Nebraska bankers announce new private fund to fight human trafficking

LA VISTA — Nebraska’s governor and top prosecutor touted a new effort Wednesday to raise private money for grants to help local schools, law enforcement agencies and nonprofits identify signs of human trafficking and intervene earlier.

Gov. Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers embraced the new HALT Human Trafficking Fund launched this week by the Nebraska Bankers Association during the group’s annual convention at the La Vista Conference Center.

Pillen, pointing to a state map of human trafficking incidents reported to state and local law enforcement agencies, said it was hard to see so many communities affected by “evil.” Human trafficking is defined as forced labor. It often includes sex work.

“We have to get the word out,” Pillen said. “We have to bring people to justice and protect our kids. We can’t have human trafficking in the State of Nebraska. It’s unacceptable.”

He said Nebraska needs to identify traffickers and “get them locked up and throw away the dadgum key.”

Hilgers said his office runs a task force that works with law enforcement agencies statewide to interrupt and arrest those trying to profit off trafficked people. He said the new effort could give smaller agencies more tools.

“Bankers are in every community in Nebraska, and they care about their communities…,” Hilgers said. “It shouldn’t surprise any of us that they’re putting their money where their mouth is … to do something good for Nebraskans.”

Already raised more than $100,000

Richard Baier, CEO of the banking group, said his organization had already secured pledges for more than $100,000 and hoped the public would see the good that could be accomplished by using modern technology and local knowledge to stop trafficking.

He said some Nebraska banks are upgrading their technology to work with financial technology firms like Canadian company Verafin, which uses bulk data about a bank’s transactions to help banks identify financial crimes, including trafficking.

Verafin representative Jeff Golant said his company works with 13 to 18 Nebraska banks, including First National Bank of Omaha, one of the region’s largest. His company, he said, uses artificial intelligence to detect “the financial fingerprints of crime.”

“Nearly a decade ago, we first worked with a human trafficking survivor and advocate to develop our detection capabilities,” he said. “Based on understanding of how human trafficking actually occurs. Our AI tools find and identify when this happens.”

Baier said the group helps banks and law enforcement agencies identify traffickers with payment and transaction patterns. He said local agencies and nonprofits applying for grants as soon as October will propose their own ideas and technology to help.

He and Hilgers said local law enforcement agencies might apply for new technology. Schools might apply for funding to set up new technology to have IT and security staff better monitor school Wi-Fi for usage that hints at a trafficking ring.

Grant applications to the HALT Fund will be reviewed by the Nebraska Community Foundation. The bankers launched a website this week to take donations, accessible at https://haltfund.org. Donations to the fund are tax deductible, Baier said. 

Pillen, reached after the press conference, said Nebraskans need to be vigilant in watching out for their neighbors who could be facing something awful like trafficking. He said people should be able to come together and protect those who are victimized.

“It’s about doing what’s right,” he said.