Sex trafficking is not an industry that is exclusive to third world countries or large U.S. Cities.

In our continuing coverage of the trade, 13 News has learned about a thriving sex trade in Ohio.

At “In Plain Sight,” an event this past weekend in New Boston, Ohio organized by the family of missing woman, Megan Lancaster, we met with Labree Johnson, who had just finished speaking about her experiences.

Getting out of the sex industry after three years was tough for Ms. Johnson, 24, of Portsmouth.

Talking about her experiences at a forum to bring awareness to human trafficking was also tough.

Ms. Johnson says she was first recruited by a supposed modeling company to work as an exotic dancer in Columbus, Ohio before being sent on a few trips to California to shoot about six adult movies.

She says, after finding God, she came home to Scioto County, despite the powerful mind games that pimps used on her and other girls.

“Girls that were in this situation, and felt like they were being held there, or had to stay, — Well, they (pimps) set it up, and tore at their mind,” explains Ms. Johnson. “They were there day-in-day-out, talking to these girls and breaking them down so they can build them up into what they want them to be.”

Johnson has had many of the experiences experts say make women more likely to be sex trafficked.

Researchers who compiled a report on sex trafficking for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, developed an acronym (R.E.S.C.U.E. C.H.I.L.D.) to help first responders and “lay persons” recognize the “high risk experiences” of someone who may be a trafficking victim.

The signs are: runaway behavior, difficulty with education, sexual assault, court appearances, using drugs or alcohol, emotional abuse, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, influence from friends or family in the trade, loving someone who is much older, and difficulty making friends.

A distinction is also made between victims who were forced into the trade, and those who were manipulated.

Ms. Johnson says, in her case, it was the latter.

“I thought it was one thing, and it ended up being another,” says Johnson.

Johnson says she is not ready to speak in detail about the manipulation and abuse she experienced.

This past weekend was her first time talking about it publicly.

She says she is still sorting it out in her mind.

“I had to come sit here, and really think about things, and really try to recall what happened, and what was going on exactly; not just how I perceived it. Like, what was really going on.”

The family of missing Wheelersburg woman, Megan Lancaster – a longtime friend of Johnson’s – had been trying to start a local human trafficking coalition, until they were contacted by a representative from End Slavery – Cincinnati, who said ESC covers Scioto County.

We called ESC to find out why they have not devoted any resources to the Portsmouth area to bring the issue to light.

They declined comment until they have an internal meeting on Tuesday to talk about this.

If you believe there is a case of sex trafficking in your community, you are asked to call the national human trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888, or the ESC hotline at 513-800-1863.

Stay with 13 News as we work for you, exploring the sex trafficking industry, and bring you resources to make sure women in your communities or your families do not get forced or manipulated into the trade.