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Miami – (January 21, 2022) Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Town of Medley Police Chief Jeanette Said-Jinete announce the arrest of two individuals for their alleged involvement in Human Trafficking activity in which drugs were used as a means to force a 19-year-old into commercialized prostitution.
“Human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery, is potentially happening right before our very eyes in some of our hotels and motels, as this present case illustrates. Community awareness is one of the best tools to eliminate this crime and can save countless lives and innumerable futures,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “We must end the ugly business of human trafficking that survives by selling the lives of our youth. The Medley Police Department deserves credit for recognizing the signs of human trafficking, reaching out to my Human Trafficking Task Force, and helping make these arrests possible.”
On January 20, 2022, Medley Police responded to an alleged armed robbery at the South River Suites located at 12484 NW South River Drive and contacted the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force. The victim indicated that she had been robbed at gunpoint by two males while she was at the location awaiting a pre-arranged prostitution encounter. Based on the information accumulated from the victim, 40-year-old Raul Antonio Jimenez-Rodriguez and 30-year-old Grettel Canceres-Crego are both being charged with:
• 1 Count – Human Trafficking
• 1 Count – Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
• 1 Count – Directing Another to a Place of Prostitution
Jimenez-Rodriguez is also being charged with Deriving Support from the Proceeds of Prostitution, 2 counts of Armed Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine and MDMA), and Renting a Space for the Use of Prostitution.
It is alleged that Jimenez-Rodriguez set up advertisements for prostitution activity and arranged the payment amounts, while Canceres-Crego would arrange prostitution “dates.” Both defendants would then transport the victim to hotels and motels for prostitution activity. Afterwards, the victim would allegedly give JimenezRodriguez 35% of the proceeds from prostitution. In order to increase the victim’s ability to perform for more clients and make more money, Jimenez-Rodriguez introduced and provided crystal methamphetamine and cocaine to the victim causing her to go days without eating and sleeping.
If you are interested in additional commentary from State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle on this matter, please call 305-547-0535.