Sheriff: 18 arrested, 2 teenagers identified in human trafficking and prostitution sting

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said from Thursday, Oct. 13, through Sunday, Oct. 16, detectives were able to arrest six men and 12 women at two rental locations in the New Smyrna area for various charges ranging from soliciting or offering prostitution, to narcotics possession, to violation of probation.

The sheriff's office said in the case involving the two minors, 27-year-old Richard Brown of Lauderhill was arrested on charges including child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Undercover detectives identified two 17-year-old girls from Broward County who said they were staying at a hotel room Brown rented for them.

Due to the circumstances, detectives said they initiated a human trafficking investigation. However, the two teenage girls told detectives they were voluntarily posting the ads and were not forced into doing so. Brown admitted he knew the girls were exchanging sex for money, but said he had no involvement other than finding them a hotel room and allowing them to use a relative's vehicle to travel around the area.

According to the sheriff's office, one of the teenagers had an active warrant and was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice, while the other was turned over to her father's custody. Volusia County Sheriff, Mike Chitwood said operations like this will continue especially during popular events.

“Even if these two teenage girls were the only cases we found, this operation would have been well worth the effort,” Sheriff Chitwood said. “Visitors to our area who are in the market for this kind of exploitation need to know we'll be out there undercover again and again.”

The sheriff's office also said that not everyone arrested was charged with prostitution-related crimes.