Adriane Moen, a single mother who faced financial difficulties, found herself entangled in a dire situation after meeting a man through a dating app. Initially seeing it as a romantic connection, Moen soon found the reality was starkly different. According to court records, the Chicago man suggested she start using Backpage, a website known for facilitating sex work before its FBI shutdown in 2018. Moen accused him of abuse and forcing her into sex work, claiming he took up to sixty percent of her earnings. Last month, a federal civil lawsuit in Illinois awarded Moen a $50 million judgment against her alleged trafficker.
Moen expressed relief and validation after the ruling, stating, “I am basically just grateful that they heard my story and someone believed me and that I was able to finally get some justice.” She recognized that she might never receive payment but felt justice was served in federal court.
U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow described Moen’s experience as “among the most reprehensible possible.” The judge highlighted the significant harm Moen endured. Federal and state laws permit survivors of human trafficking to seek financial awards through civil courts. Typically, these lawsuits target hotels or internet service providers, providing survivors a better chance to secure settlements. However, Moen’s direct lawsuit against her alleged trafficker marked a rare legal approach, considered a first in Illinois.
“It is a novel approach to try to find justice and accountability for a survivor who already was really failed by the criminal justice system,” said Elizabeth Payne, legal director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation.
Moen’s lawsuit filed in 2025 named John Woolridge as the defendant. Moen’s complaint detailed how she met Woolridge in 2012 through a dating app. Attempts to reach Woolridge were unsuccessful, and he did not respond to the court complaint.
The court documents described a typical trajectory for sex trafficking victims: individuals vulnerable due to financial needs, emotionally manipulated, and eventually coerced into sex work. Woolridge convinced Moen that sex work was a viable solution to her financial woes. He controlled the ads and pricing, and when Moen attempted to exit, he became abusive.
Moen’s court complaint reported that by 2015, she had managed to flee the abuse, moving in with her father in Moline. She estimated transferring around $420,000 to Woolridge. Despite Woolridge likely lacking the means to pay the $50 million judgment, Payne emphasized its lasting impact and hinted at avenues for Moen to reclaim some financial damages.
Moen, now residing in Rock Island, became aware of her situation being recognized as sex trafficking during therapy in 2020. She has since become an advocate for other survivors, encouraging them to come forward. “It’s important for other survivors to know it’s okay to come forward,” she stated.