Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, working jointly with U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents, rescued a 1-year-old girl after the toddler was separated from the mother by human smugglers. “Human smugglers are driven by greed,” said Frank B. Burrola, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI remains steadfastContinue Reading
UPDATE: The discovery of four bodies, including a baby and a teen, in Canada near the U.S. border in what’s believed to be a failed crossing attempt during a blizzard has led to the arrest of Steve Shand. “The investigation into the death of the four individuals in Canada isContinue Reading
U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Gregory Thomas Garcia (35, Orange Park) to 16 years in federal prison for child sex trafficking. The court also ordered Garcia to forfeit a 2015 Ford Focus vehicle that he had used in committing the offense. After serving his term of imprisonment,Continue Reading
On Friday, the United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida announced the indictment charging Henry Lee White, III, 26 of Orlando with sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, transportation of an individual in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution, coercion and enticement, and being a felonContinue Reading
U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered two illegal immigrants locked in a vehicle’s trunk during an immigration inspection stop near Lukeville, Arizona, Monday night. Around 6:30 p.m., Tucson Sector agents with a Border Patrol canine conducted a stop on a Dodge Challenger driving north on State Route 85. Following the canine’sContinue Reading
U.S. Marshals announced the rescue of 8 “highly endangered” missing children in Indiana over the weekend, bringing their total children rescued in Operation Homecoming to 72. “From August 31- September 4, federal investigators coordinated with IMPD and NCMEC to recover eight highly endangered missing children resulting in one arrest ofContinue Reading
A federal judge sentenced a Tampa man to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for sex trafficking of minors, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Luis Berrios-Trinidad, 30, of Tampa, was also ordered to forfeit a Glock 19 9mm handgun and cellular phone,Continue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is reporting the arrest of five individuals upon completion of two undercover human trafficking investigations on Thursday. In addition, a true human trafficking victim being was rescued in the actions. On December 4, 2019, detectives came in contact with an 18-year-old human trafficking victim duringContinue Reading
Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Vice Unit conducted a special investigation known as “Operation Santa’s Naughty List” over six days where undercover detectives identified and helped victims of human trafficking who might be forced into prostitution. Assisting PCSO in the operation which began on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, were officers fromContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) announced the arrest of 104 people during Operation Trade Secrets II, 76 of them were men purchasing sex and only 28 were women who engaged in the sex trade. The operation was focused on the “johns”, or buyers. Like any business, the human traffickingContinue Reading
U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Kenneth Minnick (43, Fort Myers) to 20 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Minnick had pleaded guilty on December 12, 2018. According to court documents, between September 16 and October 25,Continue Reading
United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Sean Patrick Farrelly (47, Palm Coast) with sex trafficking of a minor girl. If convicted, Farrelly faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. According to theContinue Reading
Bryan Matthew Cooney (30, Casselberry) has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Cooney faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to court records, from September 19, 2018 through September 27, 2018, Cooney chatted with an FBI undercoverContinue Reading
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says the undercover prostitution operation along U.S. 19 led to the arrest of seven women, many are career street walkers. The women arrested were: Carol Jean Howard, 49; Rachel Patricia Graham, 31; Michelle Lee Balser, 36; Tori Nikita Maurency, 24; Amanda Helen Elgers, 26; ShaylynContinue Reading
Hillsborough County detectives charged a Tampa man for running a human trafficking, prostitution ring at the La Quinta Inn near the Florida State Fairgrounds. Brandon Jackson, 30, has been arrested for holding a 32-year-old woman against her will, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. “Jackson was discovered hiding in a lockedContinue Reading
