Human Trafficker 'Branded' Victims, Officials

ORLANDO, FL – Florida law enforcement officials have announced the arrest of two people they say were behind a high-end human trafficking ring that ran from Orlando to Atlanta. And, while the accused masterminds are in custody, officials worry some of their victims may still need rescuing.

The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced the arrests of Jason Beaumont, 29, and Jessica Marie Gonzalez Santiago, 27, on Wednesday on human trafficking and racketeering charges. The pair is accused of running an Internet-based prostitution service that offered up a number of females for sexual services, the agency wrote in a media release. MBI is a Central Florida-based multiagency task force that includes officers from local, state and national agencies.

Officials say the ring’s victims were made to participate through coercion, fraud and force.

“Some of the victims were branded with the initials of one of the suspects,” MBI said.

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That “brand” is a tattoo investigators found on several of the rescued victims, authorities said.

“Evidence we have from the investigation is that Beaumont was actually either tattooing, branding or having the women tattoo themselves with his initials,” FDLE Agent Tim Craft was quoted by WESH.com as saying. “This would be a mark of his ownership or control over those women.”

MBI agents say Beaumont and Santiago used high-end vehicles to transport victims to appointments with johns in Florida and Georgia. Their services were advertised on two websites, The Millionaire’s Choice and Overnight Kiss. Investigators have linked the ring to Orlando and Atlanta specifically, but have said activities took place in other locations, as well. Since the investigation remains active, full details are not yet available, including whether or not the ring also operated in the Tampa Bay area.

Human trafficking is considered a form of modern-day slavery. Victims can be of any age and are either sexually exploited or forced to perform other types of work against their will.

Agents in Florida are seeking to identify other possible victims of the ring. Anyone who encounters a person with a tattoo similar to the one in the photo or who believes they have encountered a victim in the case is asked to contact the Central Florida Crimeline at 407-423-TIPS. Victims of human trafficking may call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 for assistance.

Photos courtesy of FDLE