HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister unveiled the outcome of “Operation Renewed Hope” Thursday, where more than 120 human trafficking arrests were made over the past 90 days.
A former teacher at James Elementary School, a mental health hospital nurse, a Wesley Chapel basketball coach and a person employed by a spiritual organization were among 123 arrested in the operation, Chronister said.
“We targeted this crime through a multi-pronged approach by conducting undercover street walker and hotel and motel operations along with online chats where our undercover investigators posed as minors available for sex as well as guardians selling children for sex,” Chronister said.
The sheriff’s office said it came into contact with 28-year-old James Villacorteza, a former science teacher at James Elementary, when detectives posed as children and young teens online.
Villacorteza is facing several charges for soliciting sexual acts from a minor and traveling to meet that minor for sex.
Detectives said they also focused on reducing the demand for prostitution.
“This operation resulted in the arrests of several individuals, including 39-year-old Zheng Dong. Dong was previously arrested in May of 2022 on Human Trafficking related charges,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The sheriff’s office said the operation showcased “the significant impact of combating the insidious crime of human trafficking.”
“These 123 arrests transcend mere statistics. They represent our commitment to protect the innocent and our relentless efforts to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our community,” Chronister said.
The sheriff said the most alarming trend detectives saw was the possession of firearms by some of the individuals.
“As if the sexual exploitation is not damaging enough, who knows what their true intentions were with the firearms they possessed,” Chronister said. “Why would you need a gun to come have sex with a child? What were their true intentions? This is the part that’s even more concerning than them just trying to have this illegal, incredibly heinous act with a young person.”
Since June 2021, the Human Trafficking Section has resulted in more than 600 arrests and the rescue of almost 30 victims.
“What I find even more impressive is the fact this squad has rescued 28 victims from the grips of human trafficking,” said Sheriff Chronister. “That is 28 people whose lives were saved thanks to the hard work and dedication of the men and women on this team.”
Chronister urged the community to report any suspicious activities to 813-247-8200.
