Florida law enforcement officers netted another feather in their cap today with the charges handed down against Charles Melvin Fox. He was indicted in Tampa with 18 criminal counts, most related to sex trafficking. He is being held without bail in the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office.
In an interesting twist, the vehicle Fox allegedly used to transport women to meet clients is now being driven by the Tampa Mayor, Bob Buckhorn. The SUV was impounded prior to Fox's arrest and was recycled for the Mayor's use.
Charges against Charles Melvin Fox, with possible maximum penalties for conviction
- Robbery, 1 count
2nd degree felony--up to 15 years plus fine of up to $10,000 - Forcing another to become a prostitute, 3 counts
3rd degree felony--up to 5 years plus fine of up to $5,000 - Sex trafficking, 4 counts
2nd degree felony--up to 15 years plus fine of up to $10,000 - Deriving support from proceeds of prostitution, 3 counts
3rd degree felony--up to 5 years plus fine of up to $5,000 - Renting space for purposes of prostitution, 2 counts
3rd degree misdemeanor--up to 60 days in jail plus fine of up to $500 - Unlawful use of two way communications, 3 counts
3rd degree misdemeanor--up to 60 days in jail plus fine of up to $500 - Sexual battery, 2 counts
2nd degree felony--up to 15 years plus fine of up to $10,000
Tampa police have been investigating Fox for two years, with undercover officers posing as johns to continue surveillance. Several women have alleged that they were kept in a house against their will and Fox advertised them on Craig's List for sexual services at local hotels. They each brought in $18,000 to $30,000 per month, with a quota established by Fox. Tampa Police Spokesperson Andrea Davis commented on the emotional state of the alleged victims:
"The girls are all afraid for their lives. There's even issues with some of them coming forward to want to testify against him."
Florida is one of the few states that breaks down the aids that are used in committing felony crimes and counts them as separate charges, such as Renting space for purposes of prostitution and Unlawful use of two-way communication (phones and internet). The statutes also allow for additional fines not to exceed
Any higher amount equal to double the pecuniary gain derived from the offense by the offender or double the pecuniary loss suffered by the victim.
Hypothetically, if Charles Melvin Fox had four women he forced into prostitution for a period of three years (since he was being investigated for two years), each bringing in an average of $20,000 per month, the net revenues could have been close to three million dollars. That would make a fine of about $5.75 million. If the money could be extracted from one who is convicted of sex trafficking, the funds could go a long way toward restorative treatment for the victims and services for agencies assisting those caught in sex slavery.
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(c) 2011 Holly Craw. All rights reserved. You may link to this article or take an excerpt with due attribution to the author and a link back to this original article. Mention your link below to get a shoutout.
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