FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 26 (UPI) -- Adriane Reese, who heads the Broward County, Fla., Human Trafficking Coalition, says recent arrests involving child prostitution are the tip of an iceberg.
"Given what we have seen thus far in arrests, and the reports that we understand are being generated, this may just be the tip of an ugly iceberg," Reese told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "We are just beginning to see the results of more reporting and tips followed up by law enforcement."
Her comments came following the arrest of a woman and her boyfriend, accused of running a child bordello called the Boom Boom Room.
A federal judge Wednesday denied bail for James "Red" Mozine, 34, Lauderhill, and his girlfriend, Laschell "Schelly" Harris, 37, Oakland Park. Both will remain jailed until their trial on charges of child sex trafficking.
Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said his office gets "weekly" tips about child prostitution.
"This whole phenomenon is being fueled by Internet sites like Craigslist and Backpage.com," Lamberti said. "We're not talking about sex between consenting adults. This is men paying for sex with children. And they need to rot in jail."
Mozine and Harris were arrested May 14 in a sting led by members of the FBI Minor Vic Task Force. If convicted, they could be sentenced from 10 years to life.
