The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested ten suspects in connection to a large-scale human trafficking investigation, the agency announced Tuesday. ‘Operation Innocence Shield’, as the agency called it, led to three trafficking victims being rescued.
A four-day undercover operation was conducted to investigate an online prostitution market, the FCSO says. Their Cyber Crimes Unit worked alongside other agencies as part of the Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force.
Of the ten individuals arrested, only two were residents of Flagler County. 42-year-old Anthony Bascom and 34-year-old Brandon Tirozzi II were both charged with solicitation of prostitution. Their bonds were set at $150 and $500 respectively, and both have been released from custody.
Investigating Sex Trafficking
The first phase of the investigation had undercover detectives responding to online advertisements for paid sexual services. When the sex workers arrived at the agreed location, they were detained. Detectives interviewed them to determine if they were being trafficked, coerced, or exploited.
Three women were rescued after detectives determined they were being trafficked, the FCSO says. These victims were taken to gain access to social services. Operation Light Shine, a nonprofit that assists trafficking victims, is reportedly helping the three sex workers from this case access the assistance and resources they need moving forward. Six others during this phase were arrested on charges related to prostitution, drugs, and other offenses.
Operation Innocence Shield’s second phase went after those accused of those trying to purchase the services of sex workers. This led to four arrests for offering or soliciting prostitution.
Future Investigation
The third phase, the FCSO says, is still underway. Interviews and evidence is being processed by the FCSO Digital Forensics Unit, with three alleged human traffickers pinpointed so far. The FCSO believes that more victims will be found, more arrests will be made, and more drugs and firearms will be seized.
“Operation Innocence Shield identified and rescued victims from the nightmarish world of human sex trafficking,” said Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. Rescuing even one victim from being trafficked is priceless; this operation liberated three, and we may continue to be able to help more as the investigation continues. I would like to thank our partner agencies, organizations, and the men and women that conducted the investigations and helped rescue three victims. I also want to warn human traffickers and those seeking sex on the internet: Watch out…you are next!”
10 Suspects Arrested
The following ten suspects were arrested by the FCSO in Operation Innocence Shield. Their ages, cities of residence, bond statuses, and charges are listed.
- Anthony Bascom (42, Palm Coast) – $150 bond, released
- Solicitation of prostitution
- Travonce Brewer (37, Jacksonville) – $106,000 bond
- Fentanyl possession with intent to distribute
- Cocaine possession
- Drug paraphernalia possession
- Weapon possession by a convicted felon
- Firearm usage in the commission of a felony
- Tyrazes Brown (38, Jacksonville) – $1,500 bond, released
- Drug paraphernalia possession
- Driving without a valid license
- Dwight Cicero Jr. (38, Jacksonville) – $3,000 bond, released
- Cocaine possession
- Resisting an officer without violence
- Donisha Courtney (32, Jacksonville) – $2,650 bond
- Prostitution
- Synthetic cathinone possession
- Casey Hays (40, Melrose) – $150 bond, released
- Prostitution
- Katlyn Howard (31, Jacksonville) – $8,150 bond
- Prostitution
- Fentanyl possession
- Cocaine possession
- Drug paraphernalia possession
- Jennifer Ocasio (36, Orange City) – no bond
- Prostitution
- Cocaine possession (Seminole County)
- Drug paraphernalia possession (Seminole County)
- Amanda Smith (37, Melbourne) – no bond
- Prostitution
- Violation of probation for cocaine possession (Seminole County)
- Brandon Tirozzi II (34, Palm Coast) – $500 bond, released
- Solicitation of prostitution
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and there is no place for it here,” said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our law enforcement partners to get these predators behind bars and keep them there. Traffickers will not be given the opportunity to re-offend in Florida.”
“We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners to combat these heinous crimes in Florida and remove the criminals who commit these crimes from our streets,” added FDLE Special Agent in Charge Keesha Nauss. “Our priority is and always will be to protect our children, families, and communities.”
