Kat Torres, a former Instagram wellness influencer, has been sentenced to eight years in a Brazilian prison for human trafficking and enslavement, following an FBI probe that exposed her exploitation of vulnerable women.
Known for her glamorous image and ties with Hollywood celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Torres used her social media fame to deceive women with promises of spiritual and personal growth, only to trap them in abusive situations.
One victim, Ana, recounted to the BBC how she moved to New York to work as Torres' live-in assistant, only to endure poor living conditions, including sleeping on a couch covered in cat urine and working without rest or pay.
Brazilian victims Desirê and Letícia were misled into moving to the U.S., where they were forced into strip clubs and faced psychological manipulation, isolation, and strict control over their basic needs.
The investigation uncovered that Torres imposed financial quotas on her victims, forcing them into prostitution if they failed to meet her demands, and subjected them to what was described as "witchcraft."
Torres' arrest followed social media campaigns by concerned friends and family searching for the missing Desirê and Letícia, which led to the FBI uncovering her operation and rescuing several women.
Torres denied the coercion charges, claiming her actions were misinterpreted, but more than twenty women have come forward with similar abuse stories and are now receiving psychiatric care.
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