Winter Haven, Florida – Beginning on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, through Sunday, June 5, 2016, Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives conducted a six-day undercover investigation targeting human trafficking. PCSO detectives focused on prostitutes posting online advertisements, “johns” seeking prostitutes in an online environment, “pimps” and other seeking to profit from prostitution, and online predators seeking contact with children. Detectives posted fictitious ads and responded to ads posted on the website backpage.com. The Lakeland Police Department assisted with the investigation
A total of 128 suspects were arrested. Of those 19 told detectives they were married, 21 told detectives they received monthly public assistance, and 2 had been arrested in previous PCSO undercover operations for the same crime.
69 of the suspects had previous criminal arrest histories which included a total of 215 prior felony charges and 384 prior misdemeanor charges; 3 of the suspects have been to state prison for their crimes.
Of the 128 suspects arrested, 4 adult male suspects contacted undercover detectives, whom they believed to be children 14-years-of age. One suspect (24-year-old Jae-il Byun of Havertown, PA) traveled to the undercover location planning to pay $60 to have sex with whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
A second suspect (25-year-old Micah Casper of Davenport) solicited an undercover detective whom he believed to be a 14-year-old boy sending the undercover detectives nude images of himself and asking for nude images in return.
The third suspect, a 31-year-old married man (Jordan Allen Raskin of Longwood) who receives monthly assistance, contacted the undercover detective using a mobile app. During the conversation, the suspect acknowledged the child’s age wasn’t an issue stating, “I am kinda into younger girls,” then asking what grade the child was in being advised 9th grade. After his arrest, the suspect told detectives he fantasized about younger girls.
The fourth suspect a 53-year-old Kissimmee man (Michael Davis), who told detectives he works at Universal Studios as a ride mechanic, contacted the undercover detective, whom he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. During the conversation, the suspect asked the “boy” for nude photos and described the sexual activity he was going to engage in with the “boy.” The suspect traveled to the undercover location where he was taken into custody.
One female victim arrived at the undercover location with two male suspects. Undercover detectives responded to an ad posted online regarding her prostitution services. She told the detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $400. After her arrest, she told detectives that the two men who dropped her off and picked her up required her to provide them any money she made through prostitution in exchange for taking care of her and providing her with food. Those two male suspects are: 29-year-old Jason Agniel Fraser of Casselberry, and 21-year-old Joel Dipre no known address – details and their charges appear below.
“We conduct investigations such as this one to expose the criminal misconduct and behavior people engage in online and through mobile aps. We continue to find predators online attempting to lure children into sexual activity. Their behavior is always the same-they seek out vulnerable victims, engage them in conversation and quickly attempt to lure children into explicit sexual conversations, urging them to send sexually explicit images and meet for sex. Our detectives will continue to arrest those who prey on Polk County’s children.
Once again, we have seen the link between prostitution, drug crimes, economic crimes such as burglary and fraud, violent crime, and human trafficking – these crimes destroy families, individuals, and negatively affect our communities. We have learned over many years that when we pay attention to public order and quality of life crimes such as prostitution, we can reduce and prevent other crimes while strengthening the community.
Prostitution is not a victimless crime. From the spread of disease and destruction of families to human trafficking, prostitution is bad for our community. In areas where prostitution is allowed to flourish, property values decline and drug and property crimes increase. In some cases, children and adults are forced to prostitute while under the control of pimps. Most of those arrested have previous criminal histories including very serious felonies, property crimes, and drug crimes. In other words, those who prostitute, pimp for prostitutes, and seek out prostitutes are more likely than not to have committed other crimes. Non-criminals who seek to engage a prostitute are endangering their safety and the safety of their families-it is a dangerous cycle. – Sheriff Grady Judd
In total, there were 78 suspects charged who were offering sex in exchange for money; 32 suspects who offered money in exchange for sex, 11 suspects who drove prostitutes to the location deriving proceeds from the activity, 2 suspects who accompanied other suspects, 4 suspects who solicited undercover detectives whom they believed to be 14-year-old children in sexual activity, and 1 suspect arrested for no valid driver’s license.
Day 1
28-year-old Dani Jackson of Highlands California – Charged with Engage/Commit/Offer to
Commit Lewd Act, 3rd Subsequent Offense. Jackson has been previously arrested on 14
misdemeanor charges. Jackson posted an ad on backpage.com offering her services. She told
the undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $260.
24-year-old Maria Mendoza of Altamonte Springs – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to
Commit Lewd Act. Mendoza has been previously arrested on 4 felony and 3 prior misdemeanor
charges. Mendoza posted an ad on backpage.com offering her services in exchange for
money. She told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $150.
24-year-old Jodian St Teresa Smalling of Delray Beach – Charged with Engage/Commit/
Offer to Commit Lewd Act. Smalling has had has been previously arrested on 2 felony and 1
misdemeanor. Smalling posted an ad on backpage.com offering her services in exchange for
money. She told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for
$200. Smalling listed her employer as CALL 4 HEALTH and told detectives she was a
Customer Service Call Taker.
19-year-old Decener Mitchell of St. Petersburg – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to
Commit Lewd Act. Mitchell posted an ad on backpage.com offering her services in exchange
for money. She told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $300.
Mitchell told detectives she receives monthly public assistance.
19-year-old Destiny Lefke of Orlando – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to Commit Lewd
Act. Lefke has 4 prior attests which included 4 felony and 7 misdemeanor charges. Lefke
posted an ad on backpage.com offering her services in exchange for money. She told the
undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $200. Lefke told detectives she
receives monthly public assistance.
34-year-old Amanda Brown of Orlando – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to Commit
Lewd Act. Brown has been previously arrested on 2 felony and 1 misdemeanor
charges. Brown posted an ad on backpage.com offering her services in exchange formoney. She told the undercover detective she would engage in sex for $500 for her, and $500
for Molina Acosta. Brown told detectives she is a nurse with Orlando Lutheran Towers.
30-year-old Jakeline Molina-Acosta of Kissimmee – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to
Commit Lewd Act. Molina-Acosta has been previously arrested on 2 misdemeanor
charges. Molina-Acosta arrived at the undercover location with Amanda Brown where both
agreed to engage in sex for $500 each. Molina-Acosta told detectives she is married and is a
self-employed cleaner.
36-year-old Melissa Caputo of Orange County – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to
Commit Lewd Act. Caputo has been previously arrested on 2 felony and 2 misdemeanor
charges. Caputo posted an ad on backpage.com her services in exchange for money. Caputo
arrive at the undercover location with Breonna Mosqueda and told the undercover detective she
would engage in sex in exchange for $350. Caputo told detectives she is an Insurance Broker
with Florida National Agents Alliance. Caputo told detectives she receives monthly public
assistance.
18-year-old Breonna Mosqueda of Davenport – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to
Commit Lewd Act. Mosqueda arrived at the undercover location with Caputo. Mosqueda
agreed to engage in sex with the undercover detective in exchange for $350
19-year-old Nikole Hicks of Ocala –Charged with Offering to Commit Prostitution. Hicks was
contacted by the undercover detective as a result of an ad posted online. Hicks traveled to the
undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage in sex for $450,
this included her drive time from Ocala.
40-year-old Wendy Mayela Cuemo-Gomez, no address provided – Charged with Offering to
Commit Prostitution. Cuemo-Gomez traveled to the undercover location where she told the
undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $250.
28-year-old Ashley Mir of Orlando – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to Commit Lewd
Act. Mir has one has been previously arrested on 1 misdemeanor charge. Mir posted an ad on
backpage.com offering services. She traveled to the undercover location where she told the
undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $260.
24-year-old Jivette LaPointe of Orlando – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to Commit
Lewd Act, and Battery. LaPointe has been previously arrested on 4 felony and 10 misdemeanor
charges. LaPointe posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. She traveled to the
undercover location and told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for
$200.
31-year-old Shalonda Timmons of Mulberry – Charged with Solicit Another for Lewdness 3rd
Offense, which is a 3rd degree felony. Timmons has been previously arrested on 10 felony and
8 misdemeanor charges. Timmons posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. Timmons
traveled to the undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage
in sex in exchange for $500.
23-year-old Brandon Burkhead of Lakeland – Charged with Possession of Cannabis less
than 20 grams, Deriving Support/Proceed of Prostitution, Possession/Use Narcotic
Paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Burkhead drove Timmons to the
undercover location and told detectives he was to receive $40 for driving. Burkhead and Michael Baubien, a passenger in the car, were found to be in possession of Methamphetamine,
Cannabis and Drug Paraphernalia. Burkhead has been previously arrested on 1 felony and 1
misdemeanor charge.
53-year-old Michael Baubien of Lakeland – Charged with Possession of Cannabis less than
20 grams, Possession/Use of Narcotic Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine, and
Possession of Oxycodone. Baubien was a passenger in the car Burkhead drove Timmons to
the undercover location. Baubien told detectives he is married and is in “sales on the Internet.”
45-year-old Marcjhal Brooks-Townley of Kissimmee – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer
to Commit Lewd Act. Brooks-Townley has been previously arrested on 4 felony and 6
misdemeanor charges. Brooks-Townley was arrested in a similar investigation in December
2014 (http://bit.ly/1S1JQm6). Brooks-Townley posted an ad on backpage.com offering
services. She traveled to the undercover location where she told the undercover detective she
would engage in sex in exchange for $200. Brooks-Townley is married.
25-year-old Angela Perryman of Sanford – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to Commit
Lewd Act. Perryman posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. Perryman traveled to
the undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in
exchange for $300. Perryman told detectives she is an assistant manager with
Amscot. Perryman told detectives she receives monthly public assistance.
23-year-old Chioma Akanu of Orlando – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to Commit
Lewd Act. Akanu posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. Akanu traveled to the
undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in
exchange for $200. Akanu told detectives she is a Home Healthcare Assistant for Home
Instead.
Day 2
54-year-old Daniel Knowles of Polk City – Charged with Engage/Commit/ Offer to Commit
Lewdness. Knowles responded to a fictitious ad. Knowles traveled to the undercover location
where he offered to pay $100 in exchange for sex. Knowles is married and told detectives he is
a self-employed handyman with Jada Property Improvements, Inc.
25-year-old Wejdan Alomari of Miami – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness,
Cause Child to be Delinquent/Dependent/Needy, and Unlawful use of Drivers’ License. Alomari
has been previously arrested on 1 misdemeanor charge. Alomari posted an ad on
backpage.com offering services. She traveled to the undercover location where she told the
undercover detective she would engage in sex in exchange for $240. Alomari was driven to the
location by Jorge Garcia; three young children were with Alomari and Garcia.
28-year-old Jorge Garcia of Hallandale – Charged with Possession of Cannabis less than 20
grams, Cause Child to be Delinquent/Dependent/Needy, and Possession of Narcotic
Paraphernalia. Garcia has been previously arrested on 5 felony charges to include Selling
Cannabis within 1000 Feet of a school. There were three children in the car with Garcia when
he drove Alomari to the undercover location and who waited in the car with him when Alomari
went inside. The children were age 5, 3 and 2; two boys and one girl. The Department of
Children and Families responded to assist. Garcia is married.
25-year-old Jordan Kruger of Orlando – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness.
Kruger posted an ad on backpage.com offering his services. Kruger traveled to the undercover
location where he met with two undercover detectives and agreed to engage in sex with them
for $400. Kruger told detectives he is employed by Bahama Breeze – Alafia Trail.
41-year-old Kevin Dean of Fort Lauderdale – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Dean responded to a fictitious ad then traveled to the undercover location where he
agreed to pay an undercover detective $160 in exchange for sex. Dean told detectives he was
an engineer with DPR Construction.
26-year-old Kimberly Hughes of Orlando – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness,
and Battery. Hughes has been previously arrested on 2 felony and 7 misdemeanor
charges. Hughes told detectives she was a student at Everest University. Hughes told
detectives she receives monthly public assistance.
45-year-old Richard Partlow of Aurora, Illinois – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness, and Battery. Partlow responded to a fictitious ad and travel to the undercover
location where he agreed to pay an undercover detective $150 in exchange for sex. Partlow is
married and he told detectives he is a salesman at Dordan. Partlow told detectives his family
were waiting on him at the Dolphin Resort at Disney. Partlow is married.
27-year-old Taniesha Barkely of Oviedo – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness.
Barkly posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. Barkley traveled to the undercover
location where she agreed to engage in sex in exchange for $140 Barkley has been previously
arrested on 1 felony and 5 misdemeanor charges.
25-year-old Caelle Morisset of Tampa – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Morisset posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. Morisset traveled to the
undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in
exchange for $100. Morisset told detectives she is a Customer Service person for a Cale Call
Center in Oldsmar.
24-year-old Ventesia Holland of Orlando – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Holland posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. Holland traveled to the
undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in
exchange for $140. Holland told detectives she receives monthly public assistance.
28-year-old Emma Casanova of Orlando – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Casanova posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. She traveled to the
undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in
exchange for $300. Casanova told detectives she is a student at the University of Phoenix and
that she receives monthly public assistance.
26-year-old Ricardo Villiers of Haines City – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Villiers responded to a fictitious ad then traveled to the undercover location where
he told the undercover detective he would pay $60 in exchange for sex. Villiers has been
previously arrested on 3 felony and 1 misdemeanor charges. Villiers told detectives he is a
server at Smokey Bones restaurant located in Celebration.
35-year-old Jason Henry Thomas of Orlando – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Thomas responded to a fictitious ad and traveled to the undercover location. He toldthe detective he would pay $175 in exchange for sex. Thomas told detectives he works as
server at Bahama Breeze.
40-year-old Helen Ditto of Lakeland – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness,
Possession of Cannabis, Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia, and Possession of
Methamphetamine. Ditto posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. She traveled to the
undercover location with Annie Junior Bell. Ditto told the undercover detective she would
engage in sex in exchange for $700 for her and Bell. Ditto has 1 prior misdemeanor arrest
charge for Prostitution in Manatee County on May 28, 2016.
43-year-old Annie Bell of Tarpon Springs – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Bell has an outstanding VOP warrant from out of state. Bell arrived with Ditto; both
were driven by Joseph Minori. Bell and Ditto told agreed to engage in sex with the undercover
detective in exchange for $700. Bell told the detectives she has been prostituting for the past
10 months and has made over $100,000. Bell has previously been arrested on 1 misdemeanor
charge.
41-year-old Joseph Minori of Lakeland – Charged with Deriving Support/Proceeds from
Prostitution. Minori drove Ditto and Bell to the undercover location. Minori has one prior
misdemeanor battery charge from 2014. Bell told detectives that “Joe” was a customer and he
knew they were prostitutes. Minori told detectives he was to be paid $20 for driving the two
women to the undercover location. Minori said he had driven one or more of the two women to
hotels and bars three to four times a week in exchange for gas. Minori had a 17-year-old
female in the car with him at the time of his arrest. The juvenile was a passenger in the car with
the three adults and was not charged with a crime. The Department of Children and Families
was contacted and responded to assist.
30-year-old Baketa Williams of Tampa – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Williams posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. Williams, along with
Brionna Boatman, and Cynthia Baker, all traveled to the undercover location where the three
women told undercover detectives they would engage in four hours of sex in exchange for
$1200.
21-year-old Brionna Boatman of Tampa – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness.
Boatman arrived at the undercover location with Baketa Williams. Boatman told detectives she
receives monthly public assistance.
54-year-old Cynthia Baker-Mendez of Tampa – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Baker-Mendez posted an ad backpage.com offering services and arranged to meet
undercover detectives at the undercover location where she Williams, and Boatman would
engage in four hours of sex in exchange for $1200.
20-year-old Emma Leifer of Seminole – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Leifer posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. She traveled to the
undercover location where she told the undercover detective she would engage in sex in
exchange for $300. Leifer has been previously arrested on 2 misdemeanor charges.
26-year-old Joseph Wareham of St. Petersburg – Charged with Aid/Abet/Commit
Prostitution. Wareham has been previously arrested on 19 felony and 11 misdemeanor
charges. Wareham told detectives he works at ADS Electronics. Wareham drove Leifer to the
undercover location – the customary arrangement between Wareham and Leifer was that Leiferwould call him when she was finished with the customer. When Wareham didn’t receive the
call, he knocked on the door of the location armed with a knife.
36-year-old Jabari Brown of Bartow – Charged with Offering to Commit Prostitution. Brown
arrived at the undercover location and agreed to pay the undercover detective $100 in
exchange for sex. Brown has been previously arrested on 4 felony and 6 misdemeanor charges
which include Accessory to Homicide, Battery and Domestic Battery. Brown told detectives he
works for Adecco.
21-year-old Tevarius Mincey of Orlando – Charged with Offering to Commit
Prostitution. Mincey has been previously arrested on a Trespassing misdemeanor
charge. Mincey had posted an ad on backpage.com offering services under the “transsexual”
section. Mincey told the undercover detective he would engage in sex in exchange for
$300. Mincey told detectives he receives monthly public assistance.
Day 3
34-year-old Christopher Spangler of Davenport – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Spangler responded to a fictitious ad and traveled to the undercover location where
he told the undercover detective he would pay $60 in exchange for sex. Spangler has been
previously arrested on 10 felony and 10 misdemeanor charges. Spangler was sentenced to
Florida State Prison in 2014 for Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Injuries. Spangler told
detectives he works for Complete Mobile.
23-year-old Lindsay Lovell of Fort Smith Arkansas – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
3
rd Subsequent Offense. Lovell posted an ad on backpage.com offering services. She traveled
to the undercover location where she agreed to engage in sex in exchange for $250. Lovell has
been previously arrested on 2 felony and 5 misdemeanor charges. Lovell told the undercover
detective she is married.
52-year-old Charles Bozue of Fairborn Ohio – Charged with Offer/commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Bozue told detectives he is married and that he is employed as a Financial Manager
for the US Air Force in Ohio. Bozue told the detective he found the fictitious ad online and
traveled to the undercover location where he offered to pay the undercover detective $100 for
sex. Bozue was visiting Florida at the time he was arrested. Bozue is married.
33-year-old Corey Pritchard of Ocala – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness, and
Carrying a Concealed Weapon. Pritchard had no permit. Pritchard has been previously
arrested on 6 felony and 3 misdemeanor charges. Pritchard posted an ad on backpage.com
offering services. Pritchard offered the undercover detective sex in exchange for $500. Upon
her arrest, detectives located a loaded and chambered Smith and Wesson MMP .40 caliber.
32-year-old Derek Quesenberry of Ocala – Charged with Aid/Abet/Commit Prostitution.
Quesenberry drove Pritchard to the undercover location. Quesenberry was to receive $20 for
driving.
22-year-old Shokhrukh Oripov of Orlando – Charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in
Lewdness. Oripov responded to a fictitious ad and offered the undercover detective $70 in
