Charged with kidnapping woman into sex trafficking through dating site, East Bay man takes plea deal
Charged with kidnapping woman into sex trafficking through dating site, East Bay man takes plea deal
MARTINEZ — A Bay Area man whom police say met his victim through a popular dating site was sentenced to 28 years in prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to human trafficking.
Akeli Duane Blake, 25, was also charged with kidnapping for ransom and making criminal threats, but those charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea. He was arrested last year, after a woman in her teens reported to police he had forced her to perform sex acts for money, by threatening to harm her and her family.
Today, predators can reach vulnerable children through phones, social media, gaming platforms, and the internet, often before families realize something is wrong. Finding Kids responds through three core programs: Recover. Care. Target. We help locate missing and exploited children, support families during and after recovery, and work with law enforcement to identify and disrupt those who exploit youth. Our work continues after a child is found because recovery is only the beginning. By combining investigations, aftercare, and prevention, we help children return safely to their homes, schools, and communities while building a future where every vulnerable child receives help before crisis becomes exploitation. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly towards keeping kids safe. We cannot do this work without your support.
*Names has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.