Mecklenburg County Task Force

Leader:

US Attorney’s Office and Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center

Purpose:

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Human Trafficking Task Force is a coalition of services providers, law enforcement, and prosecutors, working to fight human trafficking. The goal of the task force is justice and healing for victims through the support of collaborative services and education in the community. The task force was formed to focus on investigating and prosecuting persons who engage in sex trafficking and labor trafficking and to provide needed services and assistance to the victims of human trafficking.

Members:  

*Leaders on this list are NOT listed on National HT Hotline protocol

Meetings:

Every other month.

Contact information or website:  

hirley Rutledge (USANCW) at Shirley.Rutledge@usdoj.gov or Shawna Pagaon at Shawna/Pagano@patsplacecac.org

Other:  

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department  

  • CMPD has a Human Trafficking Unit assigned to the FBI Charlotte Task Force. Two Detectives, a HT Analyst, and a Sergeant work to uncover and disrupt Human Trafficking suspects and their organizations utilizing citizen and officer generated complaints, informants, and undercover operations. The Task Force works with local NGO’s, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Mecklenburg County D.A.’s Office to prosecute offenders and provide for their victims.  

Contact:  

  • Detective Derek Rud: drud@cmpd.org 
  • Analyst Kris Bechtel: kbechtel@cmpd.org   
  • Sgt. Chris Rains: crains1@cmpd.org