BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
In October 2006, the Clearwater Police Department received a grant from the Department of Justice to investigate human trafficking in the Tampa Bay Area. The funds were used to create the Clearwater/ Tampa Bay Area Task Force (CATFHT).
Last Friday, Clearwater Police Chief Anthony Holloway, along with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Task Force members held a news conference to announce the arrest of two men. Shawn Derrick Franklin (pictured, right), 42, and Peter Demond Kitt, 41, both of Clearwater are being held on a $1 Million Bond. They are charged with Racketeering and Conspiracy/Racketeering.
Further, the men will not be allowed to post bond unless they can prove the source of the money used for the bond, Chief Holloway said.
Both men are accused of being involved in human trafficking and sex trafficking. Police have identified at least 16 women who are alleged victims.
Peter Kitt
According to the investigation, the women were recruited from strip clubs. They were then allegedly trained as prostitutes and provided drugs. If they refused the drugs, they were controlled through beatings and sexual assaults. Police said one woman was so severely beaten that she required hospitalization.
Ms. Pam Bondi, Florida Attorney General said, “These arrests are the first step in bringing justice and peace to the victims of this alleged sex trafficking ring.
“Florida is a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking, and any individuals engaged in this abhorrent crime will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
She further stated that society has to change the way it views prostitution, “these women are victims.” Ms. Bondi also warned the investigation is not over and the task force is continuing its investigation. “If you’re one of johns involved in this, we’re going to go after you, too.”
Chief Holloway said, “This is a great day for the task force to take really violent guys off the street, and to rescue at least 16 victims. It’s hard to believe that these things happen in our towns and in our neighborhoods. Human trafficking is violent and it is real, and we are dedicated to stopping it in the Tampa Bay Area.”
The investigation began last June after Tampa Police sent a tip about Kitt to the task force. During an arrest as a result of a prostitution sting, police allegedly found guns, drugs, and driver’s licenses belonging to women in his vehicle.
However, Kitt was released from jail on bond.
One of the alleged victims began working with the Task Force and told police Kitt allegedly pushed the women to develop drug addictions. All of the alleged victims are in their 20s. Once trained as prostitutes, Kitt is alleged to have set them up at bay area hotels. He is also alleged to have used Backpage.com to make arrangements with johns. Franklin was the alleged “enforcer” when Kitt was not around, police said.
Other agencies in the Task Force are the Department of Homeland Security, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney Bernie McCabe, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Tampa Police Department, Largo Police Department, Pinellas Park Police Department, and St. Petersburg Police Department. The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.
Three women have been rescued and authorities are encouraging other victims to come forward. Others victimized can contact the Clearwater Bay Area Task Force On Human Trafficking at (727) 562-4917, of Florida’s hotine at 1-800-96-ABUSE.
