Stopping human trafficking in our state is a top priority of mine, and has been since I became Attorney General. Florida is a zero-tolerance state for this terrible crime that robs victims of their freedoms, and my office and our partners are working diligently to rescue victims and lock up the monsters who traffic them. Just this week, working with local, state and federal partners, we arrested a man charged with recruiting women online and then forcing them into the sex trade.
The facts of this case are appalling. The defendant is charged with preying on women and, in some cases, using violence to force them into sex trafficking—all while depositing large amounts of cash into his bank account. According to the investigation, the defendant recruited victims using online advertisements seeking to hire young women to work as dancers or companions. Victims who answered the ads, in some cases, were forced through violence to perform sex acts to profit the defendant.
Sadly, this is just one example of what takes place in our country every day, but working together I believe we can eliminate human trafficking and save lives. I want to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force and the State Attorney’s Office for the 15th Judicial Circuit for their partnership in this case. I look forward to continuing to work side-by-side with all stakeholders to eliminate human trafficking in Florida.
