TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A local multi-agency human trafficking initiative resulted in six investigations and over a dozen arrests, according to the City of Tallahassee.
In a press release Monday, city officials announced the results of Operation Lighthouse, which the Tallahassee Police Department led in partnership with the Protecting Children’s Innocence Task Force and several local sheriff’s offices. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also assisted with the operation.
The initiative focused on “identifying potential victims, providing support services and holding offenders accountable,” according to the city statement.
The “victim-centered” operation resulted in seven human trafficking-related arrests, eight additional felony arrests for crimes associated with the investigation and six human trafficking investigations, officials said.
Among those seven human trafficking-related arrests are Jonathan Morehead, Rony Yassainte, Cedric Moore, Octavious Shaw, Stanton Knight Jr. and Sheniqua Whaley, court documents revealed. WCTV is working to learn more regarding that seventh arrest.
Morehead is accused of trafficking a woman and arranging commercial sexual acts for her, court papers indicated.
Yassainte, Moore, Knight, and Shaw are all accused of sexual acts with a teenage girl in exchange for allowing the victim to stay at their homes.
The arrests come after the operation began May 27 and continued through August 3, according to the press release.
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During the initiative, officials said investigators contacted approximately 140 potential victims electronically and 22 potential victims in person.
Authorities said that throughout the investigation, detectives worked alongside victim advocates “to build trust with potential victims and provide opportunities to receive assistance, resources and support services.”
At a press conference on Monday, Chief Lawrence Revell issued a stark warning for traffickers and a message for victims.
“Those who seek to exploit the vulnerable in our community will be held accountable. We will bring you to justice. And to those who may be experiencing exploitation, we want you to know that we are here for you. This community is here for you. This task force is here for you,” Revell said.
TPD said Florida is consistently ranked in the top three for human trafficking complaints and they’ll continue their efforts to lower that number.
Anyone with information regarding suspected human trafficking in Tallahassee are encouraged to contact TPD at 850-891-4200. To remain anonymous, contact Big Bend Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS (8477).
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