hello, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And hello to you, Leon.

The prosecutor in this particular case says what we're looking at is just the tip of this iceberg. He says we can expect more victims to come forward. He also says that we can expect more arrests. At this point, one man has been arrested. His name, Henry Davis. He's 32 years old, originally from Chicago, Illinois. He faces charges of kidnapping, pandering, as well as criminal sexual conduct. He is the alleged ring leader in this forced sex prostitution ring. He operated a home here in Chicago. It was called "The Club." His operation also included homes in two other states.

During the press conference, the prosecutor on this particular case described exactly how the operation worked.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL DUGGAN, PROSECUTOR: It appears to have operated much like a cult. That is, they would pick on women or girls who were runaways, who we are estranged from their family, who they thought very vulnerable. They had something they called violating, which is all the people in the house would beat up a woman who has misbehaved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Detectives were able to crack the case after a 17-year- old girl, allegedly kidnapped last Thursday, escaped earlier this week. When Davis took this girl and some of the others out shopping, the 17-year-old girl escaped, ran over to a security guard and told the guard exactly what had happened to her.

Prosecutors believe this ring has been operating, actually, since 1995. But thanks to that 17-year-old girl, again, they were able to crack the case. Davis is expected to be arraigned sometime later on this afternoon, but again, Leon, the prosecutor in this particular case saying that we can expect more arrests in the future -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thanks, Jason. Jason Carroll, reporting live this morning from Detroit.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com