While most of the world is concerned about staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, human traffickers are only focused on making money by selling their victims in the lurid web of this modern-day slavery.
"Human trafficking is always a very ugly crime. The traffickers, wanting those dollars, are continuously looking for young victims because that's where they feel the money is," said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "Fortunately, the Miami-Dade law enforcement community is united together to fight such predators."
On May 19th, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami Springs Police Chief Armando Guzman, South Florida HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas) Director Hugo Barrera, Miami-Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt and Aventura Police Chief Bryan Pegues announced the successful rescue of a 21-year-old woman who reportedly was being forced into prostitution at the direction of an man who wanted to sell her services, the result of a joint operation by the agencies involved providing the necessary assistance to make the overall Human Trafficking operation possible.
The victim came to Miami-Dade County following an argument with her boyfriend. Alone and in an unfamiliar community, she checked into a motel located in Miami Springs on the evening of May 4, 2020. The following morning, she was approached by 33-year-old Gregory Sutton.
According to the victim, Sutton solicited her to commit acts of prostitution and indicated that he would organize the entire operation. Sutton allegedly indicated that he would post pictures of the victim on social media sites to generate interest and attention.
The victim indicated that she supplied Sutton with photos because she was too afraid to resist. He told her that she would charge $200 for 30 minutes of sexual activity and provided her with make-up, false eye lashes, and nail polish. She said Sutton took additional steps to facilitate the prostitution operation, including promising to provide security for the victim during the sexual activity.
On May 6, 2020, Sutton allegedly told the victim that he was going to start placing ads online and sending her "dates". The victim, not wanting to engage in prostitution, locked herself in her motel room and contacted a friend about her situation. This friend then called the Miami Springs Police Department, who then contacted the State Attorney's Office Human Trafficking Task Force, and a joint investigative operation commenced, leading to the arrest of Gregory Sutton. At the time of arrest, officers reportedly found several illegal drugs in Sutton's possession.
Thirty-three (33) year-old Gregory Sutton has been charged with:
- 1 count - Human Trafficking - 1st Degree Felony
- 1 count - Unlawful Use of a Communications Device - 3rd Degree Felony
- 1 count - Possession of Cocaine - 3rd Degree Felony
- 1 count - Possession of a Controlled Substance - 3rd Degree Felony
- 1 count - Possession of Hallucinogens - 3rd Degree Felony
- 1 count - Attempt to Derive Support from proceeds of Prostitution - 3rd Degree Felony
- 1 count - Soliciting Another to Commit Prostitution -1st Degree Misdemeanor
- 1 count - Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - 1st Degree Misdemeanor
