2024-07-18 02:28:23
Katiuscia Torres Soares, known on social media as Kat Torres or Kat A Luz, has been sentenced in New York, USA, to eight years in prison for human trafficking and slavery. The American and Puerto Rican authorities discovered that Torres, in addition to being famous for her self-help videos, kept several women as slaves in the United States.
According to the ruling of June 28, the details of which became known in the last few hours, the influencer, who had previously gained notoriety for her relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio and for her multiple appearances in international magazines, used her position to exploit her followers.
The investigations began after two young Brazilian women were reported missing in September 2022, mobilizing both their families and the FBI. The victims’ families only knew that they were living with the so-called wellness guru in North America.
Torres, who had cultivated an image of success and self-improvement on social media, attracted her most vulnerable followers with promises of money and increased self-esteem through a subscription service and personal consultations for USD 150. However, the reality of the victims was very different. Ana, one of the first to fall under Torres’ influence, recounted how she was attracted by the influencer’s supposed story of overcoming trauma and her journey from the Brazilian favelas to the international catwalks.
“I thought she could get over it all,” Ana said, describing her impression of Torres. However, once in the influencer’s apartment in New York, she realized the manipulation she was subjected to. Ana, along with other victims, had to perform household chores without rest and without receiving the promised payment. “Now I see that she was using me as a slave,” she added.
THEY COULD NOT EVEN SPEAK
In addition to the abusive working conditions, the women lived under strict rules. They were not allowed to speak to each other, they needed permission to leave their rooms, and all their earnings were turned over to Torres. The victims also had to give up their documents such as passports and driver’s licenses, which prevented them from escaping.
2024-07-18 02:28:23