Woman Charged with Trafficking Teen for Prostitution

23-year-old Monique Smith accused of bringing 15-year-old across state lines for sex work

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A 23-year-old woman named Monique Smith has been arrested and charged with trafficking of children for sexual purposes after allegedly bringing a 15-year-old minor from Longview, Texas to Shreveport, Louisiana and encouraging the teen's involvement in prostitution. Smith was arrested after a dispute call at a local hotel, where police discovered online advertisements for both Smith and the minor on escort sites.

Why it matters

Child sex trafficking is a serious crime that exploits vulnerable minors and can have long-lasting impacts on victims. This case highlights the need for continued law enforcement vigilance and community education to identify and prevent these types of crimes, which often occur behind the scenes in a city's underground sex trade.

The details

According to police, Monique Smith admitted to harboring the juvenile and encouraging prostitution. She was arrested and charged with trafficking of children for sexual purposes, and is being held on a $500,000 bond. Smith could also face federal charges for transporting a minor across state lines. The Shreveport Police Department says they are constantly training officers to recognize the signs of child trafficking and exploitation, and have recently partnered with the Louisiana Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Division to further investigate these types of cases.

  • On February 28, Shreveport Police officers responded to a dispute call at a hotel on Monkhouse Drive.
  • Monique Smith was arrested on February 28.

The players

Monique Smith

A 23-year-old woman who was arrested and charged with trafficking of children for sexual purposes after allegedly bringing a 15-year-old minor from Longview, Texas to Shreveport, Louisiana and encouraging the teen's involvement in prostitution.

Shreveport Police Department (SPD)

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the dispute call, conducted the investigation, and arrested Monique Smith. The SPD says they are constantly training officers to recognize the signs of child trafficking and exploitation.

Louisiana Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Division

A state-level law enforcement division that the Shreveport Police Department has recently partnered with to investigate internet crimes against children, including child sex trafficking cases.

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What they’re saying

“The world of prostitution is kind of an underbelly of society, and it's not always out in the open. But it can exist in an area and you not recognize those signs. So we want our officers to recognize those signs like these officers did.”

— Corporal Chris Bordelon, Public Information Officer, Shreveport Police Department (cenlanow.com)

“We're gonna be working some of these internet crimes against children cases, to try to really shine a light on an issue that affects not just the child, but it affects society in general. Because what we found is that children that are the victims of these crimes often grow up to commit these types of crimes.”

— Corporal Chris Bordelon, Public Information Officer, Shreveport Police Department (cenlanow.com)

What’s next

Monique Smith could face federal charges for bringing a minor across state lines, but that decision will be made by a federal agency.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of combating child sex trafficking, which often occurs hidden from view in a city's underground sex trade. Continued law enforcement training and community partnerships are crucial to identifying and preventing these exploitative crimes that can have long-lasting impacts on vulnerable youth.