The Salt Lake grant is part of a federal effort to step up enforcement against human trafficking. According to the Department of Justice, there were 79 convictions nationally involving human trafficking in fiscal year 2006 — more than double the convictions of 2005.

In Utah, Tolman says there hasn't been a human trafficking case prosecuted yet, but there have been cases that have come close in the past.

"We have some investigations we are conducting now," he says. "My belief is we definitely have human trafficking. ... We are right now looking at it with great intensity."

On the state level, Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, is exploring the issue but says because of its complexity he may hold off on introducing legislation. So might Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, who sponsored a bill in the 2007 session, which ran out of time to receive a floor hearing. Now, Litvack says he's waiting to hear from task force members as to what they see as the state's role in both prosecuting offenders and assisting victims.

"Human trafficking is so underground," he says. "I think the task force ... can really shed light on the problem and develop a strategy to approach the issue."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com