Toledo woman charged with sex trafficking involving a minor

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - A Toledo woman has been charged with taking a minor across state lines to sell sex.

The Department of Justice says 35-year-old Amber Ginter transported a minor from Ohio to Michigan in December 2009 so that the minor could engage in commercial sexual activity. The DOJ says Ginter may also be known by the name Amber Mendoza.

The indictment was announced Friday by U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach.

"This case is another stark reminder that human trafficking exists in our district and in our collective back yard," Dettelbach said. "It's a reminder that we need to be better neighbors and ask questions if something looks suspicious."

Dettelbach says the indictment is the result of investigation by the Toledo Resident Agency of the FBI and the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Francis Marie Penwell, with the Sisters of Notre Dame, serves on the Stop Trafficking of Persons committee. She says getting people like Ginter off the street is half the battle; the other half is prevention.

"We need to really get out there and make an effort to stop the trafficking," said Penwell.

One way they're doing that is with new education initiatives.