A Tallahassee man was arrested on human trafficking charges for allegedly exploiting five different women in commercial sex work and controlling them through violence and other means.

Jermaine Jamison, 42, was arrested Feb. 10 on five counts of human trafficking following an investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit.

“The investigation revealed that Jamison recruited adult victims for commercial sexual activity,” LCSO said in a news release. “Jamison controlled victims phones and finances, posted online sex advertisements, directed when and where victims engaged in sex acts, collected the proceeds, and used coercion and violence, demonstrating a prolonged pattern of trafficking in Leon County.”

Jamison was apprehended with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and booked into the Leon County Detention Facility.

One woman told investigators that she met Jamison when she was homeless and addicted to drugs. He offered her a place to stay, then forced her to engage in sex work and give him all the proceeds. Several other victims gave similar accounts that were backed up by witnesses.

“(She) stated Jamison enforced compliance through physical violence, threats and withholding drugs,” the report says. “When (she) attempted to leave Jamison, he located her through online advertisements, posed as a customer and forcibly regained control.”

In the news release, Sheriff Walt McNeil called human trafficking “exploitation at its worst.”

“Our HEAT Unit remains committed to identifying traffickers, holding them accountable, and ensuring victims know there is a path to safety and support,” he said. “This arrest reflects the dedication and persistence of our investigators.”

Anyone who believes they may be a victim of human trafficking or who has additional information about the Jackson case is encouraged to contact LCSO at 850-606-3300 or the anonymous Big Bend Crime Solvers line at 850-574-TIPS (7477).

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee man arrested on human trafficking charges