Operation Human Trafficking Nets 60 Arrests

Editor's note: one person's name was removed from this report because his or her record was sealed.

A four-day operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office with a mission to crack down on human trafficking and prostitution has resulted in 60 arrests of people who come from all over the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

Dubbed Operation Human Trafficking, the Dec. 4-7, 2014, operation, focused on online ads soliciting prostitution.

“We have found a direct nexus between prostitution and human trafficking, and we combat this crime by conducting undercover prostitution investigations,” explained Sheriff Grady Judd in announcing the arrests. “Whether it is on the street or online, prostitution, and the crimes it attempts to disguise, is illegal and we will continue to investigate and arrest those involved.”

The results of the sheriff’s office’s most recent undercover operation were announced Monday. Those arrested came from all over Tampa Bay, including not only Polk County, but also Valrico, Land ‘O Lakes, Lutz, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Brandon. Some were even from out of state.

Of those arrested:

• 13 told detectives they were married
• 11 told detectives they were on public assistance
• 4 were arrested when they brought prostitutes to the undercover location
• 26 were prostitutes
• 31 were “johns,” or those who solicited to pay for prostitution

Among the 61 suspect, there were a total of 332 total previous felony, misdemeanor, and failure to appear charges, a media release stated.

The complete list of those arrested, according to the sheriff’s office, includes:

• Josey W Scannell, DOB 03/22/1993, 4280 Summer Landing Dr, Lakeland – charged with Soliciting another for Lewdness. Scannell told detectives he has a girlfriend and works for Linder Industrial as a Welder.
• John Cokes, DOB 12/23/1945, 2613 Valencia Grove Drive, Valrico – charged with Soliciting another for Lewdness. Cokes told detectives he has been married for 13 years and is a Humana Insurance sales agent.
• Michelle Bennington, DOB 07/10/1977, 5116 Highway 674, Lot 36, Wimauma – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Bennington told detectives she was divorced and unemployed.
• Maurice Laws, DOB 09/09/1952, 6227 Egret Drive, Lakeland – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness 3rd or Subsequent Offense. Laws told detectives he was married and works as a salesman at Lakeland Toyota.
• Jasmine Arrloiga, DOB 10/21/1993, 718 North New York Avenue, Lakeland – Solicit another for Lewdness. Arrloiga told detectives she is single and is unemployed.
• Scott Yates, DOB 07/18/1962, 8751 Tara Place, Lakeland – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Yates told detectives he is single and works as a golf pro at Big Cypress Gold Course.
• Lester Parillon, DOB 01/13/1979, 6357 Conroy Windermere Road, Apt 2112, Orlando – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Parillon told detectives he is single and is a driver for Mears Transportation.
• Kristina “Sammy” Pagan, DOB 06/17/1980, 1020 NE 3rd Apartment F, Fort Lauderdale – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Pagan told detectives he was single and works as a bartender.
• Gary Eulo, DOB 08/13/1958, 15098 Cortana Way, Naples – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Eulo told detectives he was divorced and is a contractor for AMCI.
• Marchal Brooks-Townley, DOB 10/15/1970, 5756 Dixon Avenue, Jacksonville – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Brooks-Townley is married to Ronny Townley and didn’t list an employer.
• Alford Jones, DOB 01/18/1991, 1935 Crystal Grove Drive, Lakeland – charged with No Motorcycle License, Possession of Suspended DL, Knowingly Drive with Licenses Suspended or Revoked, VOP, and Solicit another for Lewdness. Jones told detectives he was single and did not list an employer.
• Georgi Rangelov, DOB 12/25/1983, 1335 85th Terrace N. Apartment C, St. Petersburg – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Rangelov told detectives he was single and listed his employer as BG Express.
• Kathleen E. Driscoll, DOB 07/28/1986, 6500 Ulmerton Road, Largo – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Driscoll told detectives she was not married and not employed.
• Kira L. Rogers, DOB 01/27/1991, Shining Star Drive, Land O’ Lakes – Solicit another for Lewdness. Rogers said she was single and works at Michaels in sales.
• Glenda Maldonado, DOB 11/05/1978, 4421 West Wyoming Street, Tampa – charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Solicit another for Lewdness. Maldonado told detectives she was unemployed and single.
• Jazmin Alvelo, DOB 11/09/1985, 4019 Fawn Circle, Tampa – charged with Aid/Abet to Commit Prostitution, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and 2 counts of VOP. Alvelo told detectives she was unemployed and single.
• Ronny Townley, DOB 08/22/1972, 4733 Hood Road, Jacksonville – charged with Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Resisting without Violence. Townley is married to Marchel Brooks-Townley and drove her to the undercover location. He told detectives he is unemployed.
• Lindsey Bodnaruk, DOB 12/18/1980, 3401 36th Street SE, Ocala – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness and Grand Theft. Bodnaruk told detectives she is single and unemployed.
• Martin Fleurant, DOB 08/02/1995, 7805 Winston Lane, Tampa – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Fleurant told detectives he is a cook at McDonalds and is single.
• Adrain Hernandez, DOB 04/19/1988, 411 Lanier Avenue N, Fort Meade – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hernandez told detectives he is employed by the City of Bartow in the Solid Waste division. He told detectives he was single.
• Michael Lapaglia, DOB 07/1101966, 1126 English Bluffs Court, Brandon – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Lapaglia told detectives he works for Verizon and is single.
• Johnita Lightner, DOB 09/11/1985, 2038 Miles Avenue, Toledo Ohio – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, and Battery. Lightner told detectives she was single and unemployed.
• [Name Withheld], of Orlando – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. [Name Withheld] told detectives he is a student and is single.
• Eden Riddlespur, DOB 03/15/1987, 16 Beech Road, Marietta Georgia – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Riddlespur told detectives she is a math tutor for Chattahoochee Technical College and she is single.
• Amanda Rodenbah, DOB 11/01/1956, 6701 Wellington Avenue, Tampa – charged with Offering to Commit Prostitution. Rodenbach told detectives she is married and works at Aubriana’s Hair Salon.
• Sly Sampson, DOB 06/02/1977, 2213 Asquith Avenue SW, Marietta Georgia – Charged with Transporting to Prostitution, and Knowingly Driving with License Suspended or Revoked. Sampson has an extensive criminal arrest history to include crimes against children in other states. Sampson is a registered sex offender and told detectives he works for Wal-Mart as a stock employee. He told detectives he is single. Sampson drove Riddlespur to the undercover location.
• Melissa Stephens, DOB 05/13/1971, 939 Robson Street W, Lakeland – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Stephens told detectives she was married and unemployed.
• James Tillman, DOB 12/21/1974, 21385 126th Place, Live Oak – charged with Offering to Commit Prostitution. Tillman told detectives he is married and is a supervisor with Yates Construction.
• Erik Walter, DOB 03/02/1979, 938 Lake Charles Drive, Haines City – charged with Possession of Cannabis, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Soliciting another for Lewdness. Walter told detectives he was single and a chef at the Harborside Restaurant in Winter Haven.
• Merello Wright, DOB 04/18/1995, 57 Woodland Drive, Selma, Alabama – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Wright told detectives she is unemployed and is single.
• Antonio Barleston, DOB 08/28/1967, 1816 Silver Branch Boulevard, Apartment 101, Orlando – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Barleston told detectives he is single and works for CSG Security Group as a guard.
• Benjamin Allen, DOB 01/08/1979, 272 Waller Road, Thomaston, Georgia – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, and Possession of Cannabis less than 20 grams. Allen told detectives he is single and works for JL Mechanical.
• Troy Woodard, DOB 10/13/1976, 1625 Merrick Road, Lakeland – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Woodard told detectives he is single and works for Green Lawn Service.
• Steven Woods, DOB 07/20/1991, 7312 Mandain Drive, Orlando – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, Possession of Cannabis, less than 20 grams, and Introduction of Contraband into a Detention Facility. Woods told detectives he is single and unemployed.
• Victor Martinez, DOB 01/06/1989, 10601 20th Terrace SW, Miami – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, and VOP. Martinez did not provide information about his employment.
• Kiera Liferidge, DOB 11/15/1994, 17511 Sandgate Court, Land O’ Lakes – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, and Possession of Liquor by Person under 21. Liferidge told detectives she was single.
• Kara Billie, DOB 08/23/1993, 14014 Halstead Court, Tampa – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Billie told detectives she was single.
• Crystal Rogers, DOB 08/23/1987, Transient, Bartow – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Rogers told detectives she was single.
• Keyur Patel, DOB 10/10/1990, 6403 Markston Drive, Tampa – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Patel told detectives he was an analyst with Citibank and is single.
• Angel Sanchez, DOB 10/26/1984, 3503 Reynolds Street, Plant City – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Sanchez told detectives he was a clerk with Publix and is single.
• Ruben Calderon, DOB 03/04/1987, 3656 Johnson Avenue E, Haines City – charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness. Calderon told detectives he was married and worked as an electrician with Quinco Electrical.
• Rashod Farrior, DOB 12/13/1985, 208 Valencia Street W, Lakeland – charged with Offering to Commit Prostitution. Farrior told detectives he was single and worked at Pepperidge Farms as a forklift operator.
• Guy Harrell, DOB 05/29/1956, 3900 Levins Road, Mulberry – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, and Battery. Harrell told detectives he was a supervisor with MOSAIC and is married.
• Keith Remlinger, DOB 05/08/1958, 106 Evergreen Drive, Kallida Ohio – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Remlinger told detectives he was a truck driver and was married.
• Kerry Taggart, DOB 08/15/1989, 929 Gilmore Avenue #203, Lakeland – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness, Possession of Cannabis – less than 20 grams, Possession of Paraphernalia, and VOP. Taggart told detectives he worked for Gator’s Dockside and was married.
• Bianca Braxton, DOB 09/26/1979, 5510 North Hines Avenue, Tampa – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness – 3 subsequent offense. Braxton told detectives she is employed by Upstate Salon and is single. As a result of the investigation, detectives seized Braxton’s 2002 Mercedes Benz.
• Ellen Schoenherr, DOB 09/28/1993, 4711 W Waters Avenue, Tampa – charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness. Schoenherr told detectives she was single.
• Amanda Boyles, DOB 11/18/1989, Ojus Street, Tampa – charged with Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness, and Offer/Commit/Engage in Lewdness 2nd Offense. Boyles told detectives she was single and works as a dancer for the Emperor’s Club.
• Answai Bennett, DOB 03/01/1991, 7449 Daniel Webster Drive, Winter Park – charged with Possession of Cannabis, Possession of Narcotics, Solicit another Lewdness, Resisting without Violence, and Simple Assault Threat to Do Violence. Bennett told detectives he is a dancer at the Parliament House and that he is single.
• Natasha Castillo, DOB 05/15/1985, 3604 Hines Avenue, Building 57 Apartment C, Tampa – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Castillo told detectives she is single and works as a dancer for Showgirls.
• Wesley Gonzalez, DOB 12/27/1986, 4732 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Gonzalez told detectives he is single.
• Joshua “Isabella” McGregor, DOB 12/24/1986, 109 Royal Park Drive, Apartment 4B, Fort Lauderdale – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. McGregor told detectives he was single and unemployed.54. Christian Medina, DOB 11/01/1990, 5619 Ashmont Court, #D, Tampa – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness and VOP. Medina told detectives he was single.
• Kecia Watson, DOB 09/13/1970, 1455 Upper 55th Street, Invergrove HE, MN – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Watson told detectives she was single and was unemployed.
• Caleb Wright, DOB 06/10/1986, 305 73rd Avenue North, St. Petersburg – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Wright told detectives he was divorced and works as a flagman for Wolfpack Overhead Service.
• Newman Jackson, DOB 10/12/1982, 2820 Mirella Court, Windermere – charged with Transport to Prostitution, and Aid/Abet/Commit Prostitution. Jackson told detectives he was a receiver for Bealls Department Store and is single.
• Christina Peeples, DOB 04/23/1984, 10331 Agave Road, Jacksonville - charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Peoples told detectives she is divorced.
• Mete Girit, DOB 02/02/1985, 2152 Meadow Lark Road, Spring Hill – charged with Solicit/Offer/Engage in Lewdness. Girit told detectives she single and unemployed.
• Destiny Atkinson, DOB /05/06/1996, 411 North Mars Avenue, Clearwater – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness 2ndOffense. Atkinson told detectives she was single.
• Ezekiel Valcarcel, DOB 07/07/1991, 7628 Fort Desoto Street, Apartment 317, Orlando – charged with Solicit another for Lewdness. Valcarcel told detectives he was single and unemployed.