Pinellas Firefighter, Pasco Man Charged In Human Trafficking Bust

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL -- An East Lake Fire & Rescue firefighter from Spring Hill and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement offender from Wesley Chapel are among nine people arrested following a two-year human trafficking investigation by the Florida Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement began the human trafficking investigation after receiving an anonymous tip about an online ad offering a minor for sex.

“This human trafficking investigation began with an anonymous tip—a brave individual who saw a child in trouble and reported it to law enforcement," said Moody. "Because of that tip, exceptional law enforcement work and legal support from our statewide prosecutors, the victim was rescued and those responsible are behind bars.”

According to Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, on May 16, 2017, his office received information about a man prostituting a mentally challenged girl in her mid-teens from his residence in Brooksville. The initial anonymous tip provided the name of the minor, the address and a phone number. Investigators identified the child and located several Backpage.com advertisements linked to the phone number.

Within 24 hours, authorities conducted an undercover sting operation that resulted in the rescue of the girl, who is safe and recovering at an undisclosed shelter that specializes in providing trauma care for minor survivors of sex trafficking.

"She should’ve been doing things like learning to drive, maybe attending school dances or thinking about going to college. But, instead, she was forced into committing prostitution," said Nienhuis.

Over the last two years, the girl assisted law enforcement in its investigation by providing details about the trafficker. She described the transportation arrangements to locations in counties around the state by the trafficker, who had custodial responsibility for the girl, all for engaging in commercial sex with adult men. On some occasions, the girl stayed overnight with the adults but other men would come to the home the girl shared with the trafficker to engage in sex for money.

With the minor’s assistance, law enforcement was able to identify and locate repeat customers, including Wesley Chapel resident Latchman Kaladeen, 49. Kaladeen had placed an ICE detainer on Kaladeen, a notice to law enforcement agencies to provide notice of its intent to assume custody of an individual who had been detained by ICE. Detainers are placed on aliens arrested on criminal charges and are subject to deportation.

On May 21, Kaladeen was charged with human trafficking involving a mentally deficient minor, conspiracy to commit human trafficking, use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and lewd and lascivious battery. A bond hearing for Kaladeen took place Thursday in Hernando County Court.

Also arrested was East Lake Fire & Rescue Lt. Matthew Christopher Doyle, 38, of Anchor Avenue in Spring Hill. In addition to his full-time job in East Lake, Doyle was employed part-time as a registered nurse at Bayfront Health Brooksville.

On May 16, Doyle was charged with human trafficking involving a mentally deficient minor, conspiracy to commit human trafficking, use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and lewd and lascivious battery. He also went before the judge for a pretrial hearing Thursday.

East Lake Fire & Rescue issued this statement:

"We have been informed that Matthew Doyle, a paramedic and lieutenant who has worked for ELFR since 2005, was arrested and charged with two counts of kidnapping, one count of public order crimes and one count of lewd and lascivious behavior. Lt. Doyle has been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the case. This is a deeply troubling report. We are fully cooperating with authorities and will assist the investigation in any way we can."

Others arrested were:

· Luigi Barile, 38, Spring Hill
· Joseph Andrew Easton, 24, Inverness
· Bryan Joseph Giguere, 36, Homosassa
· James William Hancock, 67, Delray Beach
· Shawn Christopher Henson, 39, Newberry
· Lawrence Edward Kemble, 70, Ocala
· Jason Michael Raulerson, 46, High Springs

Attorney General Moody’s Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Julie Sercus is prosecuting the case.

Learn the signs of human trafficking by click here. Report human trafficking to local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.