Attorney General Ashley Moody Announces New Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced new efforts to combat human trafficking during a press conference in Tampa on Thursday.

Speaking at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's regional operations center in Tampa Bay, Moody criticized President Biden, saying policies adopted under the current administration have made it easier for criminal organizations to strengthen human trafficking activities in the States.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass called human trafficking “modern-day slavery,” promising that the FDLE would go after “slave traders” for “fight these perverse acts which are affecting our neighborhoods”.

One of the cases highlighted at the press conference involved a search warrant executed by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in October 2023 that led to the arrest of Lina Payne, which 8 On Your Side reported on early June.

Payne is accused of running several human trafficking operations using massage parlors and hair salons in Hillsborough and Manatee counties.

In total, the investigation focused on four properties: Jackpot Massage in Sarasota, Latin Relaxation in Bradenton and Bare All Body Waxing and Expose Barbershop in Tampa, all owned by Payne.

“It’s disgusting in my opinion. There are a lot of quiet little places like that that go unnoticed for years,” Timothy Guerrieri, a business owner whose business was located directly across the street from Expose Barbershop, told 8 On Your Side . “It’s always been the same massage parlor, parlor. Does that surprise me? No, that doesn't surprise me at all, there's a lot of shenanigans going on in this building, it's open at all hours of the night.

Moody was also joined by FDLE Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, Hillsborough County Col. Chris Rule, Manatee Sheriff's Office Maj. Todd Shears and Special Agent in charge of Tampa Homeland Security Investigations, John Condon.

You can watch the press conference in the video player above.

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