On November 17th, various law enforcement officials attended a press conference at Tallahassee Police Department Headquarters to mark the conclusion of a large-scale human trafficking investigation conducted by the TPD over the last two years. The in-depth investigation resulted in the arrest of more than 170 people on charges ranging from solicitation of prostitution to human trafficking of a minor.
The investigation began in November 2018 when TPD investigators saw images of a child were being posted on a website that advertises sex for money. Investigators with TPD’s Special Victims Unit set up an operation to rescue the child to ensure her safety. This was a pivotal point in the operation, called “Stolen Innocence.”
“This investigation is a testament to how diligent our investigators work to enhance the quality of life for everyone in this community, especially our vulnerable population. They worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victim in this case and were able to make an unprecedented number of human trafficking related arrests,” Chief Lawrence Revell said. “I could not be prouder of the steadfast efforts of our investigators and the joint effort with our partners to stop the illegal and dehumanizing practice of human trafficking.”
The investigation uncovered an enormous amount of electronic evidence that required months to evaluate. The electronic evidence helped investigators further develop the case and determine how many suspects were involved and to what extent. As a result, 72 suspects were charged with misdemeanors and notices to appear, 106 suspects were charged with felonies and 18 face federal charges.
The TPD press release noted that human trafficking of minors involves the child being manipulated or forced into some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of individuals are trafficked worldwide. The base of human trafficking are the buyers, those charged with misdemeanors for solicitation of prostitution. Without buyers, human trafficking would not exist in such large numbers.
“It is difficult to comprehend the depravity of these criminals who prey on the most innocent in our society,” said Kevin Sibley, Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Acting Special Agent in Charge. “Thanks to the collective efforts of the Tallahassee Police Department and HSI special agents, our local communities are significantly safer today as a result of this investigation.”
It is estimated that 199,000 incidents of human trafficking occur within the United States every year, with Florida ranking in the top five states for highest number of reported cases.
TPD was assisted during this investigation by Homeland Security, United States Attorney of the Northern District of Florida, State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit, United States Marshals Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
TPD Announces 178 Arrests from Large Scale Human Trafficking Investigation added by Staff on
View all posts by Staff →
Well, I’ll be darn. Someone finally listened to a 911 call or perhaps even an actual victim. Kudos to and much thanks to the caller who reported the crime and or investigator who ‘stumbled upon’ the image accidently and Did The Right Thing. Better late than never. Victims have tried to bring awareness of what perverts and law enforcement have covered up or sat silent on for over 30 years; maybe longer.
A win win situation. Clean up the streets to protect women, children (and men). What better deterrent is there to keep serial rapists/killers away; who ‘blend’ in too easily in these situations.
Too many strange missing (and murdered) cases of Women and Children sprouted up almost over night and then suddenly tapered off. Red Flag -> Here’s Your Sign.
Intruders & Perverts … MEET Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies – Hello & hopefully goodbye
First of all y’all ppl commenting on here don’t know the truth. 1) why did they wait 18 months to do anything which made her 11. 2) where is the 14 yr old that lied about her age and so did the 13 year old. 3) if she felt so hurt why didnt she say sum to ppl at the center she was going too? 4) the mom even lied about her age so how are they getting freaked over? The ones that really didn’t know
I see a former FSU Baseball player on the list.
Awesome Job!!
I wondered if anything ever became of the 911 call I made a few years ago stating I believe I just witnessed a human trafficking situation. I believe they were listening.
Thank you law enforcement!
Those here who would be so vile as to compare pedophiles and human-traffickers to law-abiding members of the LGBTQ community, display a painfully obvious ignorance of the ugly reality of child sex-trafficking.
Reality: Rather than being a perpetrator, “LGBTQ” children & teens are highly vulnerable to the grooming process of human-traffickers. The harassment and bullying many LGBTQ teens experience at school and amongst their peers, coupled with the lack of support that many experience at home, (MANY have been kicked out of their homes onto the streets by their “Christian” families, at 15 & 16 years old, or younger), sets them up for targeting by child sex-traffickers and sexual predators.
Children and adolescents who are already mistreated, neglected and/or emotionally & physically abused, are the type of minor child most frequently targeted by human-traffickers for sexual exploitation.
Another News-Flash: the crime of pedophilia is most often perpetrated by men perceived to be heterosexual males by their wives, their girl-friends, their employers, their churches and their good friends and, most significantly, themselves. Although the victims of choice by some may well be minor males, these men most often identify and live their lives as heterosexual. Most do not engage in same-sex sexual relations with consenting, same-sex adult partners. They are married &/ or their more visible sexual relationships are with adult women.
If anyone here wants to see what a sexual predator looks like, just scan the face of any number of “heterosexual” men you interact with throughout your day. But for a more precise picture, go to the Leon County Jail Website and look through that days mug-shots and their correlating charges. If this is your first time doing so, you will be amazed at how many heterosexual men you will find there who have been charged with a virtual smorgasbord of sex-crimes, albeit a significant number involve “lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under the age of 12.”
So save your homophobic tangents/agenda for a lesser venue. This article and platform is dealing with the very real, and ongoing tragedy of the sexual exploitation of children by adults within our community. This is not the place to promote your prejudices.
As Tallahassee is fortunate to have qualified local professionals and organizations who have dedicated themselves to educating our community on the scourge of human-trafficking running rampant in North Florida, and our entire state, I would urge you to seek them out.
If not, perhaps thou doth protest too much?
A classic dismissal of the realities of the unfettered promotion, forced acceptance, and subsequent results of systemic depravity… followed by the classic tactic of Alinsky projection, toss in some hypocrisy of the “anti-breeder” crowd, then capped off with the classic “if you have a different viewpoint, you must be guilty” blather.
By the way, your screed is loaded with “prejudice”, so find a mirror if you seek the problem.
Over 800,000 children disappear on a yearly basis… where to exactly..?
What they need to start doing is publishing the names of the guilty. I would also be ok with bringing back public hangings.
Michael Tyrone Harris, 51, Havana
Jarred A. Jenkins, 26, Department of Corrections
Travis Alexander Thomas, 37, Midway
Jamichael Reshard Cox, 30, Department of Corrections
Anthony Rivers, 25, Tallahassee
Momodou Lamin Janneh, 26, Tallahassee
Stephen Lee Pichard, 53, Tallahassee
Joshua Ricardo Curry, Tallahassee
Briahnna Venus Banks, 24, Tallahassee
Helen Kimberly Anderson, 27, Tallahassee
O’bryan K Finley, 36, Tallahassee
Erik Oben Rivers, 47, Tallahassee
Shuntae Lamar Kirksey, 25, Tallahassee
Manor Joseph III, 57, Tallahassee
Daryl Lamar Howard Jr., 34, Tallahassee
Christopher L. Williams Jr., 24, Tallahassee
Tony Dickey, 36, Tallahassee
Jordan Jenkins, 27, Tallahassee
Trayveontaye Jamarquez Cheesmon, 21, Chattahoochee
Joseph Austin, Jr., 45, Tallahassee
Tinara Lashay Spears, 22, Tallahassee
Essence Katana Blue, 24, Tallahassee
Maricio Lavant Scott, 30, Tallahassee
Alfred Bernard Marktorion Simmons, Jr., 22, Tallahassee
Adavion D Barnes, 23, Tallahassee
Norphles Washington, 28, Tallahassee
Malcolm Jerome Carter, 29, Tallahassee
Phillip Wesley Watkins, 42, Tallahassee
Samuel Bryant, 39, Tallahassee
Michael DeWayne Wooten, 42, Tallahassee
Jontae Jamel Jackson, 39, Tallahassee
William Glenn Ellis, Jr., 58, Quincy
Jermaine Miller, 29, Tallahassee
Brian Omar Johnson, 49, Tallahassee
Jacob Dewitt Greene, 32, Tallahassee
Eric Sheldon Daniel, 30, Tallahassee
Michael Tybireous Jarcord, 51, Tallahassee
Terrence Faulk, 38, Tallahassee
Danny Earl Richards, 50, Telogia, Fla.
Brian Gerald Winsett, 50, Tallahassee
Dustin Kyle Claypool, 23, Tallahassee
Tokusei J. Pfeiffer, 44, Tallahassee
Durell Thomas, 34, Tallahassee
Houston Wagner IV, 23, Tallahassee
Martravius Terrell Gilbert, 21, Tallahassee
John Fitzgerald Coates, 56, Tallahassee
Ontario D. Lawrence, 45, Tallahassee
Mark L. Barineau, 58, Tallahassee
Michael O’Hara Jones II, 34, Tallahassee
Jamil Reymundo Gardner, 31, Tallahassee
Henrarles Tankachap Ekokobe, 26, Tallahassee
Max Oliver Serge Saint Albin, 26, Unknown
Korenna N. Williams, 23, Tallahassee
Jamar D. Nicholson, 23, Tallahassee
Kenneth L. Monroe, 29, Tallahassee
Anthony Hill, Jr., 31, Tallahassee
Synara Bouie 37, Quincy
Anthony B. Logan, 24, Tallahassee
Latonya Wilburn, 46, Tallahassee
David Zachariah Brown, Jr., 23, Tallahassee
George Williams, 43, Perry
Brittany K. Brown, 30, Tallahassee
Robert L. Wiggins, Jr., 33, Tallahassee
Sherley Duvain, 21, Tallahassee
Brandon Marteze Richardson, 30, Tallahassee
Steven Garrett, 30, Tallahassee
Bacari Phillips, 29, Tallahassee
Jasmine Fields, 20, Tallahassee
Dwayne Ladarris Blake, 31, Tallahassee
Robert Lee Williams, Jr., 24, Monticello
Damion Javier Boone, 25, Tallahassee
Marq-Twoine D. Lindsey, 26, Tallahassee
Tavaris Devon Paul, 25, Quincy
Rasheed Amin Mercer, 38, Tallahassee
Damonta Tyrell Morris, 26, Tallahassee
Marco W. Gaines, 29, Quincy
DeAntwon Leshawn Ray, 29, Quincy
Kendrick Lorenzo Hayes, 29, Tallahassee
Victor Molina, 22, Quincy
Garland Darnell Bullock, 31, Tallahassee
Maurice D. Towels, 38, Tallahassee
Dwight C. Cross, Jr., 28, Tallahassee
Alpha O. Gaines, Jr., 27, Tallahassee
Bahkarie Floyd Sweeting, 23, Tallahassee
Kelly Devarius Payne, 32, Tallahassee
Jacorbin Tharon Simmons, 30, Tallahassee
Brandon Marshawn Morris, 24, Tallahassee
Ali F Barber, Jr., 19, Tallahassee
Ellis Ibiso Jack, 22, Tallahassee
Charrez Constantion, Jr., 25, Quincy
Dontavious Perkins, 23, Cario, Ga.
Dontavious Phillips, 29, Midway
Frederick Lamar Jones, 31, Havana
Apollo S. Kenon, Jr., 25, Gretna
Gerardo Lopez De Nava Cazares, 24, Monticello
Tevaris James Hogan, Sr., 30, Tallahassee
Quentiz Allen Barnes, 31, Tallahassee
Denzel Javon Washington, 23, Tallahassee
Jerry Lee Moore, Jr., 27, Tallahassee
Kurtis Antonio Morris, 40, Tallahassee
Jirard Quinn Kincherlow, 38, Montgomery, Ala.
Eldred Keith Jennings, 39, Lamont, Fla.
Keith Antonia Johnson, 50, Tallahassee
Detroy Lamont Garrett, 42, Tallahassee
Destin Reche Banks, 32, Tallahassee
Daniel Alexander Mitchell, 32, Tallahassee
Author: The Associated Press
Thank you Neal.
Even though we have seen that big poster board on several local news outlets it is too far away to count as publishing the names or photos of the perps.
We have witnessed attempts by the disgusting left in England and California to reduce legal penalties for sex with childern. You got the Jeffery Epstein-Bill Clinton situation which we observed leftist media scramble to tone down if not outright cover up.
Local news outlets not printing the names is not unexpected in our local island of leftists known as Leon County.
And another thing you just gotta wonder how far TPD’s actual Chief of Police Reese Goad and local Sheriff McNeil would have taken this situation had there not been several other “real and legitimate” law enforcement agencies involved. Probley we would have 160 – 170 perps swept under the rug.
But congrats never the less to Reese and Walt for taging along with the “real” law enforcement agencies and pretending you would not have instituted a few arrests along with a massive cover up of the reality of what happened to the little girl.
Lesson of the day: leftist officials can never be trusted to do right on their own. They must be pushed in to it then proudly take credit for what they normally would shy away from.
Even if some local news finally reluctantly published the names it is too late.
Surprised that gillum’s name isn’t here.
Burn in Hell every last one of you! Pure evil!
Line them up firing squad style or turn them over to mothers, I would enjoy every minute of the of what I would have in store for these evil evil people. There is a special place in Hell for every last one of them!
First, I want to thank each and everyone who took part in this operation!!!! You risk your safety and your lives to make our home safer and better. You are in our debt. I served in the past year on a jury of a human trafficking case. After 45 years in health care thinking I had seen and heard everything – that case is still in my nightmares!
Second, all of these people do not just partake in human trafficking – usually drugs, illegal weapons and numerous other crimes are part of the criminals repertoire. I hope each and everyone gets an appropriate punishment. Some of them are a true danger to society and need to go to prison. Unlike many in other progressive states that let them back out on the streets!
Where are the names?
That whole Miami thing was kink and perve enough.
Lets count our blessings a certain un-named to protect the inocent former Mayor was not amoung the 178.
Without jumping to a conclusion about guilt the whole situation makes me feel sick to my stomach. How in the world would so many people play a role in something so horrible?
It began years ago with the Public Indoctrination System removing God, civics, and morals from the classroom. Add it the BLM-supported destruction of the family unit in communities of color, the popularization of the “thug life” mentality, the antithesis of personal responsibility, the transfer from a penal system to a futile “rehabilitation” system, and the forced acceptance of unnatural and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Mark my words… you will soon see the acronym modified to the LGBTQ”P” lifestyle.
The ‘P’ lifestyle proponents have already tried to make it acceptable… as ‘normal’ behavior.
The P you are talking about call themselves MAPs, they have their own flag and everything. I warned some people I know who are part of the LGBTQ community about them. There are a lot of people in the LGBTQ who are trying to expose the MAPs and fight against them since MAPs are disgusting and should never be considard “marginalized”. I agree with what you are saying, I just wanted to shed some more light on what they call themselves and that it is not the same as LGBTQ, or at least should not be. Whatever consenting adults do is their business, but once a child is involved any adults involved needs to be locked up.