HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that a man who lured at least one victim from California to the East Coast with the false promises of easy money – where she was forced into prostitution and held against her will – waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Tyler Bachtel, who met the victim in a Los Angeles nightclub and recruited her to fly to the East Coast and work as an “escort”, is charged with trafficking in individuals, involuntary servitude, prostitution, conspiracy, corruption organizations and related offenses. Bachtel’s East Coast counterparts Kashamba John and Arianna Somerville were previously held for trial on similar charges following a preliminary hearing in November.
“This is a horrendous case where a young woman was subjected to unconscionable treatment,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. “The victim was lured from California, held against her will and forced into prostitution. Collaboration between our office with the Pennsylvania State Police, Upper Merion police and Homeland Security, and the effective use of the grand jury, led to this prosecution. We will use every tool at our disposal to prosecute these human trafficking cases.”
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