![Thomas Antoine Miller [left], and Shakeeta Lasha Adams [right], 1](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Thomas-Antoine-Miller-left-and-Shakeeta-Lasha-Adams-right-1.jpg?resize=620%2C411&ssl=1)
Thomas Antoine Miller [left], is facing charges including human trafficking of an adult victim, sexual servitude of an adult victim and assault on a child under 12, while Shakeeta Lasha Adams [right], was charged with simple assault and released from custody on Friday
The unidentified woman was forced to endure “unspeakable violent acts” in front of her children at two hotels in Pineville and was viciously punished if she failed to meet financial quotas by having sex with random men against her will, Pineville police announced Friday.
“The punishments range from verbal abuse, to beatings with a belt, being held under water and ice bath in a bathtub while being strangled and burned/branded with a hot wire coat hanger,” department officials said in a statement. “This violence was done in front of her two children and they were beaten as well with a belt at times.”
![Thomas Antoine Miller [left], and Shakeeta Lasha Adams [right], 2.jpg](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Thomas-Antoine-Miller-left-and-Shakeeta-Lasha-Adams-right-2.jpg?resize=620%2C814&ssl=1)
Pineville Police announced that Thomas Miller and Shakeeta Adams have been arrested on sex trafficking charges
The woman’s children, ages 6 and 8, were not sexually abused, but they did witness the treatment doled out to their mother by suspects Thomas Antoine Miller, 26, and Shakeeta Lasha Adams, 25, inside rooms at Comfort Suites and Quality Suites in Pineville, police said.
The suspects were arrested after a three-week investigation involving undercover surveillance that was launched when the woman went to police and said she needed help. Investigators also think there could be additional victims who have not yet been identified.
“We want those victims to come forward to us,” police said. “We also want [them] to know that there is help out there for them. Our victim in this case and her children had a long road of physical and mental recovery ahead of them.”
The victim, who is not from Pineville, met Miller in Charlotte in July, Pineville police Lt. Corey Copley told The Post. Investigators do not believe that the woman’s children were forced to watch any of the sex acts, Copley said.
Human trafficking in Pineville — a town of 9,000 south of Charlotte — is “extremely rare,” according to police, but many hotels, including the locations where investigators said the woman was held captive, have trained employees to spot signs of the criminal activity.
“Our victim has been very brave in coming forward and we hope that if there are more victims out there, then they too will be inspired to come forward,” Pineville police said in a statement.
Miller is facing charges including human trafficking of an adult victim, sexual servitude of an adult victim and assault on a child under 12, the Charlotte Observer reported.
Miller remains in custody at the Mecklenburg County jail, while Adams, who was charged with simple assault, was released from custody on Friday
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