ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Since it launched in 2007, the Human Trafficking Hotline has identified over 6,000 cases of human trafficking in Florida – with more than 15,000 victims identified in those cases.
Thursday night in St. Petersburg, a panel was held to help the community learn how to protect kids and adults from traffickers.
“We are zero tolerance in the Tampa Bay area for human trafficking,” said Telisia Espinos, a survivor on the panel. “We are zero tolerance for men and women that want to buy sex from vulnerable individuals, and we say, ‘Not in our city.’”
At the panel, Espinosa used her story of survival to help save and educate others. She says trafficking doesn’t always start with someone dragging an unsuspecting person into a vehicle.
The man who preyed on her reportedly started with months of kindness.
“He wooed me, he groomed me, he love bombed me,” she said. “They can be nice, they can act like they care.”
Then, the switch flips. Espinosa was taken to another city and became trapped in a nightmare.
“We get to Cleveland and things change. He went from being nice to ‘This is what you’re going to do,'” she said. “He literally put me outside, and he watched me all night long.”
Espinosa says she was trafficked for four-and-a-half years.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Halloway says these traffickers can be anyone.
“They can be that teacher, they can be that clergyperson,” he said. “Cause I’ve seen them all get arrested.”
Panelists advised parents and community members to notice when someone’s behavior or attitude changes because, these days, traffickers have more access than ever.
“Video games,” Espinosa warned. “They have chat rooms where people can get into those chat rooms and they’re communicating with your kid.
"You may think they’re speaking with a 10-year-old boy and in actuality, it’s a 50-year-old man.”
It’s a community problem, and this panel says it will take a community effort to fix it.
“When you’re ready, we’re here for you,” Espinosa said. “And we have a community here in the Tampa Bay area that is here to help you.”
For anyone in need of help, the human trafficking hotline number is 1-888-373-7888.