JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 43-year-old man accused of recruiting women into prostitution, giving them heroin, than then taking all the money they received was arrested Tuesday, charged with three counts of coercing sexual activity for human trafficking.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators said Patrick Trottie, 43, found his victims between November 2016 and February 2017 through advertisements on Backpage.com.
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According to the arrest affidavit, he gave them a ride to his Baymeadows-area hotel and gave them heroin, then said they owned them and were not allowed to leave until they worked off their debt. He told them what to charge for their sex services and set up their "dates."
One woman told authorities she tried to escape while Trottie was in the shower, but he caught her, pulled her back into his Baymeadows-area hotel room by her hair and punched her. Police said he beat one woman for "disrespecting him."
One of the women said Trottie threatened to kill her.
Trottie was also charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine.