Henry Lee White, III, Human Trafficking, Florida 2020

Tampa, FL – A 26-year-old Orlando man has been indicted on federal human trafficking charges after allegedly using force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to cause a victim to engage in prostitution.

According to the indictment, from June 2, 2020, through January 7, 2021, Henry Lee White, III, used the aforementioned methods to force the victim to engage in prostitution within the Middle District of Florida, and transported the victim from Florida to Georgia so that the victim could engage in prostitution.

The indictment also charges White, a convicted felon, with being found in possession of ammunition in violation of federal law.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

White faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison if convicted on all counts.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

This case was brought as part of the Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force of the Middle District of Florida, one of 13 task forces in the country to receive grant funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The Task Force is a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agents working together with organizations to detect, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/orlando-man-indicted-federal-human-trafficking-charges