Human Trafficking Task Force
Yellowstone County Area, Montana
stop
human
trafficking
CALL
Emergencies:
911
Local Law Enforcement
24-Hour Victim Services
833-406-STOP or 406STOP.COM
(call, text, or live chat)
Tips/Anything Suspicious:
406-254-8117
FBI Special Agent Brandon Walter
406-413-0035
MT DOJ Agent Andrew Yedinak
406-657-8476
Billings Police Officer Mike Yarina
Signs of Trafficking
- physical abuse, fatigue, malnourishment
- no ID
- submissive or fearful
- unsure of current location
- avoids eye contact
- scripted or confusing answers to simple questions
Labor Trafficking
- working long hours every day
- unusual living conditions
- language barrier
Sex Trafficking
- chronic runaway
- waits for permission to speak
- unexplained change in behavior
- inappropriate clothing for the weather
- crown, barcode, "property of" or "daddy's girl" tattoo
- older man with younger girl, they don't look related
NEVER APPROACH A SUSPECTED TRAFFICKING SITUATION!
HISTORY AND MISSION
The Human Trafficking Task Force was created in 2016 to fight human trafficking, by helping to coordinate the efforts of law enforcement, service providers, community groups, and volunteers in Yellowstone County, Montana and in the surrounding areas in their work to investigate and prosecute traffickers, to assist victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking, to increase community awareness, and prevent future trafficking. It has been registered with the state as a nonprofit since 2020.
The Task Force has grown to over 800 members, representing individuals and over 100 partner organizations and agencies. It is led by co-founders Penny Ronning and Stephanie Baucus, and a steering committee, which includes law enforcement, service providers, and volunteers. The Task Force has been instrumental in increasing public understanding and awareness of sex trafficking and forced labor in rural areas, including IMBs.
The Task Force has conducted over 300 trainings, hosted Montana’s largest trafficking conference, distributed over 70,000 signs of trafficking cards, coordinated public awareness campaigns, helped launch other regional task forces, and coordinated with members to save resources and fill gaps in services.
The mission of the Task Force is to eliminate human trafficking in Montana and our nation, by:
• Increasing awareness and educating the community;
• Engaging and training law enforcement and prosecutors to identify, investigate, and prosecute traffickers;
• Identifying, supporting and protecting victims;
• Assisting educators and others who serve victims and at-risk youth;
• Facilitating coordination and information sharing among service providers, supporting service providers, and developing partnerships to fill service gaps and avoid duplication of efforts;
• Activating government and business leaders;
• Advocating for effective policy; and
• Working together to fight trafficking and protect its victims
Selected Projects, Awards, and Accomplishments
- 2021 Recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award
- Hosted Fight Human Trafficking Conference in May 2017 with over 400 in attendance
- Grew Task Force to 800+ people and 100+ groups
- Printed and distributed more than 70,000 Signs of Trafficking Cards
- Created referral network of service providers for victims
- Created Project Hope to provide backpacks with supplies for distribution by law enforcement and other groups to victims and those at risk of trafficking
- Worked with MT OPI on trafficking curriculum for schools
- Conducted hundreds of hours of trainings at over 300 conferences and events
- Partnered with Fort Peck Tribal Court to help present nation’s first trafficking conference hosted by a tribal court
- Initiated, helped draft, and advocated for tougher state laws on human trafficking
- Advocated for funding to create first-ever state law enforcement positions dedicated to human trafficking
- Invited to author feature on trafficking for American Bar Association’s The Young Lawyer (TYL) Magazine
- Invited to attend White House Summit on trafficking
- Helped three other regional task forces to launch
- Support nonprofit and partner groups through committee activity and resource-sharing
- Hosted dozens of awareness events, such as: Red Sand Project, MINT film screenings, Mall billboards, Holiday Gas Station awareness events
Structure, Leadership, And Membership
Members
The Task Force’s volunteer co-chairs founded the Task Force, along with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Task Force’s Steering Committee (SC) consists of the co-chairs, coordinators, committee chairs, and other leaders.
Volunteer Task Force Leaders
- Penny Ronning, Co-Founder, Co-Chair, Board President, Steering Committee Member
- Stephanie Baucus (Moulton Bellingham PC), Co-Founder, Co-Chair, Board Vice President, Steering Committee Member
- Erin Walker (End Exploitation Montana), Board Member, Steering Committee Member, Partnerships Coordinator
- Scott Koch (Whitewood Transport), Board Secretary and Treasurer, Steering Committee Member, Prevention and Community Awareness Co-Chair
- Melanie Tripp (Comtech, Zonta Club of Billings), Board Member, Steering Committee Member, Prevention and Community Awareness Co-Chair
- Brandon Walter (Federal Bureau of Investigation “FBI”), Steering Committee Member, Prosecution and Law Enforcement Co-Chair
- Zeno Baucus (U.S. Attorney’s Office “USAO”), Steering Committee Member, Prosecution and Law Enforcement Co-Chair
- Andrew Yedinak (Montana Department of Justice), Steering Committee Member, Prosecution and Law Enforcement Co-Chair
- Michele Stewart (FBI), Steering Committee Member, Protection and Victim Services Co-Chair
- Rhonda Busenitz (USAO), Steering Committee Member, Protection and Victim Services Co-Chair
- Georgia Cady (Tumbleweed), Steering Committee Member, Protection and Victim Services Co-Chair
- Erin Lambert (YWCA), Steering Committee Member, Protection and Victim Services Co-Chair
- Dr. Cynthia Brewer (Billings Clinic), Steering Committee Member, Protection and Victim Services Co-Chair
- Erin Harris (Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office), Steering Committee Member, Protection and Victim Services Co-Chair
- Nicolette Rose (FBI), Steering Committee Member, Data Analytics Coordinator
- Pam Rogina , Administrative Coordinator, Steering Committee Member
The work of the Task Force is divided into three primary committees and one coordinator position to help manage the Task Force’s partnerships:
The Task Force now includes over 800 representatives from over 100 organizations, including the USAO, FBI, MT and local law enforcement, prosecutors, government, schools, hospitals, nonprofits, churches, businesses, and the community.
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Co-Chairs: Melanie Tripp, Zonta
Scott Koch, Whitewood Transport
Co-Chairs: Michele Stewart, FBI
Rhonda Busenitz (USAO), Co-Chair
Georgia Cady, Tumbleweed
Erin Lambert, YWCA
Dr. Cynthia Brewer, Billings Clinic
Erin Harris, Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office
Co-Chair: Brandon Walter, FBI
Co-Chair: Zeno Baucus
Co-Chair: Andy Yedinak, MT DOJ
Erin Walker, End Exploitation Montana
News
Project Hope Kits
Our Task Force routinely supplies our area law enforcement officers with Project Hope Kits to help victims of human trafficking that they encounter. If you
Junior League of Billings
The Junior League of Billings Invites you to attend Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A panel discussion on the Fight Against Human Trafficking in Montana.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
There are many ways to get involved in the fight against human trafficking
in our area:
- The Task Force meets quarterly in person at the Billings Public
Library and by Zoom. Please email us to get on the email list, and
you will get notices of those meetings. - Its three committees each have their own meeting schedules.
- Protection and Victim Services and Prosecution and Law Enforcement meet as needed. Contact us if you work in one of these fields and want to join either of these committees.
- Prevention and Community Awareness meets monthly on the second Tuesday of every month at 11:30 AM at Underriner Honda. Anyone who wants to help fight trafficking in our area is welcomed to join those meetings.
- Contact us at stoptraffickingmontana@gmail.com with any questions or to be added to our distribution list.
- Join one of our over 100 partner organizations.
- Follow us on:
Partner Organizations
The Task Force has partnerships with, and members that participate in the Task Force’s work from, over 100 different organizations, including the following selected organizations:
