Houston Republic

A man and two women, all in their 20s, were charged with trafficking a Texas teenager and remain in custody in two Louisiana jails, according to online records searches.

Areona Ardoin, 21, of Alexandria, Louisiana, and Terry Dwyne Williams Jr., 24, of Kingwood, remain in custody at Rapides Parish Detention Center while Infiniti L. Williams, 25, also of Kingwood, remains in custody at Avoyelles Parish jail. All three are charged with human trafficking and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, according to a news release posted to the Louisiana State Police's Facebook page on Monday.

The three were arrested and jailed earlier that day following a traffic stop by the Bunkie Police Department in Louisiana. Police found a missing 15-year-old in the vehicle and called the Louisiana State Police for backup, according to the news release.

"Through investigative means, law enforcement identified the juvenile as being sexually exploited and was being transported for the purposes of human trafficking from the Houston area," the news release said.

The Alexandria Police Department and FBI Alexandria Field Office also are participating in the investigation, which remains active. 

"There is no further information available at this time," the news release said.

About 79,000 victims of youth and minor sex trafficking are suffering in Texas at any given time, according to the Texas Attorney General's Office.

The news release also mentioned the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit, which rescues and seeks justice for the victims of crimes involving the exploitation of children and the trafficking of people for sex or labor.

"The public plays an important role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes and is urged to report criminal or suspicious activity," the news release said.

Anyone who would like to anonymously report exploitation and trafficking may do so here: http://la-safe.org/