Missing teen was one of multiple victims in ruthless pimp’s ‘vile form’ of sex trafficking, investigators believe

Authorities in New York arrested a man Wednesday on suspicion of sex-trafficking and prostitution involving two women — including Corinna Slusser, the missing Pennsylvania teen who was last seen in September of last year.

Police arrested 23-year-old Ishi Woney, who they suspect used “fraud, force and coercion to pimp the women out in the Bronx, among other places,” the New York Daily News reports, citing authorities.

Corinna, 19, of Bloomsberg, was reported missing after she failed to attend her grandfather’s funeral on September 10 of last year. She previously studied marketing at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Officials believe Woney transported a woman, whom documents identified as “Victim 1,” to several different states, according to the media outlet. The suspect allegedly advertised prostitution through ads purchased via the internet. More than one of the aforementioned ads highlighted Victim 1 along with Slusser.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman emphasized that the charges against Woney are extremely serious.

“As alleged, Ishi Woney engaged in a vile form of exploitation, using force and other coercion to compel young women to engage in paid sex for his enrichment. We will continue to work with the FBI and NYPD to protect prospective victims of human trafficking and arrest and prosecute their predators,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said.

Slusser moved to New York City in August 2017, according to the New York Post. After meeting an unidentified “pimp,” she was reportedly beaten up by the suspect and subsequently reported the purported assault to police.

The New York Post, citing police, reported that “over 800 text messages” were shared between Woney and Slusser in a 10-day timeframe, “between September 10 and 20.”

On September 20, the missing woman is believed to have met and shared a room with Woney, an aspiring rapper, along with Victim 1.

Victim 1 apparently grew jealous of the relationship between the suspect and Slusser—who then moved to a motel in Queens on the same day. Slusser has not been since since then.

Slusser has blonde hair and blue eyes, stands 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 140 pounds. A black flower is tattooed on her chest.

“I hope this [arrest] leads to other things,” Slusser’s mother, Sabina Tuorto, expressed to The Post on Thursday. “I want my daughter found.”

The FBI is urging anyone with information in regards to the case to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

[Feature photo: DCPI]