Every year, millions of people are coerced, exploited and trafficked worldwide – the U.S. State Department estimates that 27.6 million people (about the population of Texas) are victims of human trafficking at any given time. The Mob Museum and Signs of Hope, a nonprofit offering services to those affected by sexual violence and exploitation, will host a panel discussion featuring women who have made a difference in the fight against human trafficking in Las Vegas. Hear from Jessica Kay as she shares her inspiring story of resilience and hope. Kay was forced to meet a quota of $2,500 a night as a sex trafficking victim. In 2007, she was arrested for solicitation of prostitution as part of a sting operation on the Las Vegas Strip. Her story of survival has championed change in the state Legislature and provided a path forward for other survivors.
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. several local organizations will provide free community resources on the second floor of the Museum. The panel discussion will begin at 7 p.m. in the courtroom.
Organizations include:
The US Attorney’s Office and the FBI
The Shade Tree
All Things Possible
Signs of Hope
Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force
Shero Foundation
Sponsored by:
Tickets for this program are limited to two per guest.
Featured Speakers
Assistant Sheriff Yasenia Yatomi
Yasenia Yatomi is an Assistant Sheriff with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) with more than 23 years of law enforcement experience. Prior to being promoted in December 2022, she served as the Deputy Chief of the Tourist Safety Division and was responsible for the tourist corridor to include the Airport, Support Operations, and Traffic Bureaus.
Yasenia was promoted to Deputy Chief in September 2021 and was assigned to the Community Policing Division where she was responsible for eight area commands and over 2000 employees. Prior to her promotion, Chief Yatomi served as the Captain over the Internal Oversight and Constitutional Policing Bureau. She served as the Commander for the Gang/Vice Bureau under the Investigative Services Division and oversaw numerous task forces comprised of other agencies and federal law enforcement partners whose purpose was to investigate human trafficking, organized crime, and violent crimes involving gangs and narcotics.
She served as the Commander for the K9 Section under the Homeland Security Division, Lieutenant of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Administrative Lieutenant for South Central Area Command, and LVMPD Watch Commander for valley-wide patrol operations in Clark County, Nevada, whose population is 2.3 million.
She also supervised the Criminal Intelligence Section’s Undercover Squad and the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Squad.
Chief Yatomi served 10 years in a patrol capacity where she was assigned to several area commands and various units: Robbery, Problem Solving Unit, and Bike Patrol. As a Patrol Sergeant, she supervised the Homeland Security Saturation Team, and Mobile Crime Saturation Team under the Homeland Security Division and the Community Policing Division, respectively. In addition to her policing experience, Captain Yatomi has served as a liaison on numerous boards to include the Citizens Review Board, Use of Force Board, and Return to Duty Board. She also supervised the Early Identification and Intervention Program which was designed to alert and identify patterns of performance issues with employees.
Brittany Hopballe
Miss Hopballe has been in the business of people, understanding and responding to their needs, for nearly 20 years & has worked with vulnerable and trauma- impacted persons for the later half of her professional career. She is currently the Program Director of R.I.S.E Human Trafficking Victim Services out of Signs of HOPE and Chair of Victim Services on the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force. Miss Hopballe holds a BA in psychology, is a graduate of the Victim Assistance Academy of Nevada, and credentialed advocate through the National Assistance Academy.
Miss Hopballe is a Las Vegas native who has served victims of human trafficking locally & internationally for the past 7 years and is passionate in advocating for change and betterment of all people effected by violence and trauma.
Jessica Kay
Jessica Kay strives to connect with people on a fundamental level and believes that human connection is the most powerful healing agent we have.
“I once felt like I was a victim of the system, a stack of mental diagnoses, police reports and hospital visits — instead of a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking and homelessness,” said Kay, who decided to tell her story to help others in vulnerable situations find the courage to continue. “I decided I wanted to dedicate my life to advocating for those who are hurting in our community and use my experiences as a medium to champion change.”
To this end, Kay received a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from UNLV and a master’s degree in social work from USC. Jessica is currently working as a Clinical Social Work Intern for A Better Tomorrow and is a Survivor Consultant for UNITAS. Jessica is a member of the Nevada Coalition to Prevent the Sexual Exploitation of Children and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Nevada Policy Council on Human Trafficking. Jessica worked on Nevada’s CSEC Strategic Plan, received the Freedom Award from New Jersey Coalition against Human Trafficking, was named Las Vegas’s 40 Under 40 and is a survivor leader working with numerous agencies across the country.
