125 arrests after human trafficking sting: Full press conference |
![]() |
Sheriff Chad Chronister says a new Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office human trafficking task force completed their first undercover sting operation, resulting in 125 arrests.
The 20-day sting, dubbed ‘Operation Round-Up,’ also resulted in freeing four women and one teenager from the trafficking industry, Chronister said. Among the arrests were Joel Velasco, identified by the sheriff as a teacher at an unspecified Hillsborough school, and Samuel Phillips Jr., a pastor at Be Limitless Church in Riverview. Both were charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution. MORE: https://www.fox13news.com/news/hillsborough-sheriff-operation-roundup-trafficking FOX 13 Tampa Bay brings you the important videos like breaking news, Tampa Bay weather, and local stories. But also plenty of fun stuff, like 'We Live Here' tips, the best of our archives, and all those 'only-in-Florida' stories. Subscribe to FOX 13 News: https://www.youtube.com/FOX13TampaBay?sub_confirmation=1 Watch more FOX 13 News video: https://fox13news.com/ Watch FOX 13 News live: https://fox13news.com/live Download our app: https://fox13news.onelink.me/Sd7G?pid=social&c=youtube&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fox13news.com%2Fapps Get our newsletter: https://www.fox13news.com/email |