Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging a bail bondsman with human trafficking and racketeering. According to an investigation by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, Russell Bruce Moncrief used his position as a bondsman in Central Florida to target female inmates in Orange County jail and others on prostitution and/or drug charges and would offer the victims bond in exchange for sex.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The defendant used his position as a bail bondsman to prey on women in the criminal justice system. 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, the owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds in multiple Florida counties, would bond out female inmates in exchange for sex. The defendant even offered to bail out inmates in exchange for sex from someone outside of jail. Moncrief also sold women he bonded out to other buyers. He would use threats of revoking, pulling or violating the females’ bonds as a form of force, fraud or coercion.
The defendant’s actions stem from a previous case that involved former defense attorney John Gillespie committing similar crimes. Victims of Gillespie alleged to have performed sexual acts with Moncrief as well.
The Orange County Fugitive Unit arrested Moncrief who is being held on no bond.
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. Altogether, Moncrief faces four first-degree felonies and one third-degree felony.
The defendant faces up to 125 years of jail time. OSP Statewide Prosecutor Mary Sammon will handle the case.
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