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AURORA, Ill. - An Aurora man accused of trafficking an 18-year-old woman from West Virginia into prostitution was denied pretrial release.
Christopher Munger, 43, appeared in court Saturday after being charged with one count of trafficking in persons, a Class 1 felony; two counts of involuntary servitude, one a Class 3 felony and one a Class 4 felony; and one count of promoting prostitution, a Class 4 felony, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney.
Pictured is Christopher Munger, 43.
What we know
Munger’s charges stem from Nov. 22, when the Aurora Police Department's Special Operations Group was notified of online advertisements promoting prostitution in Aurora.
Investigators were led to Munger’s home in the 100 block of North Gregory Street, where the alleged prostitution occurred, prosecutors said.
On Dec. 11, undercover officers conducted an operation at the address and arranged to meet for sexual acts, according to the state's attorney.
During the operation, the undercover officer met with a woman and gave her $400, which she slid under a door in the home. After a brief conversation with the woman, the officer prepared to leave when he allegedly saw Munger pick up the cash.
Munger was taken into custody moments later.
Authorities said further investigation revealed Munger met the woman online, drove to West Virginia to pick her up, and brought her to Aurora.
The woman had no family in West Virginia and was reported missing after failing to return to a group home where she lived, prosecutors said.
"The charges against Mr. Munger are appalling," DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. "The alleged exploitation of this young woman, whom he allegedly brought from her home to a place where she knew no one and forced her into the sex for his own monetary gain, should send a chill down the spine of each and every one of us. I commend the Aurora Police Department for their truly outstanding work on this case as well as their ongoing efforts in going after those who would force young women into a life of prostitution for their own personal gain. I thank Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Heather Misura and Cathy Nusgart for their efforts on this very sad and disturbing case."
What's next
Munger is expected to appear in court on Jan. 6, 2025 for arraignment, according to the state's attorney.
He will remain in custody until his next court date.
We'll bring more updates to this story as they become available.