GRANT CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – A Van Buren man is facing charges of human trafficking after two women were found barricaded in a room Friday morning.
According to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Gregory Michael Marsh, a 59-year-old from Van Buren, was arrested after officers responded and found the women had barricaded themselves out of fear of being deported. Police said that after meeting online, Marsh had sponsored the two women and was using their deportation as a threat to control them.
Marsh is now facing several charges including human trafficking and domestic battery.
The following was released:
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office arrested Gregory Michael Marsh, 59 of Van Buren, IN. on a charge of PROMOTION of HUMAN SEXUAL TRAFFICKING a Level 4 Felony. The arrest resulted from a disturbance call for service in the 400 block of West Main St. Van Buren at 03:40 A.M. this morning.
Gregory Michael Marsh
Deputies arrived on the scene and through their investigation determined two females inside the residence had barricaded themselves in a room. When Deputies rescued the victims, they were found shaking in fear from the event. The investigation determined the victim(s), two adult females, mother, and daughter, were in fear of being injured and deported from the United States as a tactic to control them which has been an ongoing situation. The victims resided in the residence and had come to Indiana from Venezuela in April 2023 on a work VISA sponsored by the arrestee, that she met online. The Deputies on scene through their training recognized the signs of human trafficking with statements from the victims and requested Detectives to assist in the investigation. Interviews were conducted, and a warrant was obtained for the Gregory M Marsh arrest for Domestic Battery a class A Misdemeanor, Criminal Confinement a Level 3 Felony, Voyeurism a Level 6 felony, and the above Promotion of Human Sexual Trafficking.
Sheriff Garcia would like to commend the Deputies for their attention to detail in the earlier stages of the call and the investigation. Also, would like to thank Grant County Central Dispatch for using one of their employees to translate during this event, and the other agencies assisting in today’s investigation are Special Agents with Homeland Security, Upland PD Officer, Grant County Prosecutors Office, Hands of Hope Victim’s Advocates.
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