Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the state has arrested over 1,600 child predators and human traffickers since taking office in February 2025 during a press conference in Miami this week.
“With over 1,600 child predators and human traffickers arrested since February of last year, we are setting records that should keep the bad guys up at night,” Uthmeier said in a press statement. "It’s an honor to partner with law enforcement, prosecutors, and private-sector businesses across Florida to educate the public, rescue and provide services to victims, and ensure that predators and traffickers are behind bars for as long as possible.”
The state's human trafficking unit shared the following numbers (compared to 2024).
- Human trafficking cases increased by 28%.
- Defendants in active human trafficking cases increased by 22%.
- Defendants convicted in human trafficking cases increased by 32%.
Prosecution efforts (compared to 2024).
- Charges filed increased by 54%.
- Prison time increased by 10%.
- Total defendants charged increased by 30%.
- Convicted defendants have been sentenced to a combined 3,275 years in jail since February 2025.
In addition, the attorney general's office has collected $53,343,708 in fines, restitution, court costs, and more from defendants in the cases.
Attorney General Uthmeier's human trafficking crackdown also comes as the state gears up for FIFA World Cup in Miami in June. The large-scale event is considered by law enforcement as vulnerable to human trafficking, with criminal networks exploiting the crowds and traffic from millions of domestic and foreign tourists coming to the event.
"As Florida prepares to host FIFA and welcome visitors from around the world, we have an opportunity to showcase not only our hospitality, but our commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation,” Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking Executive Director Erin Collins said. "While law enforcement continues to make significant strides in identifying traffickers and holding them accountable, prevention and awareness remain critical parts of the solution."
"Human trafficking often hides in plain sight, which is why training employees, businesses, volunteers, and community members to recognize the warning signs is so important," Collins continued. "If you see something that doesn't seem right, trust your instincts and report it to the hotline at (855) FLA-Safe. Awareness saves lives, and informed communities are one of our strongest tools in the fight against human trafficking.”
Attorney General Uthmeier has secured several human trafficking convictions during his tenure, including a 120-year sentence for a Hillsborough County man back in February.
