Key Partners

• Plant City Police Department

Key Sources

Street-Level Reverse Stings, Identity Disclosure:

• “Plant City Cops Nab 10 in Sex Sting,” Tampa Tribune, January 18 1997.
• “Active Prostitution Investigation,” Press Release, Plant City Police Department, June 3 2009.
• “Bargain Rates Bring Plant City Prostitution Crackdown,” Tampa Tribune, June 4 2009.
• “Recent Prostitution Stings Yield 19 Arrests in Plant City,” Tampa Tribune, June 10 2009.
• https://www.plantcityobserver.com/plant-city-man-among-92-arrested-prostitution-sting (2013)
• https://www.plantcityobserver.com/five-plant-city-men-arrested-prostitution-sting (2013)

Sex Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation in the Area:

• “Prostitution Ring Investigated,” Lakeland Ledger, April 11 1975.
• “Woman Jailed for False Rape Report,” Lakeland Ledger, November 3 1977.
• “Man Faces Charges of Raping Boy,” Tampa Tribune, May 17 1995.
• http://www.tampabay.com/tampa-bay-suspects-among-39-arrested-in-polk-child-sex-prostitution-sting (2017)

Background on Prostitution in the Area:

• “Plant City Police Charge 3 in Prostitution Case,” Lakeland Ledger, April 2 1976.
• “Plant City: Three Women Booked for Soliciting,” Lakeland Ledger, July 8 1976.
• “Undercover Investigator Brings in Prostitution Suspect,” Lakeland Ledger, September 14 1983.
• “In Other Actions,” Tampa Tribune, June 24 1992.
• “Prostitution Ordinance to Be Examined,” Tampa Tribune, July 12 1992.
• “In Other Actions; Loitering Ordinance,” Tampa Tribune, July 29 1992.
• “Fired Officer Objects to Panel Appointment,” Tampa Tribune, August 12 1992.
• “Embattled Officer Allowed to Resign,” Tampa Tribune, August 19 1993.
• “Pair of Loitering Laws May Be Repealed,” Tampa Tribune, March 15 1995.
• “Residents Trying to Move Crime from Their Doorsteps,” Tampa Tribune, August 1 1995.
• “Police Begin Crackdown on Criminal Activity along MLK, Business Owners, Residents Complain,” Tampa Tribune, June 25 2005.
• “Plant City Update; Authorities Eyeing Bikini Bar,” Tampa Tribune, October 1 2005.
• “Law & Order; Police Raid Nets 4 at Suspected Brothel,” Tampa Tribune, October 22 2005.
• “Web Leads to Local Prostitution Arrest; Undercover Officer Responds to Online Ad,” Tampa Tribune, September 23 2006.
• “Plant City: Man Sentenced in Prostitution Case,” Lakeland Ledger, October 25 2006.

Documented Violence against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Area:

• “Woman Jailed for False Rape Report,” Lakeland Ledger, November 3 1977.
• “Woman Found Shot, Beaten near Abandoned Bridge; Later Dies,” St. Petersburg Times, August 27 1977.
• “Police Log: Slaying Victim Identified as 18-Year-Old Orlando Woman,” St. Petersburg Times, August 31 1977.
• “Slayings Perplex Cops, City; Officials Wonder If Churchgoing Suspect Killed Others,” Tampa Tribune, May 31 1996.
• “Woman’s Dark Road Ended in a Pond,” St. Petersburg Times, May 31 1996.
• “Body in Pond Identified as Slain Prostitute,” Tampa Tribune, June 1 1996.
• “Murder Suspect Linked to Tennessee Church Fires,” Boca Raton News, June 2 1996.
• “Church Deacon Gets Death Sentence for Killing Prostitutes,” Boca Raton News, June 27 1999.
• “Man Sentenced to Die for Killing Two Women,” Gainesville Sun, June 27 1999.