Tampa, Florida – In a chilling case of child exploitation, Luis Berrios-Trinidad (29, Tampa) has been apprehended on charges of human trafficking involving minors. If convicted, the defendant faces a staggering minimum sentence of 10 years, potentially up to life in federal prison.
According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations agents initiated undercover communications with Berrios-Trinidad, who claimed to offer underage girls for sex acts in exchange for money. Between May 23 and June 6, 2019, the investigation intensified as agents arranged a meeting with Berrios-Trinidad. On June 6, 2019, the accused brought two minor girls to a Tampa-area hotel with intent to engage them in commercial sex acts with undercover agents posing as adult male customers.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Berrios-Trinidad was swiftly arrested, and the two minors were safely taken into protective custody. It is crucial to note that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation of federal criminal violations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case falls under the purview of Homeland Security Investigations, with Assistant United States Attorney Candace Rich handling the prosecution. The charges against Berrios-Trinidad are part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative combating child sexual exploitation and abuse since May 2006.
Project Safe Childhood is a collaborative effort led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). It mobilizes federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Organized Crime|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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