2014 Florida Legislature Passes Human Trafficking Legislation

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle applauds the actions of the 2014 Florida Legislature for passing the additional Human Trafficking legislation she had proposed during her interactions with members of the Florida House and the Florida Senate.  “I am very proud of how responsive our Florida Legislature has been to the needs of Human Trafficking victims,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.  “They have seen the need to come down hard on those who would sell the childhood of our victims while recognizing the special steps it may require to rebuild the future of these victims.” Several of the criminal cases filed by my Human Trafficking Task Force contained conduct that so shocked our legislators (such as the “branding” via tattooing of young girls and the use of a 13 year old girl at a “strip club”) that specific prohibitions and requirements were created.

Among the accomplishments of the new legislation will be the prohibition on the employment of minors in adult theaters and “strip clubs”; the requirement that adult theaters and “strip clubs” verify the ages of employees and their independent contractors and maintain documentation of that proof; a revision of some of the penalties for various human trafficking offenses which can make a convicted repeat offender eligible for as much as a life sentence.  The legislation also provides sentence enhancements for the “branding” via tattooing of Human Trafficking victims while adding privacy protections to the victims of Human Trafficking by exempting information that reveals their identity of a victim similar to the protections given to the victims of sexual assaults.  Additionally, the Legislature provided Human Trafficking victims with access to Victims Crimes Compensation funds which also provide these victims a vehicle for possible relocation assistance. 

ILLEGAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE YIELDS ARREST

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Miami-Dade Police Department have undertaken an action that has led to the arrest of Raul Fernandez a/k/a “Freaky”, the prime operator of an illegal slaughterhouse located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

 The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Miami-Dade Police Department became aware of a site operating within Miami-Dade County that was illegally slaughtering animals, and was doing so in a cruel and painful manner. Undercover videos were taken on December 24, 2013 and on December 30, 2013. Witnesses to these incidents saw the shooting, stabbing, gutting while alive of animals, beating, sledge-hammering to the head, dragging by mouth, and other cruel behavior to which the animals were subjected. On video surveillance, a pig can be seen being dragged, hook-mouthed through the jaw, at distances of approximately 150 feet, all while the animal remained alive.  Raul Fernandez is charged with 7 counts of Animal Cruelty which are third degree felonies.  The investigation of this case continues.

“When the Florida Legislature created the animal cruelty statute, they intended to end such brutal activities as were occurring at this illegal slaughterhouse,” commented Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.  “No legitimate slaughterhouse operator or any self-respecting farmer would treat his livestock in such a ghastly manner.”

23 Charged in Round-Up of Retail Theft Organization

23 individuals have been charged as a result of a  joint investigation by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Miami-Dade County Police Department and additional police agencies which included police activity as far north as the Orlando area.  Today, police were arresting all the members of this organized crime enterprise, from the shoplifting thieves through the various levels of middleman fences to the final retailer fences who sold the stolen goods to the unsuspecting public. This organization is estimated to have stolen some $15 million of merchandise.

A press conference detailing the arrests will be held at 2:00 p.m. In Room 418-S of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.  Also participating in today’s press conference will be the Miami-Dade County Police Department, Sheriff Jerry Demings of Orange County, representatives of the City Of  Doral Police Department, representatives of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, representatives of Homeland Security Investigations, representatives of Walgreens Pharmacy, representatives of CVS Pharmacy, representatives of Publix Supermarkets.  The Office of the State Attorney is in the E. R. Graham building located at 1350 NW 12^th Avenue, Miami.   Please arrive early enough to obtain security clearance through the building’s security review process.

Fake Attorney Charged

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announce the charging of Imer Armando Perez with 3 counts of Practicing Law Without a License and with Grand Theft 2^nd Degree and Grand Theft 3^rd Degree resulting from his actions in holding himself out as an attorney and taking cash for supposed legal activities.

In one incident, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office received, and forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), a retainer agreement between Imer Armando Perez and the family of convicted felon Scotty Posada.  Perez collected a total of $70,000 from Posada’s mother to gain the “guaranteed” release of Posada from state prison prior to the expiration of his 27 year sentence.  In reality, there are no legal actions pending before any court that would allow/facilitate such a release.

In another incident, Imer Armando Perez, holding himself out to be an attorney, represented an individual in traffic court for a $500 fee.  In a third incident, Perez approached an individual and offered his legal services as an attorney for a non-refundable $20,000 fee.

“It is always a shameful act when swindlers walk the halls of our courthouse taking advantage of individuals in need,” commented Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.  “Guaranteeing a legal result, irrelevant of the existing evidence, is the surest sign that some sort of trickery is at play.  Don’t be a victim of a scam. If you have any concerns about your legal representation, you can always check a lawyer’s status with the Florida Bar.”

There appear to be indications that Imer Armando Perez may be a fugitive. If anyone knows the specific whereabouts of Imer Armando Perez or if others victimized by Perez wish to come forward, they may contact FDLE Special Agent Raul E. Perez at 786-336-1167

Woman Charged with 53 Counts of Animal Cruelty

“Gigi’s Rescue” Kept Animals in Squalid Warehouse

Miami (April 17, 2014) – A joint investigation undertaken by the Hialeah Police Department and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has led to the charging of Gisela Tacao with 53 Counts of Animal Cruelty, each count a 3^rd degree felony crime.  Ms. Tacao had been operating her pet rescue operation, Gigi’s Rescue from a warehouse located at 269 West 24^th Street in Hialeah since December 2010, indirectly receiving many dogs from the Miami-Dade Animal Services after other rescue groups provided the animals to Gigi’s Rescue.  Complaints based on the conditions at this site (specifically dealing with the visible presence of feces and urine throughout the building and the resulting stench that permeated the area) and based on the poor physical condition of the animals housed at the site (numbering anywhere between 100-200 animals), led to the eventual removal of the animals. 53 animals were given a physical examination which resulted in the 53 criminal charges.

Bond has been set at $5,000 per count resulting in a total Bond amount of $265,000.

“This case is a perfect example of the old adage that the road to hell is paved with good intentions,” commented Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.  “These animals were living in the worst of circumstances, sadly waiting to be rescued from their supposed rescuer. Such neglect is not a mistake, it is a crime.”

SEARCH WARRANT LEADS TO ARREST OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUSPECT

Miami – April 22, 2014 

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced that today, police officers working as a part of  the State Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Unit, together with officers from the City of Miami Police Department SWAT Team, North Miami Police Department, Miami-Dade County School Board Police Department,  Miami-Dade Police Department and the FBI  served a search warrant at 2100 Sans Souci Blvd, Apartment A1509, North Miami, Florida in connection with a Human Trafficking investigation involving attempts to lure into prostitution two high school girls.  Due to concerns about possible firearms at the premises, the City of Miami Police Department SWAT Team became involved.  Ultimately, David Llama Lopez (DOB 05/13/1967) peacefully surrendered and will most likely be charged with a variety of crimes:

·   Human Trafficking (commercial sexual exploitation of a minor under 18 years of age in violation of Florida Statute 787.06(3)(g)

·         

     Procuring person under 18 years of age for prostitution in violation of Florida Statue 796.03,

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      Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in violation of Florida Statue 827.04

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      and Interference with Child Custody in violation of Florida Statute 787.03

At this moment in time, the charging process is still ongoing.

“As a direct result of creating our Human Trafficking Unit, our police agencies are now fully mobilized to attack the problem of human trafficking, something that existed just below the radar for far too long,” commented Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.  “Those who think they can make a living by selling our children to the highest bidders had better think again.  Our community is united with our police departments to end this awful, awful trade.”