The New York Times reports that a California man sold his 14 year old daughter for $16,000 and several cases of meat (among other things). When the groom failed to pay, he went to the police to get her back. He is in jail now under charges of human trafficking, while the groom is facing charges of statutory rape. (More info at http://www.theweeklyvice.com/2009/01/california-father-sells-14-year-old.htmlM)
This reminded me of an episode that happened in Egypt many years ago, in which a man sold his son in exchange for a Television.
Funny as all of this is, the issue of child slavery (both sexual and work-wise) is a very serious problem, and one that does not escape the US. Here is one story.