Operation Summer Shield, a sting operation led by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, has culminated in the arrest of 148 individuals and the rescue of seven victims involved in human trafficking. The operation, which targeted human trafficking operations during the summer months, has led to the arrest of 11 suspects charged with human trafficking.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced the successful conclusion of Operation Summer Shield, a sting operation aimed at combating human trafficking. The operation, which spanned 102 days, resulted in the arrest of 148 individuals and the rescue of seven victims.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Operation Rescues Victims and Arrests Traffickers
According to Sheriff Chad Chronister, the operation aimed to prevent children from becoming victims of human trafficking during the summer months, when they spend more time online and away from school. "We wanted to be proactive to ensure that no child fell victim to human trafficking operations," Chronister said.
The operation yielded significant results, with 148 arrests made for various crimes. 11 of the suspects were charged with human trafficking. The seven rescued victims included two 17-year-old girls.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Operation Rescues Victims and Arrests Traffickers
Chronister highlighted four particularly egregious arrests made during the operation:
1. John Randall Craddock, 33, was arrested for allegedly sending explicit messages to an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Operation Rescues Victims and Arrests Traffickers
2. Devante Kershaw, 28, was arrested after attempting to groom an undercover detective for a month and arranging to meet for sex.
3. Dontae Burton, 39, was arrested for allegedly forcing a 17-year-old girl to have sex for money and posting explicit photos of her online.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Operation Rescues Victims and Arrests Traffickers
4. Dennis Jose Aguilar-Maroto, 35, was arrested for allegedly grooming and paying a 17-year-old girl for sex acts.
Chronister emphasized that human trafficking remains a serious issue in Hillsborough County and that the sheriff's office is committed to protecting victims and holding traffickers accountable. "Traffickers, your days of exploiting innocent people are over in Hillsborough County," Chronister said.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Operation Rescues Victims and Arrests Traffickers
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office encourages the public to report any suspected human trafficking activity by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
