Tampa 'madam' accused of human trafficking, prostitution resonates in massage parlors and hair salons

TAMPA – A Tampa woman is accused of being a “Madame” and running a human trafficking and prostitution ring across two counties.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Lina Payne, accused of luring women from Venezuela and Colombia, then forcing them into prostitution to pay off debts.

Court documents show law enforcement investigated Payne's businesses for years, beginning in 2021, including at two locations in Manatee County and two in Hillsborough County:

• 3323 West Cypress Street, Tampa

• 8907 Regents Drive. Dr #330, Tampa

• 1417 Cortez Road, West Bradenton

• 7446 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Investigators also arrested Karen McGlynn, who they said managed Jackpots Spa in Manatee County for Payne and was part of his business.

“It’s clearly visible,” said Pamela Woody, founder of Tampa Bay Advocates Against Human Trafficking. She said massage parlors operating late at night are a red flag.

“A lot of bad things happen behind closed doors,” she said.

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Investigators said Payne regularly traveled to South America. One of the survivors told investigators that Payne loaned her between $40,000 and $50,000 to come to the United States and that she would have to repay Payne by working as a massage therapist at his spa.

The survivor had no idea what she should actually do for the money.

“They come here thinking they're on the path to a better life. You know, they've been deceived. They've been forced into this life,” Woody said.

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Investigators monitored and observed men entering these establishments at all hours of the day and night and interviewed numerous “Johns” who all paid $220 for a massage and sex with the attendants.

In arrest documents, investigators said a worker called for help from Latin Relaxation Massage in Bradenton in July 2023.

When the police arrived, the woman who had called had disappeared.

In October 2023, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office conducted an operation to recover survivors of human trafficking, including some from Operation Payne. But FDLE investigators said even that didn't stop Payne.

Woody said the path to recovery for survivors will be different for everyone.

“The key is to put them in a trauma-informed environment so they’re not re-traumatized beyond what they’ve already experienced,” she said.

Investigators said Payne made hundreds of thousands of dollars through sex trafficking of women. She faces RICO charges as well as a half-dozen other charges.

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