10 charged in Illinois human trafficking investigation

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois state prosecutors have charged ten people with human trafficking under the country's first ever state-based wiretap investigation.

"Operation Little Girl Lost" started in 2011 with local law enforcement targeting current and former street gang members who sex-trafficked women and children on the streets or through the internet.

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez says because there was so much evidence against the defendants the victims did not have to testify.

"It took us 18 months to build this case and it took the defense about the same amount of time to realize they couldn't take the case apart, and therefore, they all entered guilty pleas," Alvarez said

There were 36 victims in the case, some as young as 13 years old. All of them were offered social services.