A strategic meeting was held yesterday with the our partners within the tribe regarding the new trend of “human trafficking” of Native Americans being recruited to “sober living” homes in the Phoenix Metro area. We are seeing this trend in the Hualapai community and are looking at ways to combat this, but we need the public’s assistance and feel it is important to get this information out to the community. “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING”.
It is known to the Hualapai Police Department that members of the Hualapai Tribe are “home managers” at these facilities. It is believed that the managers are engaging in nefarious activities, on top of the already illegal health care fraud, and have no intention of providing services to those in need. To put it bluntly, they are preying upon individuals in their darkest time for the sole purpose of financial gain.
A few months ago, Fox New Phoenix did an excellent exposé on this issue. As you will hear in this series, Native Americans are being specifically targeted in tribal communities. Share this information with family and friends, post these links on your social media accounts, and look out for one another.
If you feel that you see such activity within the community, you are encouraged to immediately notify police dispatch at (928) 769-2220.
Chris Moore
Criminal Investigations
Hualapai Police Department