JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Eleven men were arrested in January for soliciting prostitution along Philips Highway, as part of an undercover sting operation conducted by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO).
In an announcement made on social media, JSO revealed that the arrests were the result of a carefully planned operation targeting prostitution in the area. Among those arrested was 50-year-old Gregory Hodge, who was already on federal probation for trafficking a minor. The other men arrested during the operation were charged with soliciting prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor.
The full list of suspects arrested in the sting includes:
Leonardo Cristancho
Roy Taylor
Eugenio Marques Porfirio
Kumar Speicher
Deandre Hudson
Cedric Malone
Virjul Fleurant
Ulder Alonso Zunzunegui
Saveon Wilcox
Calvin Harris
Gregory Hodge
JSO used the opportunity to highlight the connection between prostitution and human trafficking, stating, “Prostitution funds and fuels #HumanTrafficking,” and adding, “Most women in prostitution don’t want to be there—and most are desperate to escape.”
The arrests have drawn attention to the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in the Jacksonville area, with authorities continuing to emphasize the importance of addressing these issues through both prevention and enforcement.