Human trafficking isn’t just a distant problem for Louisianans. It happens regularly in communities across our state, from New Orleans and Baton Rouge to Lafayette, Lake Charles, and beyond. At Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers, we believe every survivor of trafficking deserves justice, dignity, and the resources to rebuild their life.
Our attorneys are committed to holding traffickers, as well as the corporations, hotels, online platforms, and others who enable or profit from trafficking, accountable. We approach every case with compassion, discretion, and the determination to secure compensation and accountability.
If you or someone you love was affected by trafficking, you shouldn’t have to face the aftermath alone. Our sex trafficking lawyers have the experience, resources, and compassionate approach to help you move forward. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Understanding Trafficking
Human trafficking is defined under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1591) as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, or obtaining of a person through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of labor or commercial sex acts. Traffickers often prey on vulnerable members of society, including runaway youth, immigrants, foster children, and victims of poverty or abuse.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, traffickers may use threats, psychological manipulation, substance dependency, or financial control to trap victims in cycles of exploitation. While Louisiana’s coastal location and network of major highways make it a hub for commerce, those same factors also make it a corridor for human trafficking.
Human Trafficking in Louisiana: A Closer Look
Across Louisiana, law enforcement continues to uncover heartbreaking cases involving local victims and traffickers operating right here in our own communities. The following recent cases highlight how widespread and close-to-home this crisis truly is:
- Runaway Child Trafficking Case: In Jan. 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, reported that a Louisiana man was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for sex trafficking a runaway child across state lines. Federal prosecutors detailed how he used social media to recruit and exploit the victim. This is a stark reminder that trafficking often begins online before moving across jurisdictions.
- Roblox Exploitation Lawsuit: In Aug. 2025, the Associated Press reported that a Louisiana family filed suit after discovering that their child had been groomed and exploited through the popular online game Roblox. The case underscores how technology platforms can become tools for traffickers and why tech companies must be held accountable when they fail to protect users.
- Federal Sex Trafficking in Louisiana: In Jan. 2024, a press release from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported that a Texas man pleaded guilty to federal sex trafficking charges tied to victims in Louisiana. This case underscores the interstate nature of many trafficking operations, where perpetrators cross state lines to exploit vulnerable individuals.
These stories reveal a devastating truth: trafficking doesn’t only occur in dark alleys or foreign countries. Instead, it can and often does take place in Louisiana neighborhoods, schools, and online spaces we assume are safe.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Human Trafficking
Civil lawsuits can target individual traffickers as well as third parties who knowingly allowed, ignored, or benefited from trafficking activity. These parties can include:
- Hotels and motels that ignored visible signs of trafficking
- Social-media platforms and gaming companies that failed to act on reports of exploitation
- Employers, labor contractors, or recruiters involved in forced-labor schemes
- Property owners who profited from rented spaces used for trafficking activities
At Dudley DeBosier, we help survivors hold the people and parties who violated them accountable.
Your Rights Under Federal and Louisiana Law
Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and the Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Act, survivors have the right to pursue civil damages against traffickers and facilitators. Victims may recover compensation for:
- Emotional trauma and psychological counseling
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and future income
- Punitive damages against offenders
Louisiana has also enacted laws allowing survivors to vacate criminal convictions tied to their trafficking experience, helping them move forward without unjust stigma.
How Dudley DeBosier Helps Trafficking Survivors
Our firm’s mission has always been to help the injured, vulnerable, and voiceless across Louisiana. In trafficking cases, that means:
- Providing trauma-informed legal advocacy to protect survivors’ privacy and emotional safety
- Collaborating with social workers and victim-support organizations to connect clients with shelter, therapy, and recovery resources
- Pursuing civil litigation against traffickers, hotels, and corporations whose negligence or complicity allowed the abuse to occur
- Seeking full financial compensation to help survivors rebuild their lives
At Dudley DeBosier, you’ll never be treated like a case number. You’ll be met with compassion, respect, and a team that believes your story matters.
Contact Our Louisiana Sex Trafficking Lawyers Today
If you or someone you love has been a victim of human trafficking in Louisiana, you don’t have to face the legal system alone. Our team is ready to listen, believe, and fight for you.
Contact Dudley DeBosier today for a confidential and free consultation. We’ll explain your rights, explore every legal avenue for justice, and stand by you every step of the way.
