Human trafficking is one of the most aggressively prosecuted felony offenses in Florida. These cases involve allegations of exploiting, coercing, transporting, harboring, or controlling another person for labor, services, or commercial sexual activity. Because of the seriousness of the allegations and the political and social focus on trafficking crimes, prosecutors pursue these cases with exceptional intensity and severe penalties.
Human trafficking cases are often complex and fact-intensive. They may involve undercover operations, confidential informants, digital communications, financial records, surveillance, and allegations that span months or years. In many cases, the accused disputes the characterization of the relationship or conduct, but prosecutors frame the facts as coercion, exploitation, or control.
If you are being investigated or charged with human trafficking in Florida, your freedom, reputation, and future are at immediate risk. These cases require an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands both the law and the investigative tactics used in trafficking prosecutions.
Gainesville Human Trafficking Defense Lawyer
If you have been accused of human trafficking in Florida, you need to act quickly to protect your future. These cases carry extreme penalties and often involve multiple law enforcement agencies, including state and federal authorities.
Dean Galigani of the Galigani Law Firm has years of experience defending clients in Gainesville and throughout Florida against serious felony charges. He understands how human trafficking cases are investigated, how prosecutors attempt to prove coercion or exploitation, and how to build a strong defense strategy based on the actual facts of the case.
Contact the Galigani Law Firm today at (352) 375-0812 for a free consultation if you are facing human trafficking charges in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, or surrounding areas.
Information Center
- Definition of Human Trafficking Under Florida Law
- Common Forms of Human Trafficking Allegations
- Penalties for Human Trafficking in Florida
- Defenses to Human Trafficking Charges
- Role of a Florida Human Trafficking Defense Attorney
- Key Elements the Jury Considers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources
Definition of Human Trafficking Under Florida Law
Human trafficking in Florida is governed primarily by Florida Statute § 787.06. The statute broadly defines trafficking as knowingly engaging in conduct that recruits, transports, harbors, provides, maintains, or obtains another person through force, fraud, coercion, or abuse of power for the purpose of exploitation.
Trafficking allegations may involve:
- Labor or services
- Commercial sexual activity
- Allegations involving adults or minors
Importantly, prosecutors may pursue trafficking charges even when the alleged victim appeared to participate voluntarily. Consent is often disputed or legally irrelevant under the statute, particularly in cases involving alleged coercion or control.
Common Forms of Human Trafficking Allegations
Human trafficking charges often arise from allegations involving:
- Control over another person’s housing, transportation, or finances
- Alleged coercion through threats, intimidation, or debt
- Escorting or arranging commercial sexual activity
- Employment situations alleged to involve exploitation
- Online advertisements, messages, or social media communications
- Financial transactions tied to alleged exploitation
- Multi-defendant or conspiracy allegations
Many cases involve disputes over the nature of personal, romantic, or business relationships that prosecutors reinterpret as trafficking.
Penalties for Human Trafficking in Florida
Human trafficking is classified as a serious felony offense, with penalties depending on the age of the alleged victim and the nature of the conduct.
Trafficking Involving Adults
Human trafficking involving adult victims is generally charged as a first-degree felony.
Potential penalties include:
- Up to 30 years in Florida State Prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- Permanent felony criminal record
Trafficking Involving Minors
If the alleged victim is a minor, penalties increase significantly and may include life-felony exposure.
Potential penalties include:
- Decades in state prison or life imprisonment
- Mandatory minimum prison sentences
- Extremely high fines
- Lifetime sex offender registration in certain cases
Additional Consequences
Beyond incarceration and fines, human trafficking convictions may result in:
- Asset forfeiture
- Sex offender designation
- Immigration consequences
- Loss of professional licenses
- Federal prosecution exposure
- Permanent reputational damage
Defenses to Human Trafficking Charges
- No force, fraud, or coercion: Human trafficking requires proof of coercive or exploitative conduct. If the evidence shows voluntary participation without threats or control, the charge may not stand.
- Mischaracterization of relationships: Prosecutors often reinterpret personal, romantic, or financial relationships as trafficking. Context and intent are critical in challenging this narrative.
- Lack of knowledge or intent: The state must prove the accused knowingly engaged in trafficking conduct. Mere association or presence is not enough.
- Insufficient evidence of exploitation: Allegations must be supported by concrete evidence. Vague statements, assumptions, or uncorroborated testimony may be insufficient.
- Unreliable witnesses or informants: Many cases rely on cooperating witnesses who may be seeking leniency, immunity, or financial benefits. Credibility is often a central issue.
- Illegal searches or investigative misconduct: Trafficking investigations frequently involve digital searches, surveillance, and warrants. Constitutional violations may result in suppression of evidence.
Role of a Florida Human Trafficking Defense Attorney
- Analyzing the prosecution’s theory: A defense attorney examines whether the alleged conduct actually meets the statutory definition of trafficking. Many cases involve overcharging or legally unsupported interpretations.
- Challenging coercion allegations: Counsel focuses on whether force, threats, or exploitation truly existed. Without these elements, the prosecution’s case weakens significantly.
- Reviewing digital and financial evidence: Text messages, social media, bank records, and advertisements are carefully reviewed for context and alternative explanations.
- Protecting constitutional rights: Early legal intervention prevents self-incrimination and challenges unlawful searches or interrogations.
- Negotiating with prosecutors: When appropriate, an attorney may seek charge reductions, dismissals, or alternative resolutions based on evidentiary weaknesses.
- Trial representation: If the case proceeds to trial, defense counsel challenges witness credibility, exposes inconsistencies, and emphasizes reasonable doubt.
Key Elements the Jury Considers
To convict, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:
- The defendant knowingly engaged in trafficking conduct
- The conduct involved force, fraud, coercion, or exploitation
- The conduct was for labor, services, or commercial sexual activity
- The evidence was lawfully obtained
Failure to prove any required element requires acquittal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is consent a defense to human trafficking?
Consent is often disputed and may not be a legal defense, especially when coercion is alleged.
Can trafficking charges be based on online messages?
Yes. Digital communications are commonly used as evidence.
Are human trafficking cases always prosecuted federally?
Not always, but many cases involve parallel state and federal investigations.
Should I speak to law enforcement if accused?
You should consult a defense attorney before making any statements.
Additional Resources
Florida Statute § 787.06 – Human Trafficking: This statute defines human trafficking in Florida and outlines penalties and sentencing enhancements.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Human Trafficking Hotline: This resource provides general information about trafficking laws and reporting mechanisms.
Finding a Human Trafficking Defense Attorney in Gainesville, Florida
Human trafficking charges carry some of the harshest penalties under Florida law and are often built on complex, emotionally charged allegations. These cases demand immediate and strategic legal defense.
Dean Galigani of the Galigani Law Firm represents individuals charged with human trafficking throughout Gainesville, Alachua County, Ocala, Lake City, and surrounding areas of Florida.
If you are under investigation or facing human trafficking charges, contact the Galigani Law Firm today at (352) 375-0812 for a free consultation and immediate legal guidance.
