Reserve Marine Foils DC-area Human Trafficking Ring Just Hours Before Fitness Test

What was supposed to be a normal Reserve drill weekend here turned a U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel into both a hero and a villain – a hero for finding and saving young teenage girls allegedly forced into sexual slavery, and a villain to the transnational criminal organization whose detestable operations were disrupted.

The Marine Corps is withholding the identity of the Marine due to an ongoing investigation to bring down more of this criminal organization, as well as sensitivities surrounding his civilian job in law enforcement.

On May 5, 2023, the Reserve Marine officer saw what he presumed to be indications and signs of human trafficking within the hotel he was staying at, off Route 1 in Alexandria, Virginia.

At around 6:00 pm he returned to the hotel after a day training with his Reserve unit headquartered on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling just over the Potomac River in D.C. The officer is assigned to Marine Advisor Company A, Force Headquarters Group as a Select Marine Corps Reserve Marine.

“I came back from drill and noticed a young girl acting strangely and dressing out of place in and around the hotel lobby we were staying at,” the infantry officer filling the billet of operations advisor recalled.

Upon looking a little closer he noticed the numbers “13” tattooed on each arm and the blue and white colors on her clothes – telltale signs of the violent transnational criminal gang MS-13, also called Mara Salvatrucha.

“They often ‘brand’ or ‘mark’ their human property,” he explained.

Units like his constantly send Marines around the world to advise and build partnerships. According to the unit’s commanding officer, “We constantly educate our personnel on how to spot and respond to suspected human trafficking situations. I never stop reminding Marines that human trafficking often manifests as prostitution and if Marines are against it, the criminals cannot win,” said Col. John D. Cowart, commanding officer, Marine Corps Advisor Company A.