Realtor Accused of Trafficking Women, Tattooing Them as 'Slaves,' Was Allegedly Assisted by Attorney: Police

A Wisconsin realtor has been accused of sexually assaulting at least two women and giving them tattoos that indicated they were “sex slaves” — all while holding them captive for years, police allege.

Authorities have charged Austin Parie Chronister, 38, with several offenses including human trafficking, sexual assault and false imprisonment, which police claim took place in his Milwaukee, Wis., home, online court records show. 

He was arrested on Thursday, March 13, according to Milwaukee County jail records.

During his alleged reign of abuse, his victims claim he was assisted by a Milwaukee attorney, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WISN and FOX 6. The woman, identified in the complaint as Christin Saint Pierre, has not been charged with a crime. PEOPLE was not able to immediately reach her.

According to the criminal complaint, two women told police Chronister violently abused them — both sexually and physically — and threatened them to keep them from leaving the house.

The offenses dates back to 2020, the outlets reported, citing the complaint, although the entire timeline of the alleged abuse was not immediately clear. 

One of the women alleged they had to sign a contract that required them to have “sex upon demand” and to wear a collar as a reminder they were being “evaluated for service,” WISN reported, citing the complaint.

The alleged victim also accused Chronister of branding the women with “slave tattoos” and giving them “slave numbers.” The complaint states the women alleged Chronister treated them as “sex slaves.”

One of the women alleged Chronister placed her in a headlock during non-consensual sex until she passed out, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, citing the complaint. Another woman alleged he beat her in 2023 when she wanted to leave. She passed out and woke up to him sexually assaulting her, she told police.

One of the women also alleged to police that Saint Pierre held on to her paychecks, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

She allegedly held on to the women’s social security cards and birth certificate, which she kept in a safe box, the complaint stated. 

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The residence where the alleged crimes happened is co-owned by Chronister and Saint Pierre, WISN and FOX 6 reported, citing the complaint. The alleged victims said they were required to change their last names to “Saint Pierre,” and the house is known as “House Saint Pierre.”

Chronister has been charged with human trafficking, sexual assault, false imprisonment and domestic abuse, online court records show.

He is being held on $75,000 bond, per online jail records. Court records do not indicate plea information. His defense attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.