'Pimp Master Flex' Used Craigslist to Prostitute Teenage Girl, Deputies Say

Five adults from two different counties stand accused of a number of crimes after the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office launched investigations into two separate reports of human trafficking.

Arrests in both cases were made Monday with the sheriff’s office announcing the findings of its investigations Tuesday.

St. Pete Man Advertised Teenage Girl on Craigslist, Deputies Say

The investigation into the first case began on Feb. 13 when one of four victim’s mothers corroborated a report that her teenage daughter had pornographic photos and videos of herself on her cell phone and might be working to recruit other underage girls for prostitution, an email to media from the sheriff’s office stated.

That corroboration was enough for detectives to begin a full-scale investigation during which they discovered a man known as “Pimp Master Flex” had been contacting a 16-year-old girl via social media, phone calls and texts. The victim told detectives that man, later identified as Julian Montoya, 22, of Palm Harbor posted pictures of her on Craigslist “for the purpose of having her engage in sexual activity,” the email said.

Detectives confirmed that the Craigslist posts originated from Montoya’s home. They also tracked down some of the men who responded to the posts.

Johnathan Zakel, 29, of Land O’ Lakes, the email stated, and Humberto Frutos, 25, of St. Petersburg are accused of responding to the ads. Zakel, detectives said, met with the 16-year-old girl and paid her to perform a sexual act. Frutos is accused of meeting with the 16-year-old on at least three occasions to engage in sexual activity.

“According to investigators, it was further revealed that Montoya directed victim 1 to recruit and entice other underage girls for the same purpose,” the email stated. At least three other girls, one 15 and two 17, were approached.

All three men were arrested Monday. Charges against them are as follows:

Julian J. Montoya III

3290 Causeway Drive, Palm Harbor

• Charges: Human Trafficking, Transmission of Material Harmful to Minors, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia

Johnathan D. Zakel

22710 Watersedge Blvd., Apt. 80, Land O’ Lakes

• Charges: Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor

Humberto A. Frutos

4025 73rd St. N., St. Petersburg

• Charge: Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor

2 Accused of Prostituting Teenage Girl

The second case began to unfold in February when Pinellas deputies received a call about a teenage girl who was posting ads on the website Backpage.com.

Through the course of their investigation, detectives learned that the victim met the two suspects in the case via MeetMe.com and began texting her via the Kik application. On March 6, the two adults arrested in this case are accused of picking up the 17-year-old victim and taking her to a St. Petersburg hotel. There, the sheriff’s office email said, she met with at least four people who responded to the Backpage.com ads.

The girl, deputies say, was forced to turn over proceeds from the acts of prostitution to the two. When she asked for some of the money, the girl was grabbed by the throat and warned not to do it again, the sheriff’s office email stated.

Surveillance on the two suspects began on Monday with both being brought into custody that day. Those arrested are:

Dominique J. Drake, 22

4100 Narvarez Way South, St. Petersburg

• Charge: Human Trafficking

Syrenite L. McGee, 23

4600 50th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

• Charge: Human Trafficking

The victims in both cases are not being identified. Detectives are continuing to investigate.

Photos: Montoya (1), Zakel (2), Frutos (3), Drake (4), McGee (5) courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

See Also:

• Teen Used Facebook to Mastermind Prostitution Ring, Cops Say
• Pasco Not Immune to Human Trafficking, Officials Say

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