Adriane Moen, a single mother facing financial hardships, found herself in a troubling situation after meeting a man on a dating app. Initially, their relationship seemed romantic, but it soon turned grim when the man proposed she start using Backpage, a website infamously known for sex work until its closure by the FBI in 2018. According to Moen’s allegations in a federal civil lawsuit filed in Illinois, he became abusive and coerced her into sex work, taking up to 60% of her earnings.
Last month, Moen achieved a significant legal victory by winning a $50 million judgment against the man she accused of trafficking her. This case, she believes, could provide a precedent for other survivors of sex trafficking seeking justice. “I am basically just grateful that they heard my story and someone believed me and that I was able to finally get some justice,” Moen shared in an email to the Tribune.
U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow described Moen’s experience as “among the most reprehensible possible.” She noted that Moen “suffered significant harm,” emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Federal and state laws enable survivors of human trafficking to pursue financial compensation in civil courts. Typically, such lawsuits target hotel chains or internet service providers as they present better prospects for securing settlements. However, Moen’s case is distinctive; she directly sued her alleged trafficker, marking a first-of-its-kind case in Illinois, according to her lawyers.
Elizabeth Payne, legal director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, commented, “It is a novel approach to find justice and accountability for a survivor who was failed by the criminal justice system.” Moen’s lawsuit, filed in 2025 at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, named the man as John Woolridge, whom she met in 2012 via a dating app. The court records showed that Woolridge did not respond to the complaint or hire a lawyer, and he was served through email and Instagram direct message. There have been no criminal charges against him in this case.
The court heard how Moen, vulnerable and needing financial support, was led to believe that sex work was the solution to her problems. Woolridge posted ads and dictated her fees, eventually turning abusive. According to the complaint, Moen was forced into seeing numerous clients weekly across states, enduring abuse and assault.
Her dire situation led to prostitution arrests in 2013 and 2014, and although she attempted to escape, Moen alleged that Woolridge kept her entrapped with violence and threats. By 2015, she successfully broke free and moved in with her father in Moline, estimating she had given Woolridge approximately $420,000.
Now living in Rock Island, Moen first contacted the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation for help expunging her prostitution arrests. The group, along with the firm Chapman and Cutler LLP, supported her pro bono in filing the lawsuit. Payne acknowledged that while Woolridge likely doesn’t possess $50 million, the judgment remains a lifelong burden, providing Moen a pathway to potential recovery.
Moen realized only after starting therapy in 2020 that her experience constituted sex trafficking. She has since become an advocate for survivors, encouraging others to come forward and share their stories.