Voorhees Man Charged With Human Trafficking out of Deptford Hotel Room

A Voorhees man has been charged with first-degree human trafficking, third-degree promoting prostitution and fourth-degree assault after a South Carolina woman reported she was held against her will in a Deptford hotel room for a week, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday.

Robert Murray, 40, was held in default of $300,000 bail on the charges.

An investigation began on Tuesday when a 26-year-old South Carolina woman telephoned Deptford police from a township hotel and reported she had been held against her will at the hotel for a week and forced to perform sexual acts for money with numerous males every day.

She said she came to New Jersey with other women from North Carolina before being turned over to a man she could only identify as “Lotto.”

She claims “Lotto” said would beat her if she did not comply. 

The woman, who had numerous injuries consistent with beatings, said she was trying to escape while “Lotto” had left the hotel.

Murray, the man believed to be “Lotto” was arrested the same day on active warrants when he returned to the hotel room. Human trafficking, prostitution and assault complaints were then signed against him. He had $1,540 on him at the time of his arrest. That money was seized.

Murray was charged under an enhanced-penalty law enacted in 2013.

“The new human trafficking law provides a valuable tool for law enforcement to vigorously prosecute those who engage in this type of exploitation,” Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton said.  “My thanks to the Deptford Township Police Department and the GCPO major crimes unit for the outstanding work on this case.”

“This investigation started as a 9-1-1 call for assistance to our officers, who assisted the victim, and ultimately ended in an arrest after a joint investigation with our detectives and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office,” Deptford Police Chief William Hanstein said.  “Human trafficking is not just an urban issue.  As a result, law enforcement agencies statewide are working together in an effort to combat this crime against the vulnerable.”