710A.2  Human trafficking.
  1.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking is guilty of a class “D” felony, except that if the victim is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “C” felony.
  2.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking by causing or threatening to cause serious physical injury to another person is guilty of a class “C” felony, except that if the victim is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “B” felony.
  3.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking by physically restraining or threatening to physically restrain another person is guilty of a class “D” felony, except that if the victim is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “C” felony.
  4.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking by soliciting services or benefiting from the services of a victim is guilty of a class “D” felony, except that if the victim is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “C” felony.
  5.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking by abusing or threatening to abuse the law or legal process is guilty of a class “D” felony, except that if the victim is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “C” felony.
  6.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking by knowingly destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing any actual or purported government identification of another person is guilty of a class “D” felony, except if that other person is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “C” felony.
  7.  A person who benefits financially or by receiving anything of value from knowing participation in human trafficking is guilty of a class “D” felony, except that if the victim is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “C” felony.
  8.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking by knowingly providing or facilitating the provision of a forged, altered, or fraudulent license purportedly issued pursuant to chapter 152C or 157, or a forged, altered, or fraudulent government identification to another person, to force, coerce, entice, assist, facilitate, or permit the other person to perform labor or services is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor, except if that other person is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “D” felony.
  9.  A person who knowingly engages in human trafficking by knowingly forcing, coercing, enticing, assisting, facilitating, or permitting another person in possession of a forged, altered, or fraudulent license purportedly issued pursuant to chapter 152C or 157, or a forged, altered, or fraudulent government identification, to produce such license or government identification upon request of a peace officer pursuant to section 152C.5B or 157.4A, is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor, except if that other person is under the age of eighteen, the person is guilty of a class “D” felony.
  10.  A person’s ignorance of the age of the victim or a belief that the victim was older is not a defense to a violation of this section.
  11.  A person who is found guilty, enters a plea of guilty, receives a deferred judgment, or receives a deferred or suspended sentence for a violation of this chapter shall be ineligible for a license pursuant to chapter 152C or 157 for a period of not less than five years from the date of conviction, plea, judgment, or sentence.
2006 Acts, ch 1074, §3; 2012 Acts, ch 1057, §3; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §187; 2021 Acts, ch 123, §6, 7
Referred to in §9E.2, 152C.5, 272.2, 692A.102, 710A.3, 710A.5, 802.2D, 911.2A, 911.2B, 915.94, 915.95