St. Petersburg Police Department

What Florida is getting right and where it can improve in the fight against human trafficking
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What Florida is getting right and where it can improve in the fight against human trafficking

ByEyes on Trafficking News

Kimerbly Weller is living her dream in more ways than one. “I’m the lead nail tech where I work now,” she said, “I have a massive support network. I was reunited with my children.” But she said ten years ago, while struggling with substance abuse, none of this seemed possible. “And I found myself homeless,…

Thelwell honored for her commitment to fighting human trafficking, child exploitation and elder abuse
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Thelwell honored for her commitment to fighting human trafficking, child exploitation and elder abuse

ByEyes on Trafficking News

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Thelwell was awarded “Prosecutor of the Year” by Attorney General Ashley Moody at the annual Human Trafficking Summit. Lisa Thelwell remembers that August day in 2012 when Chief Assistant Don Horn welcomed her class of 40 new hires — mostly beginning lawyers like her — to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office….

Second St. Petersburg Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced To Federal Prison
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Second St. Petersburg Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced To Federal Prison

ByEyes on Trafficking News

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Leslie Reio (25, St. Petersburg) to 8 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for engaging in the sex trafficking of minor children. Reio was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to pay restitution to…

United States Attorney Announces Results Of Efforts To Combat Human Trafficking
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United States Attorney Announces Results Of Efforts To Combat Human Trafficking

ByEyes on Trafficking News

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved to date by the Middle District of Florida to combat human trafficking. This includes trafficking of minors, forced labor, and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. During fiscal year 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of…