Kane County State’s Attorney Launches Human Exploitation Unit to Combat Human Trafficking

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser has announced the formation of the Human Exploitation Unit (HEU), a specialized team dedicated to investigating and prosecuting human trafficking offenses, including sex and labor trafficking. The unit will operate within the office’s Criminal Division and will be overseen by First Assistant Christine Bayer.

The HEU is funded through a $1 million grant from the State of Illinois, secured with the support of State Senator Linda Holmes. This critical funding will allow the unit to provide specialized training, enhance investigative resources, and support victims of trafficking.

The HEU was established in response to the rising incidents of human trafficking in Kane County and the need for enhanced training and investigative resources. This initiative builds on the success of the Child Exploitation Unit (CEU), which has led to the arrest of 44 individuals for child pornography offenses since its inception in late 2022.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, human trafficking prosecutions nationwide have more than doubled from 2012 to 2022. Despite this increase, many cases remain unreported or improperly investigated. In Kane County, sex trafficking cases have historically been treated as prostitution offenses, and potential labor trafficking cases have gone largely unexamined due to resource constraints.

The HEU will work closely with law enforcement agencies in Kane County, providing investigative assistance, specialized training, and resources to combat human trafficking.

Watch the full press conference at https://www.facebook.com/KaneSAO/

“The creation of this unit is a crucial step toward ensuring that human traffickers are identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser.  

“When I first ran for office in 2020, and again in 2024, I pledged to bring a fair and balanced approach to prosecution. While I remain committed to rehabilitative efforts for those who can benefit from them, I will not hesitate to aggressively pursue individuals who prey on the most vulnerable in our community.”

“I am honored to lead this new Human Exploitation Unit and to work alongside a dedicated team of professionals committed to fighting human trafficking in Kane County,” said First Assistant State’s Attorney Christine Bayer. “This unit will be committed to a trauma-informed approach, ensuring that survivors are treated with compassion and respect, and connecting them with resources necessary for recovery. Because of this generous funding thanks to State Senator Linda Holmes, we can now tackle this issue head-on and make a real difference in our community. Our team is composed of experienced prosecutors, investigators, and victim advocates, who share a common mission: to protect survivors, hold traffickers accountable, and bring justice to those who have been exploited.”

“I am always grateful to be able to work with law enforcement and investigative agencies in the 42nd district to protect our area residents from all types of crime and the personal, financial, property and emotional damages they inflict on their victims,” said State Sen. Linda Holmes, (D-Aurora), who worked to gain the state grant to fund the new unit. “At a time when every state and county in the U.S. is facing uncertainty with funding for even the most basic needs like protecting victims of human exploitation and trafficking, I hope this gives our community some comfort that we are working to bring resources to support these vulnerable people.”

“This is a great example of the collaboration between the St. Charles Police Department and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office,” said St. Charles Deputy Chief Eric Majewski. “We are happy to offer our resources to assist with the important work of the Human Exploitation Unit. The St. Charles Police Department Facility was constructed in 2019 with future growth in mind. The office space in our investigations division and the computer infrastructure in our digital forensic lab have benefited the Child Exploitation Unit. We will continue to work together, and I expect similar success with this new endeavor.”

“I applaud the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office for creating the Human Exploitation Unit to target, expose, and stop those who seek to exploit others,” said St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek. “These are insidious crimes that know no borders and can affect any community. I am so proud that the St. Charles Police Department will be supporting the important work of this new specialized team. This new unit represents a commitment to the safety and well-being of our community, while also sending a clear message that exploitation in any form will not be tolerated.”