Nude Model Leads Cops to Accused Human Trafficker

A 27-year-old Orlando man faces human trafficking charges after Sarasota County deputies say he coerced a teenage girl into modeling nude on the Internet.

The case against Andrew Bennett began to unfold when the Florida Department of Children and Families recently asked Sarasota detectives to investigate a report it had received. DCF said the girl, who was 16 when the activities began, was being paid to remove her clothing on camera and perform sexual activities for the pleasure of viewers, the sheriff’s office wrote in a media release.

“After learning that the girl was only 16 years old, Bennett provided her with an existing account on Streammate.com, which distributed funds for the performances to Bennett and he sent money to the victim,” the release said.

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The connection between the Venice teenager and Bennett is said to have begun in February. Detectives say the girl was contacted through Facebook by Bennett, who told her she could make money modeling on a webcam.

The victim said she met Bennett in person in Orlando and was also “encouraged to work as an escort or to transport and sell illegal drugs, to which she did not do,” a probable cause affidavit states. She did, however, agree to model.

The affidavit said the girl told investigators she “got nude on numerous occasions and she modeled in the shower for money.” The report said the girl also told investigators she wanted to stop modeling, but was afraid to.

“She heard Bennett threaten another female for leaving, telling her that he knew where she lived and could make her disappear,” the affidavit said.

Bennett was arrested Wednesday on one felony count of human trafficking. He was brought into custody in Orange County and remains in jail there without bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office