Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times(emphasis ours),
A sheriff’s office in Florida announced this week thatan undercover operation led to 89 human and sex trafficking-related arrests, resulting in more than 1,200 separate felony charges.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, which includes the Tampa metropolitan area, said that the operation was carried out over several weeks and targeted individuals “seeking to sexually exploit children and purchase sex.”
The suspects arrested allegedly believed they were communicating with underage victimsand showed up at agreed upon locationsbut were instead met by undercover sheriff’s detectives, according to a news release issued by the department.
They also located a missing 17-year-old girl who was being exploited,the news release said, adding that she was rescued, and her trafficker, identified by officials as 23-year-old Armani Hopkins, was arrested and charged in connection with the incident. It’s not clear if Hopkins has legal representation.
Authorities gave more details about other suspects who were arrested by sheriff’s officials.
Stephen Fabic, 41, a math teacher at Hillsborough High School, was arrested after he allegedly “offered to pick up a teenager and bring them to his home to engage in sexual activityduring conversations with someone he believed to be a minor,” the office stated.
Fabic was arrested and made a court appearance last month. An attorney speaking on his behalf, Daniel Fischetti, was quoted by local media outlet Fox 13 as saying that “it’s unknown what exactly happened the day of, or what the meeting was going to be, so I ask the court to take that into consideration when setting bond.”
The Epoch Times has contacted his attorney for comment.
John Altieri, 69, was also arrested in the operation after he allegedly “arranged for a ride share to pick up a juvenile from their home and bring them to his residence to perform sexual acts,” the office’s news release stated.
Source: ZeroHedge News
