WASHINGTON – Tougher sex trafficking laws took effect in Virginia this month.
The laws target the men behind prostitution rather than the female victims. Prison time also dramatically increases if a juvenile is involved. It is now a crime in the state to recruit women into the sex trade.
A North Carolina man is the first person to be arrested under these new laws.
The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that Robert Dillard, of Jamestown, North Carolina, was arrested in Henrico County last week. He faces decades in prison.
The FBI says human trafficking is the second-fastest growing crime in the U.S.
