TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County sheriff announced more than 100 arrests that led to the recovery of seven victims of human trafficking over the past three months.
Dubbed Operation Summer Shield, the county's Human Trafficking Squad arrested 148 people and charged 11 after they were found to be involved in human trafficking of women as young as 16 years old.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said at a news conference on Tuesday morning that five adult women and two juvenile girls were recovered as a part of this operation. He outlined three of the more "egregious" cases involved in the operation.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said at a news conference on Tuesday morning that five adult women and two juvenile girls were recovered as a part of this operation. He outlined three of the more "egregious" cases involved in the operation.
The first one he mentioned was about a suspect named John Randall Craddock, 33, who thought he was engaging with a 15-year-old girl he met online, but it was really an undercover detective.
"Craddock sent numerous explicit and perverse messages and even audio messages describing the sexual acts he wanted to perform on this 15-year-old," Chronister said.
Craddock is now facing numerous charges including traveling to meet a minor after using computer services/devices to solicit certain illegal acts and attempted lewd or lascivious battery, according to the sheriff.
Craddock is now facing numerous charges including traveling to meet a minor after using computer services/devices to solicit certain illegal acts and attempted lewd or lascivious battery, according to the sheriff.
Devante Kershaw, 28, was also mentioned for "hatching a business plan of sorts" to exploit women for profit, the sheriff said. Kershaw connected online with who he thought was a 30-year-old potential victim, but it was an undercover detective.
Over the period of three weeks, he laid out his "scheme" where he would give the victim just 40% of the profits he got from exploiting her. He planned to set up the dates and arrange the travel to other states.
"Kershaw was so confident that he met with our undercover detective for over an hour," Chronister said.
The suspect was charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for conspiracy and was also charged with the unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Chronister said his team scours the internet and sometimes the dark web to find potential human traffickers before they can victimize a person. He said detectives are out on the streets, at hotels, motels, entertainment establishments and other places where they think there is the potential of human trafficking.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez said it is hard to prosecute these crimes because many victims are "scared to death" to come forward and testify against the suspects. Chronister said sometimes traffickers threaten the women or threaten their families.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez said it is hard to prosecute these crimes because many victims are "scared to death" to come forward and testify against the suspects. Chronister said sometimes traffickers threaten the women or threaten their families.
"We stand with you," Lopez said. "Every survivor in our office gets a victim advocate. That victim advocate helps them through the entire court process both inside the courtroom and outside the courtroom to make sure they feel safe and have access to the resources in our community."
The mandatory minimum sentence for human trafficking in Florida is life in prison, Lopez said.