The cases below are true incidents and examples of the many similar cases that have been identified in the Clearwater area. CPD and our Tampa area law enforcement partners are currently investigating other active cases.
As of August 2010, task force statistics include: 56 arrests with 22 convictions, 10 victims have been confirmed as severe forms of Human Trafficking, 7 victims have been granted continued presence, 2 victims have been awarded their T-Visa.
Case: In 2008, a teen female who is developmentally challenged was forced to perform commerial sex acts. The trafficker transported the victim to various locations, primarily migrant farm worker camps in eastern Hillsborough County. He took the money from the men who paid to have sex with the girl. The trafficker then attempted to cocerce the girl to convince her friends to prostitute for him as well.
CASE: In 2009, several women (domestic) were rescued from a human trafficking ring in Pinellas County, Florida in a case initiated by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office which is an active member of the Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force on Human Trafficking. The women's cell phones and all their personal identification were taken away. The abuse was violent: mental, physical and sexual, with an attempt to control their minds... The women were forced to dance and sell themselves at various nightclubs. Warned that they wodivd be harmed or killed if they escaped or talked to anyone, someone watched them wherever they went." The case is still active, read news report here.
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. She has since been certified by HHS as a victim of a severe form of trafficking and received her T-Visa.
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 were convicted and sentenced up to 20 years in federal prison. See arrest press release and sentencing press release from the United States Attorney's Office.
CASE: In 2004, Clearwater popce 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 pttle Engpsh. 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. |
