A North Carolina man, Arayveion Edwards, 27, was arrested on Friday morning in Panama City Beach, Florida, on 30 different charges, including human trafficking. Edwards was staying at the Edgewater Beach Resort with a woman, who told officers that Edwards had been driving her from state to state for the purpose of prostitution.
Further investigation revealed that this was not Edwards’ first encounter with law enforcement for similar crimes. In April 2023, he was arrested by Ventura, California police on multiple felony counts, including human trafficking, pimping, and possession of illegal firearms.
Edwards was sentenced to three years in prison following a guilty plea in March 2024, but California’s credit system allowed him to serve only one year of that sentence. Under the state’s program, prisoners are awarded two days of credit for every day served, significantly reducing their time behind bars. Edwards was reportedly released on probation after serving just one year and was free to continue his alleged involvement in human trafficking.
The Panama City Beach Police Department is continuing to investigate the case, and Edwards now faces serious charges in Bay County.
