A Florida bail bondsman has been charged with human trafficking and racketeering after allegedly offering female inmates bond in exchange for sex.
Russell Bruce Moncrief, 75, would sell the women for sex and keep the profits after bailing his victims out of jail, according to a recent news release from the office of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. The release said the women targeted were serving time for such offenses as prostitution and drug charges.
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Moncrief would also allegedly sell the women he bonded out to other buyers and then use threats of violence or revoking the bond to control the women, the release said.
“The defendant used his position as a bail bondsman to prey on women in the criminal justice system,” Attorney General Ashley Moody said. “After bailing his victims out of jail, he continued to use his power over them to sell the women for sex to others for his own financial gain. Working with MBI, we uncovered this sickening scheme, and we will prosecute the defendant on human trafficking and racketeering charges.”
Moncrief is the owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds, which operates in multiple Florida counties. According to his website, there are locations in Orange County, Brevard County, Osceola County and Pinellas County County.
Moncrief is charged with three counts of human trafficking for commercial sexual activity, one count of racketeering and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device to facilitate the commission of a felony, the release stated. Altogether, Moncrief faces four first-degree felonies and one third-degree felony.
He faces up to 125 years in jail if convicted.
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