A former D.C. corrections officer will spend five years in prison for a human trafficking case involving a teen from Prince George’s County, Maryland, who ran away from home.
Luis Privado, of Washington, D.C., was charged with human trafficking after Frederick police officers responded to a report of an abduction at a McDonald's on Jefferson Street on Dec. 30, 2017. They initially arrested Abiathar Vance, 39, after finding him with the 16-year-old victim who had been reported missing for two months.
During the investigation, police found evidence against Privado and arrested him as well.
The victim told police she met Vance and Privado at Union Station in August 2017 and Vance "induced" her into becoming an escort, according to the Frederick County State's Attorney J. Charles Smith. She said Vance arranged for her to have sex for money.
She told police that Vance booked the hotel rooms, clients and received the proceeds. She said that Privado also arranged for hotel rooms and drove her and Vance from D.C. to Frederick. The state's attorney said Privado also provided a rental car for Vance to use to transport the victim while in Frederick.
Privado admitted to police that he drove the victim back and forth from D.C. to Frederick and he would leave the hotel rooms when the victim had "dates."
Privado was sentenced to 25 years with all but five years suspended.
