Orlando Human Trafficking Lawyer
Fighting to Protect the Freedom of Our Clients
Under Florida law, human trafficking is a serious crime that occurs when a person or persons sexually exploit or force labor of another human being. This crime is aggressively prosecuted, and can result in huge fines and lengthy prison sentences. You need an advocate who can fight for your rights. Contact the Orlando human trafficking lawyer at Parikh Law now for a free consultation about your case.
Human Trafficking Laws in Florida
Human trafficking occurs when a person knowingly—or in reckless disregard of known facts—engages in or financially benefits from the soliciting, transporting, recruiting, providing, enticing, harboring, maintaining, or obtaining another person for the purpose of labor, services, or commercial sexual activity and exploitation. In the case of adult victims, the state must prove that the adult victim was coerced into such servitude, while the state does not have to prove coercion in the case of minors.
Penalties You Could Face
In Florida, the crime of human trafficking is one of the most aggressively prosecuted crimes. As a personal liberty crime, it is considered a first-degree felony. A guilty verdict means you will be a convicted felon with no possibility of expunging or sealing your record. This would affect employment applications, career opportunities, security clearances, college applications, and other matters in your personal and professional life.
If the human trafficking was for labor, services, or commercial sexual activities, you could face:
- A minimum sentence of 21 months in prison, with a possibility of up to 30 years in prison
- 30 years’ probation
- Fines of up to $10,000
If the human trafficking involves a child or a mentally handicapped person for commercial sexual activity, it is considered to be a life felony with a sentence of 66 years to life in prison, life on probation, and fines up to $10,000.
Properly Fighting the Allegations
Your charge will not be dismissed or disappear because you try to explain yourself to a judge. Anything you say in court will be recorded and used against you by prosecutors. Given the severe penalties for human trafficking and the complex nature of defending against the charge, the importance of representation by an attorney cannot be overstated.