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The cases below are true cases and are presented only as examples of the many similar cases that have been identified in the Clearwater area. With existing limited resources, CPD is currently investigating other active cases - as time and resources allow - that may point to human trafficking. It is clear that, with additional resources, training, and public awareness that more HT victims will emerge. The Clearwater Police Department already has many of the necessary partnerships in place to create an information-sharing network that will serve to funnel these cases to a central investigative team at CPD as created by this task force. Without these additional resources, many of these victims will continue to go unrecognized. The allocation of full-time, dedicated detectives and additional victim advocacy services will provide for timely and effective response to reports such as those described above and will increase the number of HT victim "saves" and criminal prosecutions. The law enforcement training component and public awareness campaigns of the project will bring human trafficking to the forefront of community consciousness in the Clearwater area.

CASE: In 2007, a 15 year old Mexican girl was rescued in the Clearwater area after having been trafficked into the US and becoming pregnant by her trafficker. The trafficker was arrested and prosecuted in another state and the victim was case- managed by Clearwater Area Task Force victim services agencies.

CASE: In 2007, two female victims were rescued in the Clearwater and Tampa Bay areas who had been trafficked into the U.S. by large, organized criminal prostitution enterprise operating out of Guatamala and Colombia. The defendants in this case are currently in custody and awaiting sentencing. See press release from the United States Attorney.

CASE: In 2004, Clearwater police investigators received information regarding two Mexican prostitution houses operating in Clearwater. Investigative surveillance confirmed that high-volume prostitution activities were occurring in these locations. The primary suspect in this case was identified as being the same person who had been arrested in a similar operation in Clearwater in 2001 involving a joint operation with federal immigration authorities. That 2001 case was strongly suspected of being connected with human trafficking although the victims were hesitant to cooperate with the investigation. As the 2004 investigation progressed, the illegal operation suddenly shut down and moved out of the area.

CASE: In 2005, a Chilean female reported to the Hispanic Outreach Center that she had been hired in Chile to come to the U.S. and work as a housekeeper. The U.S. employer refused to pay her wages and she was required to work long hours without pay, and was verbally abused and threatened. Eventually, she was taken to an airport by her employer and dropped off without any money.

CASE: Mia (not her real name) is Chinese from Malaysia and had come to this country as a "mail order bride". She did not know her husband prior to coming to the US. He is white and a US citizen. They were immediately married when she arrived here. They were married for seven months when she came into The Haven spouse abuse shelter in Clearwater. During the intake process she reported that the husband emotionally, financially, physically and sexually abused her. She had no friends or family spoke little English. He forced her to work in a dry cleaning store and turn her check over to him, as he did not work. Mia stayed in the shelter for a month and until she was able to return to Malaysia. The Haven later discovered that this was the second Malaysian "wife" who had sought shelter at The Haven from this same abuser.