Homeland Security Charges Tampa Man With Sex Trafficking Minors

TAMPA, FL -- A 29-year-old Tampa man has been arrested on federal human trafficking charges.

Luis Berrios-Trinidad of the 2300 block of West Waters Avenue was arrested June 7 on a criminal complaint charging him with the human trafficking of minors. If convicted, Berrios-Trinidad faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to up to life in federal prison.

From May 23 to June 6, Homeland Security investigations agents began undercover communications with Berrios-Trinidad who was offering underage girls for sex acts in exchange for money.

Agents eventually set up a meeting with Berrios-Trinidad on June 6. Agents said he brought two minor girls, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, to a Tampa area hotel to have sex for money with undercover agents, who were posing as male customers. Shortly after his arrival at the hotel, Berrios-Trinidad was arrested and the two girls were taken into protective custody.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood uses federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend and prosecute people who sexually exploit children and rescue the victims.

This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Rich.