Adriane Moen, a single mother facing financial difficulties, met a man through a dating app who she believed would be a romantic partner. However, this relationship took a dark turn. Court records reveal that the man from Chicago encouraged her to use the website Backpage, once notorious for facilitating sex work, until the FBI shut it down in 2018. Moen claims in a federal civil lawsuit filed in Illinois that the man became abusive, forcing her into sex work and taking up to sixty percent of her income.
In a significant victory last month, Moen, aged 49, was awarded a $50 million judgment against her alleged trafficker. She hopes her case will inspire other survivors seeking restitution. Moen expressed her gratitude in an email to the Tribune, saying, “I am grateful that they heard my story and someone believed me and that I was able to finally get some justice.” She acknowledged that she might not receive payment from him but still felt validated by the court’s decision.
U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow described Moen’s ordeal as “among the most reprehensible possible.” She reiterated that the facts of the case were horrifying and Moen experienced significant harm. Federal and state laws allow trafficking survivors to pursue financial compensation in civil courts against those responsible. However, these lawsuits often target hotel chains or internet service providers, entities easier for survivors and attorneys to collect settlements from. Moen’s case is rare, involving direct legal action against her alleged trafficker, a first of its kind in Illinois, according to her lawyers.
In 2025, Moen filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois against John Woolridge, the man she met online in 2012. Attempts to reach Woolridge for comment were unsuccessful. He did not respond to the court complaint or hire a lawyer for the proceedings. The court judgment noted he was served via email and Instagram, yet he has not been criminally charged in connection to Moen’s case.
Moen’s narrative follows a common path for trafficking victims. She began daily communication with Woolridge, who assured her that sex work was the solution to her money problems and promised protection. Over time, he pressured her into the trade, setting prices and demanding a cut. When she resisted, he allegedly became hostile and abusive. The court documents describe her being forced to meet dozens of men weekly across multiple states, suffering abuse and sexual assault.
Her attempts to leave were thwarted by threats, violence, and manipulation until she escaped in 2015, relocating with her father in Moline. By her estimate, she handed over approximately $420,000 to Woolridge.
Moen shared, “Trafficking isn’t just being locked in a warehouse somewhere. It can happen with your partner. They see the money aspect and that’s all they want.”
Legal director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, Elizabeth Payne, remarked on the novel approach to seeking justice that Moen’s case represents. Despite the improbability of collecting the $50 million, the judgment remains a lifelong mark against Woolridge. Payne is hopeful Moen may ultimately recover some portion of the sum.
Moen realized her experience constituted sex trafficking only after beginning therapy in 2020. Now residing in Rock Island, she has become an advocate for other survivors. “It’s important for other survivors to know it’s okay to come forward,” she stated. “Regardless of the situation, it’s okay to tell somebody.”
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