(NationalUSNews.com) — On Monday July 14, Brazilian-born Instagram influencer Kat Torres was found guilty on charges of human trafficking and slavery after a nearly two-year investigation by the FBI.
She had spent years presenting herself as a successful model and wellness guru. Her website offered self-help videos on spirituality and business, as well as exercise, hypnosis, and meditation programs. Her followers could also pay extra for one-on-one consultations with her, as they pursued success by following in her footsteps.
She was known for her lavish lifestyle and a romantic link to Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. However, behind her glamorous facade, Torres was actually involved in human trafficking and slavery. The investigation revealed that she had lured women in with promises of success and then coerced them into working under harsh conditions. Two young Brazilian women, Desirrê Freitas and Letícia Maia, were reported missing and later found under Torres’ control in Texas. One victim, known only as Ana, shared her story of being unpaid and mistreated while working for Torres.
Torres manipulated her victims and often kept their money and personal documents from them in order to control them. Freitas says she was even forced to work as a prostitute to meet Torres’ daily earnings quota. Many of the women, including Ana and another woman known as Sol, described feeling trapped, terrified, and unable to escape due to Torres’ hold over them. The situation eventually gained media attention, which led to a police investigation and eventually Torres’ arrest.
Torres has been sentenced to eight years in prison for her crimes against one woman, with additional charges involving another victim likely to follow. She has insisted that she is innocent and plans to appeal the conviction. So far, over twenty women have come forward, reporting scams and exploitation. The young women she victimized have issued warnings of the pitfalls involved in social media and the dangers of believing the illusion of success carefully curated and presented by influencers.
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