Human trafficking reported out of Racine, couple facing over 30 years prison

RACINE — A 38-year-old Racine woman and a 47-year-old man from Louisville remain in custody on a $50,000 cash bond, both accused of human trafficking.

Patricia Oliver, of Racine, is charged with felony counts of human trafficking and false imprisonment, along with misdemeanor counts of battery and theft. The two felonies carry a potential total prison term of 31 years and a $110,000 fine.

Tyrone Smith is charged with six felony counts, including human trafficking, second-degree sexual assault with the use of force, aggravated battery with the use of a dangerous weapon and three for bail jumping, along with three misdemeanor counts of bail jumping.

The criminal complaint: Human trafficking reported at Froedtert Hospital

An officer with the Racine Police Department was dispatched to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa for a report of a sexual assault.

The officer spoke with the victim, who reported she had been human trafficked by the defendants the past several months in the city of Racine and the village of Mount Pleasant.

Police learned from the victim that several months before she had moved from a residence and came to Racine to live with a friend, which was when she was introduced to Smith. The two began to live together and would rotate at different hotels, one in Mount Pleasant and two in Racine.

The woman stated she was forced to have sexual intercourse and/or sexual contact with unknown men in the hotel rooms, and that Smith threatened to beat her if she did not comply. She stated this happened every day she stayed with Smith.

At one point, the victim stopped living with Smith because of what he was forcing her to do, she said. The victim stated that Oliver and Smith were friends, and that was introduced to Oliver through Smith. The woman moved into Oliver’s residence in early August of last year.

Oliver told the victim she would have to work to stay there, and she initially thought this meant she would help care for Oliver’s children. However, Oliver allegedly began to human traffic the victim at that time, she said.

The woman stated that Oliver took her cell phone and threatened acts of violence if she refused to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact with unknown males. The victim stated she was afraid to be beaten, so she performed sexual acts, and despite that, Oliver still beat her daily.

Two different times, the victim tried to escape, but Oliver found her, brought her back and continued to human traffic her, the complaint states. Oliver also allegedly took all the money the victim received in exchange for sexual acts.

The victim stated she remembered being punched in the back at least three times, hit in the chest two times, slapped in the face five times and punched in the eye twice by Oliver. On one occasion in August, the victim found Smith’s bag that he kept his drugs in, and he pistol whipped her across her forehead with a black pistol.

Smith assumed she had stolen the bag, she said. The victim suffered a laceration to her forehead, but neither defendant would allow her to seek medical treatment.

The victim also was forced to sell plasma several times a week, and during a visit in September, she was able to call a friend, who took her to Froedtert for treatment for the laceration.

In October, the victim positively identified both defendants from a photo lineup.

Oliver is due back in Racine County Circuit Court on Feb. 15 for a 9 a.m. status conference, while Smith has a status conference set for Feb. 21, at 8:30 a.m.