Narrator: FEBRUARY 13, 2005.
IT'S AFTER 2:00 A.M.
20-YEAR-OLD KATYA HURRIES TO STUFF HER CLOTHING
INTO GARBAGE BAGS IN THE DARKNESS.
SHE'S DEFINITELY AWARE THAT THE MEN HOLDING HER PRISONER
COULD WALK IN AT ANY MOMENT.
[ Ukrainian accent ] I FELT LIKE THERE IS NO WAY OUT,
AND THEY'RE GONNA KILL ME WHEN THEY'RE DONE USING ME.
Narrator: FOR NEARLY NINE MONTHS,
THE PETITE UNIVERSITY STUDENT FROM KIEV, UKRAINE,
HAS BEEN FORCED TO WORK AS A SEX SLAVE
IN A DETROIT STRIP CLUB
UNDER THREAT OF TORTURE AND DEATH.
Katya: WHEN YOU SEE A GUN POINTED AT YOUR FACE FOR THE FIRST TIME,
MAYBE THEY'RE GONNA LET GO OF THE TRIGGER.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
Narrator: KATYA'S DESPERATE
TO REGAIN HER FREEDOM.
WITH THE HELP OF A CUSTOMER,
SHE AND HER ROOMMATE ARE ABOUT TO ESCAPE.
IT'S NEARLY 6:00 A.M.
WHEN HEADLIGHTS SWEEP PAST THE APARTMENT WINDOWS.
KATYA AND HER FRIEND MAKE A RUN FOR THE FRONT DOOR.
IF I WILL ESCAPE, IT'S GONNA BE ONLY ONE TIME,
BECAUSE I WILL NOT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE.
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: SUMMER 2003,
KIEV, UKRAINE.
KATYA IS AN OUTGOING 18-YEAR-OLD
BORN AND RAISED IN THE CAPITAL CITY.
SHE'S JUST COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE.
I WAS STUDENT IN UKRAINE UNIVERSITY.
I WAS STUDYING SPORT.
Narrator: BUT A SHAKY FINANCIAL SITUATION AT HOME
IS CASTING A SHADOW OVER KATYA'S PROMISING FUTURE.
HER MOTHER EARNS A MEAGER SALARY AS AN ACCOUNTANT.
HEALTH PROBLEMS FORCE HER TO QUIT HER JOB.
NOW IT FALLS ON KATYA TO SUPPORT HER.
Katya: MY MOM NEEDED HELP WITH MONEY.
BUT AT THAT TIME, MY GRANDMA WAS STILL ALIVE,
SO WE WAS TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
Narrator: BUT KATYA IS YOUNG AND UNAWARE.
HER JOB SEARCH WILL SOON DELIVER HER
INTO A LIFE OF SERVITUDE
AS ANOTHER PAWN IN THE HIGHLY LUCRATIVE BUSINESS
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
IN HER SEARCH FOR WORK,
KATYA MEETS 47-YEAR-OLD NIGHTCLUB OWNER
VENIAMIN GONIKMAN.
HE TELLS HER HE CAN FIND HER A GOOD-PAYING JOB
IN THE UNITED STATES.
Katya: HE SAID HE WILL HELP ME TO EARN SOME MONEY
FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AND CAME BACK HERE.
SO LEARN A LANGUAGE AND MAKE MONEY AND COME BACK.
Carr: TRAFFICKERS DO PLAY OFF THE MYTH OF AMERICA
IN THAT THEY PROMISE PEOPLE -- "COME TO THE UNITED STATES,
"YOU CAN WORK, YOU CAN MAKE A LOT OF MONEY,
SEND IT BACK TO YOUR FAMILY."
Narrator: GONIKMAN INTRODUCES KATYA
TO HIS SON ALEX MAKSIMENKO
AND FRIEND MICHAEL ARONOV.
THE MEN WILL TAKE CARE OF TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
AND SECURE SIX-MONTH STUDENT VISAS
FOR KATYA AND HER FRIEND MARTA.
THEY TALK SO NICE ABOUT HOW I'M GONNA WORK HERE,
WHAT I'M GONNA DO HERE.
I TRUST THEM.
Chutkow: THEY WOULD WORK
WITH AN EMPLOYMENT-PLACEMENT AGENCY IN KIEV
TO REGISTER THESE WOMEN
AS THOUGH THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE WORKING
FOR AN EDUCATIONAL PROJECT IN THE UNITED STATES.
Narrator: THE MEN TELL AN ECSTATIC KATYA
THEY FOUND A JOB FOR HER IN VIRGINIA BEACH.
SO, I HAD SPOKEN TO VIRGINIA EMPLOYERS
ABOUT MY NEW EMPLOYMENT THERE AS A WAITRESS.
THEY PROMISED US WE'RE GONNA LIVE THERE AND WORK DOWNSTAIRS.
WE HAVE THE FLIGHT NEXT DAY.
Narrator: MAY 26, 2004.
AT DULLES AIRPORT, KATYA AND HER FRIEND
ARE EXPECTING TO HEAD TO THEIR NEW JOBS IN VIRGINIA BEACH.
INSTEAD, THEY'RE GREETED BY MICHAEL ARONOV,
ONE OF THE MEN FROM UKRAINE
WHO HAS GOTTEN THEM STUDENT VISAS.
AND I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE HIM THERE.
I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
AND HE'S LIKE, "PLAN'S CHANGED."
AND I'M THINKING, "OKAY, I'M TRUSTING THIS PERSON."
HE GIVE US A BUS TICKET
AND SAY, "YOU'RE GONNA GO TO DETROIT."
Narrator: DURING THE OVERNIGHT RIDE TO DETROIT,
KATYA AND HER FRIEND KEEP TO THEMSELVES,
BUT THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR ADVENTURE IN A NEW LAND.
Katya: I COULDN'T ACTUALLY SPEAK REALLY WELL ENGLISH,
SO IT WAS HARD, BUT, YOU KNOW, STILL EXCITING.
IT'S A NEW COUNTRY, NEW PLACE, NEW PEOPLE.
Narrator: THE NEXT AFTERNOON,
THE BUS PULLS IN TO DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
KATYA'S SURPRISED TO SEE ALL THREE MEN FROM UKRAINE
THERE TO GREET THEM.
Chutkow: THEY WERE MET AT THE STATION THERE
BY MR. ARONOV, MR. MAKSIMENKO,
AND VENIAMIN GONIKMAN.
THEY WERE THEN ESCORTED TO A HOTEL.
Katya: WHEN GETTING IN THE ROOM,
THEY ALL FOLLOWED US IN THE ROOM.
THEY'RE SITTING IN ONE SMALL COUCH -- ALL THREE OF THEM.
Narrator: THE MEN CONFISCATE
KATYA'S PASSPORT AND IDENTIFICATION.
THEY COOLY INFORM HER THAT SHE OWES THEM $22,000
FOR HER PASSAGE AND VISA.
Katya: AND THEY SAY, "NOW, HOW YOU'RE GONNA EARN THAT MONEY --
"YOU'RE GONNA WORK AS A STRIPPER.
"YOU'RE GONNA DANCE SIX DAYS A WEEK.
"YOU HAVE A TIME LIMIT.
IT'S THREE MONTHS TO GIVE IT BACK."
Burke: A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S TRAFFICKED
IS THAT MOMENT OF REALIZATION -- "OH, WAIT A SECOND.
SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT HERE."
THERE'S A SENSE OF, I THINK, EXTREME VULNERABILITY AND FEAR
UPON REALIZATION THAT THEY'RE IN A SITUATION
THAT'S NOT THE SITUATION THAT THEY ORIGINALLY SIGNED UP FOR.
Katya: I WAS SO NERVOUS, AFRAID.
I WAS SCARED. I WAS THINKING, "OH, MY GOD, IT'S LIKE MOVIE."
Narrator: KATYA'S REELING FROM SHOCK.
THAT NIGHT IN THE HOTEL ROOM,
SHE GRASPED FOR ANY COMFORTING THOUGHT.
BUT I WAS THINKING, "IT COULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME.
"NO, THEY WILL CHANGE THEIR MIND.
THEY WILL LET US GO."
Narrator: BUT KATYA HAS NO IDEA WHO SHE'S UP AGAINST.
SINCE 2001, HER CAPTORS HAVE LURED
A DOZEN YOUNG WOMEN LIKE HER TO THE UNITED STATES
WITH THE PROMISE OF A JOB,
THEN FORCED THEM TO WORK AS EXOTIC DANCERS IN STRIP CLUBS
TO BANKROLL THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
WHAT THEY ENGAGE IN IS A FORM OF MODERN-DAY SLAVERY.
Carr: WHEN WE THINK OF THE WORD "SLAVERY,"
WE ENVISION SOMEONE IN CHAINS OR PERHAPS TIED UP.
FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
OR MODERN-DAY SLAVERY,
OFTEN, THOSE CHAINS ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL.
THEY'RE NOT CHAINS THAT YOU OR I CAN SEE.
[ CLICKING ]
Narrator: TO ENSLAVE THEIR VICTIMS,
KATYA'S CAPTORS ENFORCE A METHOD OF CONTROL
THEY CALL "THE SYSTEM."
Chutkow: THE SYSTEM INVOLVED
BOTH PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL COERCION.
TAKE THEIR CITIZENSHIP PAPERS.
TAKE THEIR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.
ISOLATE THEM FROM THE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THESE WOMEN
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR YOU AND CONTINUE TO PAY YOU MONEY.
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator: JUNE 2004.
NEARLY A WEEK AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL,
MAKSIMENKO AND ARONOV TAKE KATYA AND MARTA
TO THEIR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB --
THE STRIP CLUB ON 8 MILE ROAD.
Chutkow: THEY WERE GIVEN COSTUMES TO WEAR,
AND THEY WERE WORKING TWO SHIFTS A DAY --
SIX-HOUR SHIFTS.
THEY WOULD START OFF AT AROUND NOON,
AND IT WOULDN'T END TILL 2:00 OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
Katya: AND THEY SAY, "DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID
"BECAUSE WE KNOW PEOPLE IN THERE.
AND YOU'RE GONNA BE WATCHED ALL THE TIME."
Skinner: SHE WAS TOLD, "IF YOU TRY TO REACH OUT
"IN ANY WAY TO THE AUTHORITY, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED,
"YOU WILL BE DEPORTED WHOLESALE,
"AND WE WILL FIND YOU BACK IN THE HOME COUNTRY,
AND WE WILL TAKE OUR DUE."
Narrator: KATYA'S TOO CONFUSED AND SCARED TO ATTEMPT AN ESCAPE.
HER ONLY HOPE IS TO PAY OFF THE $22,000 DEBT.
SHE COMES UP WITH A PLAN --
BUILD A REGULAR CUSTOMER BASE QUICKLY.
THE BIGGER THE TIPS, THE SOONER SHE'LL BE FREE.
Skinner: SHE WAS TOLD THAT SHE HAD THIS DEBT,
WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS NO LEGAL STANDING,
BUT SHE WAS CONVINCED
THAT IF SHE TRIED TO SKIP OUT ON THE DEBT,
SHE WOULD BE PUNISHED VIOLENTLY.
Katya: I WAS STILL KEEPING HOPE
THAT MAYBE THEY WILL LET US GO
BECAUSE I KNOW THEM.
MAYBE THEY NEED THIS MONEY.
"OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU MONEY.
JUST LET US GO. PLEASE, LET US GO."
Narrator: KATYA CAN EARN UP TO $1,000
SERVING A DIVERSE CLIENTELE ON ANY GIVEN DAY OF THE WEEK.
Katya: THEY WERE AS YOUNG AS 21 UP TO 65 YEARS OLD.
DIFFERENT JOBS -- THERE WAS A TRUCK DRIVER,
LAWYER, DOCTORS.
THEY WERE ALL THERE FOR ONE REASON,
AND THEY DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK OR WHY YOU'RE HERE.
Narrator: DESPITE HER DREAD,
KATYA DILIGENTLY PUSHES THROUGH LONG BACK-TO-BACK SHIFTS
UNTIL SHE FINALLY LEAVES THE FLOOR AT 2:00 A.M.
Chutkow: AT THE END OF THE NIGHT,
MR. ARONOV OR MR. MAKSIMENKO
WOULD PICK THEM UP OUTSIDE THE CLUB,
AND THEY WERE TO TURN OVER ALL THEIR EARNINGS FOR THE DAY
TO THOSE GENTLEMEN.
FIRST THING WE DO WAS COUNTING HOW MUCH MONEY WE MADE
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HIDE ANYTHING.
Narrator: THE DRIVE TO THE APARTMENT
THAT KATYA'S TRAFFICKERS HAVE SET UP FOR HER
TAKES ABOUT HALF AN HOUR.
IT WAS TWO BEDROOMS, TWO BATHROOMS.
EVERYTHING WAS INSIDE. WE DIDN'T NEED ANYTHING.
Glennan: BY THE NAKED EYE, ANYONE THAT WALKED IN,
IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WAS ABNORMAL.
PEOPLE THINK, "OKAY, THEY'RE LOCKED UP
"AND SHACKLED TO A DARK BASEMENT
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT."
IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS,
THERE'S NO NEED TO DO THAT
BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THE GIRLS TO GO.
Narrator: BECAUSE OF HER DEMANDING WORK SCHEDULE,
KATYA'S NEIGHBORS BARELY NOTICE HER.
Katya: I SAW THEM MAYBE TWICE OR THREE TIMES THE WHOLE TIME.
IT WAS A QUIET, NICE NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH SMALL STREETS.
YOU'D NEVER BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT
WILL HAPPEN IN THIS KIND OF PLACE.
Narrator: ISOLATED INSIDE HER APARTMENT,
KATYA FOCUSES ON HER DEBT,
RELIGIOUSLY RECORDING HER EARNINGS IN A DIARY
AFTER EACH SHIFT.
THREE MONTHS AFTER BEING TRAFFICKED INTO SLAVERY,
KATYA'S CALCULATIONS SHOW
SHE'S FINALLY PAID OFF THE ENTIRE $22,000.
I HAD GIVEN THEIR $25,000 BACK IN THREE MONTHS.
JUST UNBELIEVABLE -- THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
Narrator: WITH HER DEBT PAID OFF,
KATYA ASKS MAKSIMENKO AND ARONOV IF SHE CAN LEAVE.
THEIR ANSWER GIVES HER THE FIRST REAL GLIMPSE
OF HOW FUTILE HER SITUATION IS.
Katya: THAT POINT JUST -- IT BROKE ME.
AND I REALIZED THAT THEY WILL NOT LET ME GO
UNTIL THEY ARE DONE WITH ME.
I WAS THINKING, "OKAY, MAYBE ONE YEAR,
"THEY'RE GONNA KEEP ME, MAYBE TWO, BUT WHAT'S NEXT?
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME?"
Narrator: AUGUST 2004.
THREE MONTHS AGO, 19-YEAR-OLD KATYA WAS LURED TO THE U.S.
UNDER THE PRETEXT OF GETTING A WAITRESSING JOB.
THE FORMER COMPETITIVE ATHLETE
IS BEING FORCED TO WORK AS AN EXOTIC DANCER
IN A STRIP CLUB IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
UNDER CONSTANT THREAT OF PUNISHMENT
FOR ANY TRANSGRESSION,
HER TRAFFICKERS HAVE ISOLATED HER
FROM HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
Katya: THEY SAW ME AS A DOLLAR SIGN.
AND THEY THOUGHT THAT I CAN MAKE MONEY
FOR MANY YEARS.
SHE WAS, IN ESSENCE, IN A GILDED CAGE.
ON THE FACE OF IT,
IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE A JAIL CELL,
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
Narrator: KATYA'S WORKING GRUELING 12-HOUR SHIFTS
SIX DAYS A WEEK
TO SATISFY HER TRAFFICKER'S MONEY DEMANDS.
HER TRAFFICKERS INTERROGATE OR PUNISH HER
IF SHE FAILS TO MEET HER NIGHTLY $1,000 QUOTA.
THERE WAS MANY THREATS ABOUT $1,000,
AND WE WERE ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE $1,000
BECAUSE THEY COULD HIT US, YOU KNOW, COULD DO ANYTHING.
Carr: TRAFFICKERS USE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS
TO CONTROL AND INTIMIDATE THEIR VICTIMS --
THREATS TO FAMILY MEMBERS BACK HOME.
TRAFFICKERS ALSO USE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL VIOLENCE,
TELLING THE INDIVIDUALS
THAT IF THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE TRAFFICKER
AND GO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES,
THAT THEY WILL BE PUT IN JAIL.
Narrator: AT THE CLUB,
KATYA OBEYS HER CAPTORS IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.
EVERY NIGHT, SHE DANCES ON ONE OF TWO MAIN STAGES,
HOPING TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH PAYING CLIENTS.
WELL, YOU START WITH THE FIRST ONE,
AND AS EACH SONG GOES, YOU GO ON TO NEXT, NEXT, NEXT.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE, THEN YOU GO AROUND THE TABLES
AND LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO BUY DANCE.
Narrator: MAKSIMENKO AND ARONOV DROP IN OFTEN
TO MAKE SURE KATYA'S CONDUCTING BUSINESS
TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS.
PART OF HER MEETING HER $1,000 QUOTA
RIDES ON HER ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE.
Katya: SOMETIMES, IF YOU MAKE $500, $600 FROM ONE CLIENT,
GUESS WHAT HE'S DOING TO YOU.
HE'S TOUCHING YOU,
AND YOU CANNOT DO NOTHING ABOUT.
THE WOMEN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN STRIP-CLUB DANCING
ARE SUBJECTED TO BEING PINCHED, BEING SLAPPED.
THEY'RE ALWAYS, OF COURSE, DEHUMANIZED AND EROTICIZED
AND FETISHIZED IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.
THIS CAN BE VERY TRAUMATIC FOR A DANCER.
Narrator: AT THE CLUB, KATYA'S FORBIDDEN
TO REVEAL DETAILS ABOUT HER LIFE.
Katya: WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY MICHAEL AND ALEX
THAT -- "YOU DON'T SAY YOU'RE FROM UKRAINE.
"SAY YOU'RE FROM POLAND."
"TELL THEM YOU'RE GOING TO SOME COLLEGE,
AND YOU JUST NEED THE MONEY TO PAY FOR YOUR SCHOOL."
Narrator: BUT ONE NIGHT, DESPERATE TO REGAIN HER FREEDOM,
SHE BREACHES HER TRAFFICKERS' CODE OF SILENCE
AND TELLS A CUSTOMER ABOUT HER PLIGHT.
Katya: HE WAS A CRIMINAL LAWYER,
AND HE ACTUALLY SAID, YOU KNOW,
"YOU CAN COME SEE ME IN THE OFFICE."
AND I'M LIKE, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
"I CANNOT GO AWAY FROM HERE.
"YOU SEE THOSE PEOPLE? THEY'RE WATCHING ME.
I CAN GET KILLED FOR THIS."
AND I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN.
Burke: IT MIGHT SOUND SURREAL
TO SOMEONE HEARING FROM AN EXOTIC DANCER, "I NEED HELP.
HELP ME GET OUT OF HERE."
IT SPEAKS TO SOME KIND OF WIDESPREAD APATHY AND IGNORANCE
ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Narrator: SEPTEMBER 2004.
OUTSIDE THE CLUB,
KATYA'S EVERY MOVE IS CLOSELY MONITORED.
ON SUNDAYS, HER ONE DAY OFF,
MAKSIMENKO OR ARONOV TAKE HER TO THE LOCAL MALL
TO BUY FOOD AND CLOTHING.
THEY PICKED SPECIFICALLY CLOTHES FOR US.
WE COULDN'T CHOOSE ANYTHING.
"OKAY, THIS IS GONNA LOOK GOOD ON YOU. YOU'RE TAKING THIS."
Narrator: IT'S JUST ONE MORE OF THEIR RULES.
BY NOW, KATYA KNOWS THEM ALL --
NEVER WANDER FROM HER APARTMENT COMPLEX,
AVOID THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS,
AND DON'T REACH OUT TO THE POLICE.
IT'S ALMOST UNIVERSAL IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT TRAFFICKERS WILL PLAY
ON SLAVES' FEAR OF AUTHORITY.
THAT ALLOWS TRAFFICKERS
TO MINIMIZE THE THREAT TO THEIR BUSINESS
BY SCARING THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF THEIR SLAVES
AND BY SAYING, "IF YOU GO AND TALK TO THEM,
"THEY WILL REPORT BACK TO US,
AND WE WILL PUNISH YOU, AND WE WILL PUNISH YOUR FAMILY."
Narrator: KATYA'S ABOUT TO GET A TASTE
OF JUST HOW FAR HER TRAFFICKERS WILL GO
TO MAKE HER OBEY.
LIVONIA, MICHIGAN,
ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
ALEX MAKSIMENKO AND MICHAEL ARONOV
SHARE A TWO-STORY HOME IN A QUIET CUL-DE-SAC HERE.
Chutkow: THE RESIDENCE WAS IN A NICER SUBDIVISION
WITH LARGE HOMES.
AND THE DEFENDANTS LIVED
WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE,
LIKE, AN AMERICAN DREAM.
Narrator: INSIDE HER TRAFFICKERS' HOME,
KATYA FACES A LIVING NIGHTMARE.
MAKSIMENKO AND ARONOV BRING THEIR SLAVES HERE
TO BE INTERROGATED
WHEN THEY SUSPECT THEY'VE VIOLATED THEIR COMMANDS,
WHETHER IT'S BY WITHHOLDING THEIR TIPS
OR GETTING TOO FRIENDLY WITH MEN AT THE CLUB.
Katya: WE ALWAYS PARK IN THE GARAGE.
WE NEVER GET OUTSIDE.
GET OUT FROM THE GARAGE, GO INSIDE,
ALWAYS WALKING ONE WAY AND GO DOWNSTAIRS TO BASEMENT
WHEN THEY ACTUALLY INTERROGATED US.
Narrator: DURING THESE INTERROGATION SESSIONS,
THE MEN TAKE ON VERY DIFFERENT ROLES
TO INTIMIDATE THEIR VICTIMS.
Voight: IT'S KIND OF LIKE A GOOD COP/BAD COP THEORY,
YOU KNOW?
YOU HAD MICHAEL...
AS MORE OF A SOFTER-TYPE PERSON
AND ALEX BEING MORE...
YOU KNOW, THE MUSCLE.
Chutkow: THEY WOULD, IN ESSENCE, TERRORIZE THEM.
MR. ARONOV WOULD ASK THE QUESTIONS
AND CONTINUE TO INTERROGATE THE WOMEN
UNTIL FINALLY, THEY WOULD SAY
WHAT THE DEFENDANTS WANTED THEM TO SAY.
MR. MAKSIMENKO WOULD BRANDISH HIS GUN
OR PUT IT ON A COFFEE TABLE
SO THAT IT WAS VISIBLE TO THE WOMEN
AS THEY WERE BEING QUESTIONED.
Burke: THAT WAS ANOTHER WAY TO REINFORCE THE POWER DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN KATYA AND HER TRAFFICKERS
AND TO FURTHER CONTROL HER,
TO ENSURE THAT SHE IS COMPLIANT WITH THEIR DEMANDS.
Narrator: IN ONE INSTANCE,
MICHAEL ARONOV UNLEASHES HIS WRATH ON KATYA,
ACCUSING HER OF STEALING $40.
KATYA DENIES HIS ACCUSATION,
BUT ARONOV DOESN'T BELIEVE HER.
HE PICKS UP A TELEVISION SET
NEXT TO THE COUCH WHERE KATYA IS SITTING
AND THROWS IT AT HER.
Katya: HE'S MOVING SO FAST,
AND I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA KILL ME WITH THE TV.
Narrator: A TERRIFIED KATYA BLURTS OUT THE TRUTH.
Katya: AND I SAID TO HIM, "TRUE."
I SAID, "I SPENT MY MONEY."
SO, HE SAID, "IT'S MYMONEY. IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY."
HE HIT ME IN THE FACE SO HARD
THAT MY NECK JUST TWIST ON OTHER SIDE,
AND I SAW THE STARS.
AND THIS IS THE POINT WAS WHEN I SAID, "OKAY, IT'S PHYSICAL.
WHAT'S GONNA BE NEXT?"
Narrator: OCTOBER 2004.
ON OCCASION,
KATYA'S TRAFFICKERS ALLOW HER TO CALL HOME
TO KEEP HER MOTHER FROM SUSPECTING
HER DAUGHTER'S BEEN ENSLAVED.
KATYA KNOWS THAT THE PHONE CALLS
ARE ONLY ONE MORE PLOY TO KEEP HER UNDER CONTROL.
Katya: WE COULD TELL THEY WAS LISTENING TO US
FROM THE OTHER PHONE.
AND THEY SAY, "MAKE SURE TO SAY EVERYTHING'S OKAY.
YOU'RE OKAY."
Narrator: DURING ONE OF THESE PHONE CALLS,
KATYA STRUGGLES TO KEEP HER EMOTIONS IN CHECK.
SHE UNDERSTAND THAT I WASN'T HAPPY THAT TIME.
SHE WAS LIKE, "ARE YOU OKAY?"
AND I'M LIKE, "I'M OKAY."
AND I COULD HEAR HER CRYING THERE,
UNDERSTANDING THAT I'M NOT OKAY.
Narrator: KATYA'S TRAFFICKERS CONFISCATE HER PERSONAL BELONGINGS
DURING UNANNOUNCED VISITS.
THEY OWN HER.
Glennan: IF THEY KEPT JOURNALS, THEY WOULD TAKE THAT AWAY.
THEY DIDN'T WANT THEM TO LEARN ENGLISH.
YOU KNOW, SO THERE WERE A MYRIAD OF THINGS
THAT WERE IN PLACE
IN ORDER TO LITERALLY SHACKLE THESE GIRLS BACK TO THEM
AND BACK TO THE APARTMENTS.
Narrator: BUT THE WOMEN'S LACK OF PRIVACY
IS BECOMING THE LEAST OF THEIR CONCERNS.
MR. MAKSIMENKO TENDED TO REQUIRE THE WOMEN
TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM.
IT WAS HIS PREROGATIVE
AS THE "BOSS" OF THESE WOMEN.
Narrator: MAKSIMENKO HAS GROWN VIOLENT
TOWARD KATYA'S ROOMMATE MARTA,
WHO TRIES TO RESIST HIS SEXUAL ADVANCES.
SHE'S REPEATEDLY RAPED.
Katya: HE TOLD MY FRIEND, "OKAY, IT'S TIME.
NOW, GO TAKE A SHOWER, AND I'LL WAIT FOR YOU IN YOUR BEDROOM."
AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES SHE WAS SCREAMING
THAT SHE WANT TO GO, BUT HE USUALLY USED FORCE.
SOMETIMES, I COULD HEAR HIM SLAPPING HER,
AND I CAN SEE THE BITES
ON HER NECK AND ON HER BODY.
IT WAS TERRIBLE.
HE WAS VERY VIOLENT WITH HER.
Narrator: FEARING REPRISAL IF SHE DOESN'T COOPERATE,
KATYA ALSO GIVES IN TO ARONOV'S DEMANDS FOR SEX.
Katya: IT WAS LIKE, "YOU WANT TO DO THIS YOUR WAY
OR YOU WANT TO DO THIS MY WAY?"
AND I SEE HE IS MUCH BIGGER THAN ME.
I CANNOT TAKE HIM.
Chutkow: BASED ON THE CLIMATE OF FEAR
THAT SHE WAS ENDURING
AND THE EXTREME POWER IMBALANCE BETWEEN HERSELF AND MR. ARONOV,
SHE, IN ESSENCE, FELT THAT SHE HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM.
Narrator: HER ANGER TOWARDS ARONOV TURNS TO RAGE.
SHE CONSIDERS KILLING HIM.
Katya: I COULD KILL HIM SO EASY.
[ LAUGHS ] I WAS READY FOR IT.
HE HURT ME SO BAD.
I HATE HIM.
Narrator: AFTER SUBMITTING
TO ARONOV'S UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES ONE EVENING,
KATYA DECIDES SHE'S HAD ENOUGH.
HER ADRENALINE PUMPING, SHE RATIONALIZES
THAT ELIMINATING HER ENSLAVER IN SELF-DEFENSE
WILL LIBERATE HER FROM FURTHER SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.
Katya: WHEN MICHAEL WAS LAYING NEXT TO ME,
I WAS THINKING, "MAYBE NEXT TIME,
PUT A KNIFE UNDER MY PILLOW."
WELL, HE NEVER SLEPT THERE, BUT IF HE WILL, YOU KNOW,
JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSE THE EYES,
I WAS THINKING MAYBE STAB HIM.
Narrator: IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT,
SHE WEIGHS THE CONSEQUENCES.
Katya: SHOULD I GO TO JAIL FOR THIS?
NO, HE NOT WORTH ALL THAT.
SO I'M THINKING, "NO, I'LL FIND SOME OTHER WAY."
Narrator: KATYA IS BREAKING DOWN,
AND SHE'S ILL.
HER TEMPERATURE SOARS OVER 100 DEGREES.
THE NEAREST PHARMACY IS ALMOST A MILE AWAY,
AND KATYA IS TOO SICK TO STAND UP.
Katya: THEY CAME TO MY ROOM,
AND THEY REALIZED THAT I WAS REALLY SICK.
THEY CAME BACK WITH MEDICATION.
NEXT DAY, I HAVE TO GO TO WORK NO MATTER WHAT.
Narrator: STRESSED AND SICK,
KATYA IS SPINNING INSIDE A MAELSTROM OF DEPRESSION.
HER EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL ISOLATION
ARE PUSHING HER TO DESPERATION.
Katya: SOMETIMES WAS THE MOMENTS WHEN I WAS LIKE,
"OKAY, YOU MAYBE NOT KILLING ME WITH YOUR HANDS,
"BUT YOU'RE PUSHING ME TO KILL MYSELF
"BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANSWER TO MYSELF ANYMORE.
I DON'T HAVE A WAY OUT."
Narrator: NOVEMBER 2004.
IT'S BEEN NEARLY SIX MONTHS
SINCE 19-YEAR-OLD KATYA WAS FORCED INTO SEXUAL SERVITUDE
BY HUMAN TRAFFICKERS IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
THE UKRAINIAN NATIVE HAS ENDURED PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE
ALMOST DAILY SINCE ARRIVING IN THE U.S.
Katya: THE THREATS HAVE BEEN EVERY DAY
SINCE THE DAY WE CAME THERE.
SOMETIMES, THEY WAS JUST TALKING TO US,
SOMETIMES, EVEN WITH A GUN POINTING TO OUR FACE.
Narrator: KATYA'S TRAFFICKERS HAVE NO INTENTION
OF CUTTING HER LOOSE
AS LONG AS SHE CAN MAKE THEM MONEY.
AND THE DAY CAME WHEN MY VISA WAS EXPIRING.
AND I'M LIKE, "PLEASE TAKE ME TO AIRPORT, PLEASE."
I DON'T NEED MONEY. PLEASE JUST LET ME GO."
MICHAEL SAID, "IT'S NOT MY JOB.
DON'T RUIN MY BUSINESS."
EXACTLY HIS WORDS.
Narrator: HER MONTHS IN CAPTIVITY
ARE TAKING THEIR TOLL ON HER AT THE CLUB.
THE ONCE CAREFREE STUDENT IS WORN OUT AND UNDERWEIGHT.
A DRINK IS NEVER FAR FROM HER FINGERTIPS.
Katya: I WAS GETTING DRUNK,
AND THEN EVERYTHING COMES EASIER TO ME.
EVERY DAY, DRINK, SMOKE, DRINK AND SMOKE.
Narrator: ONE EVENING, KATYA IS IN THE MIDDLE OF HER SHIFT
WHEN A CALL COMES IN.
THE POLICE ARE ON THEIR WAY TO CONDUCT A RAID.
AND 10 MINUTE BEFORE POLICE COMES,
THEY TOLD US, "GO DOWN IN THE BASEMENT.
WE'LL CALL YOU WHEN YOU CAN COME UP."
THREE, FOUR HOURS IN THE DARK,
CLOSED OUR DOOR.
THEY KEPT US IN THERE.
AND AFTER EVERYTHING IS CLEAR,
SOMEONE WILL COME ON DOWNSTAIRS AND PICK US UP.
Narrator: IN THE BASEMENT, KATYA PONDERS HER FATE
AS SHE WAITS FOR THE "ALL CLEAR" SIGN.
IT'S THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE,
BUT SHE'S BEEN LED TO BELIEVE
THAT IF SHE TURNS TO THE POLICE FOR HELP,
THEY COULD DEPORT HER.
IF THEY KNOW SOMEONE IN POLICE WHO CALLS THEM AND TELL THEM,
"OKAY, POLICE IS COMING, BRING YOUR GIRLS DOWN,"
THEY COULD KNOW SOMEONE ELSE WHO WORKS THERE, TOO.
SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T TRUST POLICE AT THE BEGINNING.
Skinner: IN FORMER EASTERN-BLOC COUNTRIES LIKE UKRAINE,
THE POLICE REPRESENTED
THE MOST ODIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE STATE.
AND WHEN YOU COME TO THISCOUNTRY,
THAT DOESN'T NATURALLY CHANGE.
YOU'RE STILL TERRIFIED OF THE POLICE.
Narrator: THE POLICE FINALLY LEAVE,
AND KATYA IS CALLED BACK UPSTAIRS.
SHE'S BADLY SHAKEN.
SHE THINKS THAT NEXT TIME, SHE MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY.
Katya: IF POLICE GONNA FIND US, THEY WILL DEPORT US BACK.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALL LIE.
AND IT WORKED.
IT WORKED IN THE BEGINNING.
Narrator: KATYA'S FEAR CONTINUES TO BUILD
WHILE SHE ENDURES VIOLENT INTERROGATIONS
AT HER TRAFFICKERS' HOME IN LIVONIA.
THEY WAS ALWAYS THREATENING US
ABOUT BRINGING MORE MONEY, MORE MONEY.
ALWAYS WALKING AROUND OR STANDING ON TOP OF US.
SO, THEY'RE SHOWING WHO IS IN POWER.
Narrator: KATYA AND MARTA OFTEN GET A TASTE
OF WHAT MAKSIMENKO AND ARONOV DO TO OTHER WOMEN
IF THEY TRY TO ESCAPE.
[ MAN AND WOMAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN]
SOME EVENINGS, THE TRAFFICKERS FORCE THEIR TERRIFIED CAPTIVES
TO LISTEN TO AN AUDIO RECORDING
OF ANOTHER SLAVE BEING PUNISHED.
Voight: IT WAS AN AGITATED MALE'S VOICE
SPEAKING TO A FEMALE.
VOICES WERE BEING RAISED. THE FEMALE WOULD CRY.
IT WAS... NOT A CASUAL CONVERSATION,
BY NO MEANS.
Narrator: BUT THEIR METHODS OF CONTROL GO BEYOND MERE THREATS.
DURING ANOTHER SESSION IN THE BASEMENT,
KATYA LISTENS IN TERROR
AS ARONOV RECOUNTS IN A CHILLING VOICE
HOW HE AND MAKSIMENKO ONCE CHAINED A DANCER TO A FURNACE
IN ORDER TO EXTRACT AN APOLOGY FROM HER.
Katya: SHE START USE DRUGS,
AND THEY DIDN'T WANT HER TO USE THE DRUGS.
HE TRIED TO KEEP THE GIRLS CLEAN.
AND A COUPLE WEEKS, THEY LEFT HER IN THERE --
THE BASEMENT.
Narrator: AFTER MONTHS OF BEING RAPED AND PUNISHED,
KATYA'S ROOMMATE IS GROWING INCREASINGLY DEFIANT
TOWARD MAKSIMENKO
AND, IN TURN, IS PUNISHED FOR HER DISOBEDIENCE.
Katya: SHE WAS JUST GETTING SO DEPRESSED AFTER WORK.
THERE'S NO FOOD, NOTHING.
SHE WOULD JUST GO TO THE KITCHEN,
GRABS A BIG BOTTLE OF VODKA
AND SITTING, DRINKING ALL NIGHT.
Narrator: DESPITE HER OWN FRAGILE PSYCHE,
KATYA TRIES TO CONSOLE HER FRIEND.
Katya: AND I'M LIKE, "YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF.
"YOU NEED TO GO TOMORROW TO WORK.
HOW YOU GONNA GO LIKE THIS?"
I'M LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY.
THEY'RE GONNA KICK YOUR [BLEEP]
AND SHE'S LIKE, "OH, YOU'RE LUCKY.
YOU'RE GONNA DIE THE LAST ONE."
I'M LIKE...[SCOFFS] "I'LL DIE ANYWAY."
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: IT'S AFTER 2:00 A.M. AND ANOTHER LONG 12-HOUR SHIFT.
KATYA HEADS DOWN THE HALL TO THE BATHROOM.
SHE SLIPS OFF HER WORK CLOTHES AND CLIMBS INTO THE BATHTUB.
Katya: I WAS IN THE BATH,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'LL NEVER WASH AWAY THE DIRT
THAT WAS COVERING ME,
EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
Narrator: AS SHE SOAKS IN THE TUB,
HER MIND SCANS HER OPTIONS FOR ESCAPING
AND FINDS ONLY ONE.
I'LL JUST PROBABLY GET A RAZOR
AND JUST SLASH MY WRISTS LIKE I SAW IN MOVIES.
THEY WILL FIND ME BY THE MORNING.
ANYWAY, THEY'RE GONNA KILL ME
WHEN THEY'RE DONE USING ME.
Narrator: DECEMBER 2004.
IT'S BEEN MORE THAN SEVEN MONTHS
SINCE 19-YEAR-OLD KATYA WAS LURED
FROM HER NATIVE KIEV TO DETROIT
BY HUMAN TRAFFICKERS.
MOST OF HER WAKING HOURS
ARE SPENT IN A STRIP CLUB ON 8 MILE ROAD
PERFORMING FOR MEN WHO HAVE NO CLUE
THAT SHE'S BEEN ENSLAVED.
Katya: I FELT LIKE THERE IS NO WAY OUT.
I FELT LIKE I NEVER WILL BE ESCAPE.
THERE IS NO WAY THEY WILL LET ME GO EASILY.
AND I FEEL LIKE I JUST DON'T HAVE A SENSE
OF LIVING MY LIFE LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
THE LONGER INDIVIDUALS STAY IN THESE SITUATIONS,
THE MORE THEY LOSE THEIR FIGHT.
THEY WILL BEGIN TO VIEW THEIR MASTERS...AS GOD,
AS THE GIVERS OF SUSTENANCE,
AS THE TAKERS OF LIFE.
Narrator: IT'S AFTER KATYA'S 2:00 A.M. WORK SHIFT.
AS SHE SOAKS IN THE BATHTUB,
A WAVE OF HOPELESSNESS ENGULFS HER.
Katya: I CANNOT TAKE IT ANYMORE.
I HATE HIM.
I JUST HATE HIM FOR DOING THIS TO ME,
FOR LYING, FOR BREAKING THE TRUST IN ME.
AND I FEEL THERE IS NO WAY OUT FROM THE SITUATION.
Narrator: SHE EYES A RAZOR SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE TUB.
HER HEART POUNDING, KATYA'S RACING THOUGHTS
PUSH HER ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO HER FINAL ESCAPE.
Katya: I FELT SO DIRTY BEING IN THAT PLACE,
AND I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, "I'LL JUST...
I'LL JUST KILL MYSELF."
Narrator: AS KATYA'S MIND FIXATES ON THE RAZOR,
HER ROOMMATE MARTA COMES THROUGH THE DOOR.
Katya: SHE SAID, "WHY YOU SO QUIET IN THERE?
"WHAT'S GOING ON? TALK TO ME.
"WE BETTER TALK, BECAUSE IF WE TALK,
WE CAN GO THROUGH IT TOGETHER."
Narrator: IN HER DARKEST HOUR,
KATYA'S THOUGHTS IMMEDIATELY TURN TO HER MOTHER.
I THOUGHT, "NO, THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER."
AND I FEEL I CANNOT DO THIS TO HER.
AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED, "OKAY, I WILL FIGHT FOR IT."
Narrator: BACK FROM THE BRINK OF SUICIDE,
KATYA RESOLVES TO BREAK FREE ONCE AND FOR ALL.
SHE AND MARTA BEGIN TO HATCH AN ESCAPE PLAN.
KATYA HAD REACHED THAT POINT WHERE SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE."
THE PAIN OF CHANGING WAS NOW LESS
THAN THE PAIN OF STAYING THE SAME.
Narrator: UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT,
THE WOMEN HEAD OUTSIDE TO MAKE THEIR PLANS.
Katya: WE REALIZED THAT IT'S BEST FOR US
TO WALK AWAY FROM APARTMENT.
IT'S IN THE WINTER. [ LAUGHS ]
SO, 3:00 IN THE MORNING, WE WALK OUTSIDE APARTMENT
AND TALK ABOUT PLANNING OUR ESCAPE.
Chutkow: THEY THOUGHT THAT THEIR TELEPHONES WERE BEING TAPPED.
WE LEARNED THAT, IN FACT, THEY WEREBEING BUGGED.
THEY HAD BEEN TAPE-RECORDED, FROM TIME TO TIME,
BY THE DEFENDANTS.
Narrator: THE PLAN IS SIMPLE BUT INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS,
KATYA AND MARTA HAVE ZEROED IN ON A REGULAR CUSTOMER
THEY THINK THEY CAN TRUST.
THEY DECIDE TO ASK FOR HIS HELP.
Burke: THE NATURE OF A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE
IN THAT IT UTTERLY SHATTERS ONE'S ABILITY
TO FEEL SAFE IN THE WORLD
AND TO ESTABLISH TRUST WITH OTHERS.
IN KATYA'S SITUATION,
SHE WAS ABLE TO GET MORE IN TOUCH AGAIN WITH HER INSTINCTS
AND GET A SENSE OF WHETHER SOMEONE WAS TRUSTWORTHY.
Narrator: THE CUSTOMER AGREES TO HELP THEM ESCAPE.
TO ALLAY SUSPICION,
MARTA SLIPS INTO DARK CORNERS WITH THE CUSTOMER.
WITH KATYA WORKING THE MAIN FLOOR,
DETAILS OF THE ESCAPE PLAN BEGIN TO FALL INTO PLACE.
Katya: YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO TRUST HIM.
IT TOOK MANY MONTHS.
HE WOULD COME ONCE A WEEK, TWICE A WEEK,
AND HE SPENT NOT ONLY MONEY, HE SPENT TIME WITH US.
Narrator: BUT IF THEY'RE WRONG ABOUT HIM,
SHE AND MARTA WILL PAY WITH THEIR LIVES.
THE CUSTOMER AGREES TO MEET THE TWO WOMEN AT THEIR APARTMENT
AFTER THEIR 2:00 A.M. SHIFT AND HELP THEM ESCAPE.
BUT THERE'S A STRANGE HITCH --
THE WOMEN DON'T KNOW THEIR OWN ADDRESS.
WE REALIZED THAT IF WE CAN ESCAPE,
WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE LIVE.
Burke: IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
TO NOT KNOW THEIR EXACT LOCATION.
IN KATYA'S SITUATION, THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
MAY HAVE PLAYED INTO HER NOT KNOWING HOW TO GET INFORMATION
ABOUT WHERE SHE WAS.
Narrator: AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX,
KATYA SCOURS THE MAILBOXES TO PINPOINT HER EXACT ADDRESS.
Katya: WENT TO OUR MAIL,
AND WE PULL OUT A FIRST NEWSPAPER THAT WE SAW,
AND IT WAS A VICTORIA'S SECRET.
AND WE LOOK IN THE BACK,
AND WE SAW THE ADDRESS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
Narrator: KATYA KNOWS SHE'LL NEED MONEY TO START A NEW LIFE.
SHE COMMITS THE ONE ACT
SHE KNOWS COULD GET HER KILLED IF SHE'S CAUGHT.
SHE BEGINS TO TUCK SOME MONEY AWAY WHENEVER SHE CAN.
THEY TOLD US, YOU KNOW, "YOU SHOULDN'T HIDE ANY MONEY.
BECAUSE IF WE FIND IT, SOMETHING BAD'S GONNA HAPPEN."
AND WE DECIDED THE BEST TIME TO TAKE THAT MONEY
WAS WHEN WE WENT SHOPPING ON SUNDAY.
AND USUALLY AFTER THAT, WE HAVE COUPLE DOLLARS LEFT,
MAYBE $5, $10.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,
KATYA SNEAKS OUTSIDE AND STASHES HER SAVING
INSIDE A COOKIE TIN SHE'S BURIED NEAR HER APARTMENT.
AND EACH TIME, WHEN WE WOULD COME IN FROM SHOPPING,
WE'D PUT SOME MONEY INTO THE BUSH.
AND WE COLLECT $700.
EVERY DAY, WE KNEW WE GETTING ONE STEP CLOSER,
ONE STEP CLOSER.
FINALLY, THE DAY CAME.
Narrator: FEBRUARY 12, 2005.
IT'S AFTER 1:00 P.M.,
AND KATYA PREPARES TO LEAVE FOR WORK.
ALEX CAME TO US. HE BROUGHT US TO THE CLUB.
AND WE DIDN'T THINK TODAY'S GONNA BE THE DATE FOR SURE,
SO WE KIND OF, LIKE, CASUALLY DO OUR THING.
Narrator: SHE MAINTAINS AN AIR OF BUSINESS AS USUAL,
THOUGH SHE'S DRINKING TO STEADY HER NERVES.
AROUND 10:00 P.M.,
SHE SPIES THE CUSTOMER
WHO'S GOING TO HELP HER AND MARTA WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
Katya: HE TOLD US, "OKAY, IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS,
WE CAN DO THIS TONIGHT."
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, I FELT FREEDOM.
NOT EVEN ESCAPED YET, BUT I FEEL LIKE, "OKAY, I FEEL FREE
BECAUSE I HAVE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD."
I'M ALREADY FREE IN MY HEAD, YOU KNOW?
"I'LL DO THIS NO MATTER WHAT."
Narrator: KATYA TRIES TO KEEP CALM
SO SHE DOESN'T RAISE SUSPICION.
SHE CHECKS THE CLOCK IN THE DRESSING ROOM.
FOUR MORE HOURS --
THE MOST DANGEROUS ON HER ROAD TO FREEDOM.
Katya: BUT IF I WILL ESCAPE,
IT'S GONNA BE ONLY ONE TIME,
BECAUSE I WILL NOT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE.
I WILL NOT.
WITH THEM? NO.
Narrator: IT'S ALMOST 2:00 A.M.
WHEN KATYA FINALLY WRAPS UP HER SHIFT.
AS SHE LEAVES THE DANCE FLOOR, SHE AVOIDS TALKING TO MARTA.
THEY MIGHT THINK THAT -- "THEY'RE PLANNING SOMETHING."
THEY CAN TAKE US TO THE BASEMENT,
PUT A GUN TO OUR FACE.
Narrator: KATYA COLLECTS HER BELONGINGS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM.
SHE HOPES THIS IS THE LAST TIME SHE'LL BE THERE
AND HEADS OUT INTO THE FREEZING NIGHT.
A HALF-HOUR LATER,
ONE OF HER TRAFFICKERS DROPS HER AND MARTA OFF
IN FRONT OF HER APARTMENT COMPLEX.
Katya: ALEX SAID, "I'LL PICK YOU UP TOMORROW."
WE SMILE TO HIM.
"GOOD LUCK. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW."
AND WE GET IN APARTMENT,
WE TURN OFF THE LIGHTS.
Narrator: FROM THE WINDOW,
SHE CHECKS TO MAKE SURE HE'S GONE
BEFORE STUFFING HER CLOTHES INTO GARBAGE BAGS.
HE COULD WALK THROUGH THE DOOR AT ANY MINUTE.
Katya: THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED.
THEY HAVE A KEY.
IF THEY'RE GONNA COME UP AND SEE THE GARBAGE BAGS,
WE'RE GONNA SAY, "OH, JUST OLD CLOTHES
"WE'RE THROWING IN THE GARBAGE.
NOTHING."
AND WE DID THAT
UP TO 4:00, 5:00 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator: AND THEN THEY WAIT,
HUDDLED IN THE DARK
INSIDE THE LIVING ROOM OF THEIR APARTMENT.
Katya: AND THEN WE JUST SAT NEXT TO EACH OTHER
AND THINKING, "YOU KNOW, OKAY.
WHAT IF IT'S NOT GONNA WORK?"
WE TRULY REALIZED, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE PUTTING OUR LIVES IN BIG DANGER RIGHT NOW
BY DOING THIS.
Narrator: FINALLY, THEY SEE HEADLIGHTS
SWEEP PAST THE APARTMENT WINDOWS.
ANOTHER TERRIFYING THOUGHT GRIPS KATYA'S MIND.
WHAT ABOUT IF THIS GUY WORKED FOR ALEX?
HE GONNA COME RIGHT NOW AND GONNA SAY,
"WHAT, YOU -- YOU GOING SOMEWHERE?
"WHY DO YOU HAVE YOUR BAGS PACKED?
WHAT'S GOING ON?"
I'M THINKING, "OKAY, WHAT'S HE GONNA DO?
HE'S JUST GONNA KILL US."
[ GUNSHOT ]
AROUND 5:30, 6:00, WE SAW HIS CAR.
IT CAME TO OUR APARTMENT,
PARKED FRONT,
AND OPENED THE TRUNK.
AND WE KNEW WE NEED TO DO IT.
WE GRAB ALL OUR BAGS, AND WE TOOK EVERYTHING OUT.
EVERYTHING PUT AS FAST IN THE TRUNK.
WE WERE IN HIS CAR AND ON OUR WAY OUT.
Narrator: THE WOMEN ARE DRIVEN TO A HOTEL
ABOUT TWO HOURS AWAY.
KATYA'S PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY EXHAUSTED,
BUT SHE'S TOO KEYED UP TO REST.
Katya: I COULDN'T EVEN FALL ASLEEP.
IT WAS 8:00 NOW OR 9:00 IN THE MORNING,
AND I'M THINKING, "OKAY, THREE MORE HOURS,
"TWO MORE HOURS,
"ONE MORE HOUR.
"YOU KNOW, IT'S 1:00. THEY'RE ALREADY BY OUR APARTMENT.
THEY KNOW WE ESCAPED."
Narrator: AS KATYA IMAGINES THE SCENE
THAT'S PLAYING OUT BACK AT HER APARTMENT,
HE ANXIETY ESCALATES.
Katya: MY STOMACH WAS BUTTERFLIES INSIDE.
EVERY PERSON WHO WALKED NEXT TO OUR DOOR,
I'M THINKING, "THEY'RE GONNA KNOCK RIGHT NOW,
AND THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE."
Narrator: FEBRUARY 13, 2005.
AFTER BEING HELD FOR NEARLY NINE MONTHS AS A SEX SLAVE,
20-YEAR-OLD KATYA HAS JUST ESCAPED.
SHE SPENDS A SLEEPLESS NIGHT IN A HOTEL ROOM
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF DETROIT.
NOW IT'S MORNING,
AND THE CUSTOMER WHO HELPED HER AND MARTA ESCAPE
HAS DONE HIS LAST GOOD DEED.
HE'S PLACED A CALL TO IMMIGRATION AGENTS.
Chutkow: THEY DIDN'T TRUST THE POLICE,
AND SO IT TOOK A THIRD PARTY, THIS OUTSIDER --
A CUSTOMER OF THE STRIP CLUB -- TO EXPLAIN TO THEM
THAT THERE ARE ACTUALLY POLICE OFFICERS
THAT ARE NOT ON THE TAKE, THAT WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.
THEY WON'T BE IN IMMIGRATION LIMBO
IF THEY DO SO.
Narrator: AS KATYA PREPARES TO MEET WITH IMMIGRATION AGENTS,
SHE DREADS WHAT THE TRAFFICKERS WILL DO IF THEY FIND HER.
THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER VICTIM WHO ESCAPED LONG BEFORE HER.
ALEX AND MICHAEL SENT A WARNING --
THEY HURLED BRICKS THROUGH THE WOMAN'S FRONT WINDOW
AND FIREBOMBED HER SISTER'S CAR.
Chutkow: THEY WERE GONNA MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HER --
NOT ONLY OF HER IN RETRIBUTION FOR HER LEAVING,
BUT ALSO TO SEND A SIGNAL TO ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE.
AND IF YOU DO, THESE ARE THE CONSEQUENCES.
Narrator: KATYA KNOWS THERE MAY ALSO BE CONSEQUENCES
FOR HER AND HER FAMILY.
Katya: I WAS AFRAID ABOUT MY SITUATION,
MY MOM IN UKRAINE.
AND DEPRESSION'S COMING OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
AND I'M STILL AFRAID THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
Narrator: DESPITE HER FEARS,
KATYA IS READY TO HELP POLICE
CONVICT ALEX MAKSIMENKO AND MICHAEL ARONOV.
UNAWARE THAT LIVONIA POLICE AND A LOCAL REPORTER
HAVE HAD HER TRAFFICKER'S HOME UNDER SURVEILLANCE
FOR SOME TIME, KATYA PREPARES TO GIVE EVIDENCE
THAT WILL BREAK OPEN THE LARGEST SEX-TRAFFICKING CASE
IN DETROIT'S HISTORY.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME,
BUT I FELT LIKE, NO MATTER WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,
I'M NOT GOING BACK WHERE I CAME FROM.
Narrator: ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 14,
KATYA AND MARTA ARE QUESTIONED SEPARATELY
FOR THREE HOURS BY IMMIGRATION AGENTS.
Glennan: THERE IS A MYRIAD OF EMOTIONS
THAT WERE GOING THROUGH THEIR MINDS --
FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN,
FEAR OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Narrator: DURING THE COURSE OF HER INTERVIEW,
KATYA GIVES AGENTS A CRUCIAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE.
A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HER ESCAPE,
MAKSIMENKO HAD ORDERED HER TO DESTROY A SMALL DIARY
THAT CONTAINED A RECORD OF HER EARNINGS.
Katya: THEY ASKED US TO BURN THAT BOOK.
I REWRITE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
AND I DECIDED TO KEEP
BECAUSE I WAS WRITING SOME OF THE POEMS THAT I MADE BY MYSELF.
AND THAT BOOK, I HIDE SOMEWHERE.
AND THEY DIDN'T FIND IT.
SO THEY CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD
NOT ONLY THAT THEY'RE SYSTEM
WAS USED TO CONTROL THESE WOMEN,
BUT ALSO THAT EVIDENCE OF THAT SYSTEM,
IF IT EVEN GOT INTO THE HANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,
COULD BE DEVASTATING FOR THEM.
IT WAS VALENTINE'S DAY.
IT WAS PRESENT FOR THEM
ON VALENTINE'S DAY.
Narrator: THE POLICE ARE READY TO MAKE THEIR MOVE.
AT 2:30 A.M., AGENTS WATCH
AS TWO WOMEN STEP OUT OF ARONOV'S WHITE CADILLAC
OUTSIDE AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN A DETROIT SUBURB.
THE POLICE TRAIL MAKSIMENKO AND ARONOV OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS.
THE MEN ARE FINALLY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
DURING A TRAFFIC STOP.
AGENTS DESCEND ON THE LIVONIA HOUSE
AND FIND A TREASURE TROVE OF EVIDENCE.
THEY FOUND KNIVES, GUNS,
FOUND FANCY CARS, AND FOUND JEWELRY
AND OTHER EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE LIVING
A QUITE HIGH STYLE OF LIFE.
Narrator: KATYA REMAINS UNDER POLICE PROTECTION
AROUND THE CLOCK.
TWO WEEKS AFTER HER TRAFFICKERS' ARREST,
SHE AND THREE OTHER VICTIMS ARE RELOCATED TO CHICAGO.
FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, KATYA WILL LIVE IN FEAR
THAT HER TRAFFICKERS' ASSOCIATES MAY COME AFTER HER.
Katya: I ESCAPED PHYSICALLY,
BUT, EMOTIONALLY INSIDE, I WAS STILL TRAPPED.
I STILL HAVE FEAR OF THEM.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S NEVER GONNA FINISH.
Narrator: KATYA TRAVELS BACK TO DETROIT
TO ATTEND MAKSIMENKO'S PLEA HEARING.
Chutkow: MR. MAKSIMENKO PLED GUILTY
AFTER REALIZING THAT THE WOMEN WERE GOING TO TESTIFY
AND MR. ARONOV WAS GOING TO TESTIFY.
WHEN HE SAW ALL OF US STANDING THERE
AND READY TO GO AGAINST HIM,
HE PASSED US, AND HE SAID, IN RUSSIAN,
IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY,
"YOU WILL FEEL SORRY [BLEEP]
"FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
YOU WILL PAY BACK FOR THIS."
Voight: IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE
FOR THEM TO ESCAPE ALEX AND MICHAEL'S CONTROL.
AND THEY'RE STILL FEARFUL.
I'M SURE THAT'S WHY...
NOT ALL THE GIRLS CAME FORWARD.
Narrator: MAKSIMENKO WAS SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON
AND ORDERED TO PAY $1.5 MILLION IN RESTITUTION
TO KATYA AND 11 OTHER WOMEN.
IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS COOPERATION,
MICHAEL ARONOV IS GIVEN A 7.5-YEAR SENTENCE.
Katya: WHAT THEY GOT WAS NOT ENOUGH,
BUT I COULD TELL THE JUDGE --
SHE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE DECISION, EITHER.
I COULD SEE HER FACE. SHE WAS ALMOST IN TEARS.
SHE WAS LOOKING AT US.
SHE WAS LIKE, "I'M SO SORRY."
Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2007,
KATYA SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS
BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Katya: OUR DESIRE IS UNIVERSAL ONE --
THE DESIRE FOR FREEDOM.
THIS IS MY STORY.
Skinner: THERE ARE MORE SLAVES TODAY
THAN AT ANY POINT IN HUMAN HISTORY.
WHAT MAKES KATYA SO UNUSUAL
IS THAT SHE'S OUT.
AND FOR EVERY ONE KATYA,
THERE ARE THOUSANDS
RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
Narrator: IN ALL, NINE PEOPLE ARE CONVICTED
FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY.
FOUR YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE KATYA ESCAPED.
AFTER A LONG ROAD TRAVELED,
SHE'S KEEPING HER EYE ON THE PROMISING FUTURE AHEAD.
Katya: PROBABLY IN A COUPLE YEARS,
I SEE MYSELF WORKING IN A GOOD LAW FIRM,
MAYBE EVEN WORKING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
WHO KNOWS?
I HOPE, YOU KNOW, DREAMS ARE MADE TO COME TRUE.
[ LAUGHS ]
DREAM BIG OR GO HOME. [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: AFTER HER ESCAPE,
KATYA GOT MARRIED AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE.
SHE HAS NOT RETURNED TO UKRAINE
SINCE SHE WAS TRAFFICKED IN MAY 2004.