Man says women kidnapped and forced him into sex work: court docs

Texas Man Held Captive for Seven Days, Forcibly Recruited to Sex Work by Woman Known as "Cookie"

A north Harris County man recounted the harrowing details of his week-long ordeal at the hands of a woman identified only as "Cookie" – who is actually Herbinique Forest. The 32-year-old victim said he was kidnapped at gunpoint on October 18 and held against his will, subjected to physical abuse, and forced into sex work with men.

Forest allegedly recruited the victim under false pretenses, claiming she had a job for him that would help him make money since he didn't have a job. She took him to a Regency Inn near FM 1960, where he met Forest, who also goes by "Cookie." Court documents show that Forest assaulted him when he refused to comply with her demands.

The victim described the scene as chaotic, with numerous individuals involved, including crack addicts and homeless people. He claimed that Forest threatened to kill him if he tried to escape, stating, "Like a couple days in, I kind of wanted her to kill me."

After almost a week, the victim managed to send a text message on his hidden phone, which was intercepted by authorities. On October 24, Forest picked him up from a parking lot near Ross, and he finally escaped.

All three suspects – Esmeralda Pena, Herbinique Forest, and Nickson Simmons – are facing charges of aggravated kidnapping. The investigation is ongoing, with the victims' relatives expressing gratitude to his aunt for saving his life.

The case highlights the alarming rise in human trafficking cases across Texas, with many victims being lured into sex work under false pretenses or by force. Authorities warn that such crimes often go undetected, and it's crucial for potential victims to be vigilant and report suspicious activity immediately.

I'm low-key shocked this dude managed to escape after 7 days of captivity . How did he even manage to send a text message on his hidden phone? Wasn't that supposed to be confiscated by the authorities? That's some dodgy police work if you ask me .

I'm also kinda curious, how many people were involved in this whole operation? The victim said it was chaotic, but I want more info on what really went down. Are these guys pros or just opportunistic exploiters? And what about the authorities' response time? They're saying "alarming rise in human trafficking" and warning victims to be vigilant, but how long did it take them to even get involved in this case?

Ugh , this is so messed up ! Seven days locked up with no way out? That's like, a nightmare come true . And to make matters worse, she was using him for her own gain, preying on someone who was already struggling . I'm just glad he managed to send that text message and escape . It's crazy how these people can be so calculating and heartless . The fact that there were others involved in this too, like those crack addicts and homeless people... it's just a whole other level of depraved . And now they're all facing charges? That's not enough , we need to do more to protect these innocent people and make sure these monsters get the justice they deserve .

omg this is so crazy how someone can just manipulate and control people like that i feel so bad for the victim he was literally held captive for 7 days and had to do stuff he didn't want to do it's insane that these people are doing this to others and getting away with it for so long authorities really need to step up their game and make sure these people get the justice they deserve

omg this is so messed up like what even is the world right now? this woman Cookie is literally a monster she just took advantage of someone who was already in a vulnerable spot and forced him into sex work. it's crazy how many people are involved in these human trafficking cases, and it's wild that he got to escape after 7 whole days i hope the people behind this get what's coming to them

OMG this is wild! Like, who does this?! A woman just kidnaps a dude at gunpoint and forces him into sex work? That's straight up crazy talk . And to think he was trying to escape but wanted her to kill him - that's some twisted stuff . I'm glad the guy managed to send out a text message and got rescued, but like... how did she get away with this for so long? . It's gotta be super hard for victims to come forward, especially when they're in a situation where they feel trapped. We need more awareness about human trafficking and sex work to stop this stuff from happening .

I mean, who wouldn't trust a woman who calls herself "Cookie"? Sounds like the perfect candidate for a job, right? But seriously, this is just another example of how some people can turn a life around... NOT. It's crazy that it took him almost a week to muster up the courage to escape. I wonder if he had to live with himself for a whole 7 days wondering what his life was going to be like when he got out? Either way, kudos to whoever intercepted those texts and saved this guy from a life of sex work. Hope they get some justice and can finally move on from this nightmare

omg this is so unfair to herbinique forest she's just trying to make a living like the rest of us i mean, forcing someone into sex work at gunpoint? that's just not fair to her, the victim obviously needed help or something and she took advantage of it. maybe instead of locking her up she should be getting some therapy or counseling for whatever issues led her to this point

This story is a harsh reminder of the dangers that can lurk in our communities. The poor guy was literally held captive for 7 days, subjected to physical abuse, and forced into doing something he didn't want to do. It's mind-boggling to think about how easy it must have been for him to just give up and surrender to his captor.

But what I find really striking is that the victim himself described feeling like he wanted death at one point. That's a profound realization - we often talk about hope and resilience, but sometimes, the darkest moments can be the ones that reveal our greatest weaknesses.

It makes me think of the importance of self-care and prioritizing our own well-being. We need to be aware of our surroundings and not let fear or desperation cloud our judgment. And most importantly, if you see something suspicious, speak up! Don't assume someone else will take care of it - your voice is crucial in preventing such crimes from happening.

We can all learn from this case: stay vigilant, trust your instincts, and never give up hope.

I'm so worried about people gettin' pulled into this stuff. Like, someone offers you a "job" and suddenly you're doin' all sorts of weird stuff? That don't sound right to me . And the fact that she was using a fake name like Cookie ... shady much?

And what's even crazier is how he got rescued by his aunt . Like, if people look out for each other and report suspicious activity, we can make a real difference . We gotta stay vigilant and help each other out .

It's also super sad that the victims have to go through this . Like, they're already vulnerable and then they get caught up in this whole situation? It's just not cool .

Anyway, I hope those suspects get the justice they deserve . We can't let people like Herbinique Forest think they can get away with this stuff !

OMG is this a new form of human trafficking I've never heard of?! It's like she just uses social media to find victims and then manipulates them into doing her dirty work . And the fact that he was held captive for seven days, subjected to physical abuse, it's just horrific . What's even more disturbing is that these people are using Regency Inn as some kinda hideout . I feel so bad for the guy who escaped and his aunt who must've been freaking out the whole time . Can't we just report suspicious activity to the authorities already?

I'm freaking out thinking about this guy who was held captive for 7 days . The stats on human trafficking in Texas are insane... 1 in 5 people know someone who has been a victim of sex trafficking, according to the Polaris Project . And it's not just Texas, globally over 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery . The average age of entry into sex trafficking is just 12-14 years old . Can we believe the number of victims who report their situation to law enforcement? Only about 1 in 10 . We need to raise awareness and support for these survivors, like the guy's aunt who saved his life . The recidivism rate for human trafficking victims is also super high... up to 75% . Let's make a change!

Ugh man what a horrific story ‍. Like, can you even imagine being kidnapped and forced into sex work against your will? It's just insane... The fact that someone would do this to another human being is just heartbreaking . And the worst part is, it's happening more and more often in Texas . We need to be super vigilant and report any suspicious activity ASAP . I'm so grateful that the victim was able to escape and that his aunt stepped in to help him out . This case is a total wake-up call for all of us to look out for each other and keep our communities safe .

I'm still shaking my head about this crazy story of "Cookie" Herbinique Forest, whoever she is, needs some serious help or intervention... I mean, forcing a dude into sex work with no job or future prospects? That's just heartbreaking It's like, what happened to her life, you know? Why did she resort to this? And the fact that she recruited him at gunpoint... that's some messed up stuff

And can we talk about how lucky the victim was to have sent that one text message and got rescued on October 24th? It's a miracle he made it out alive. I'm just glad his aunt stepped in when she did, 'cause the situation could've been so much worse. The whole case is just a reminder that human trafficking is still such a huge issue in our state, and we need to keep raising awareness about it