Verdict Alert! Not Guilty of Solicitation to Commit Human Trafficking.

Case number 25CF018581A

• Client was charged with Solicitation to Commit Human Trafficking and Use of Computer Services to Solicit Certain Illegal Acts.

• Client was facing a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in Florida State Prison and sex offender registration requirements.

• Facts:

  • Client went on an adult escort website and selected an ad that appeared to be an adult female offering commercial sex acts.

  • The advertisement contained hyper-sexual, seductive and enticing language and photographs.

  • Upon making contact with the undercover officer portraying a "trafficker", the officer says she needs to facetime with client because the prostitute is "young".

  • The facetime occurs and a negotiation for commercial sex acts takes place.

  • Shortly afterwards, client texts the undercover officer that his tire blew out and he won't be able to make it.

  • Law enforcement arrested client 2 weeks later and seized his cell phone as evidence.

  • A data extraction of his cell phone did not contain any additional evidence of attraction to minors or any evidence client was seeking out sexual activity with minors.

• Based on a successful presentation of Florida's Entrapment defense, and a showing that client was induced or encouraged by law enforcement and was not predisposed to this type of criminal activity, a 6-person jury in Hillsborough County unanimously found the Defendant not guilty on all charges.