Florida man sentenced to more than 16 years for sex trafficking
TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida man was sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday for sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Lakeland Police Department.
According to the plea agreement, in October 2012 law enforcement officers received information on Kavin Carter, 40, of Lake City, related to human trafficking activities in Lakeland and Lake City. Law enforcement identified another man, Michael Gallon, 50, of Lakeland, as a “pimp” who was operating in Florida and the southeastern United States. Gallon recruited adult and minor females to join his “dance team.” He then transported the girls to bachelor parties and house parties that he had arranged. The females danced and performed acts of prostitution at these parties.
Gallon partnered with Carter, who co-hosted parties at his home. Gallon transported the girls, almost every weekend, to Carter’s residence in Lake City. Carter and Gallon set up “VIP” rooms at the parties, and they encouraged the females to engage in commercial sex acts. They charged the women to use these “VIP” rooms and kept most of the money the women had earned. Law enforcement has identified at least 12 minor victims of Gallon’s offenses, and most of these girls engaged in commercial sex acts at Carter’s home.
“We cannot undo the horrific crimes against the young victims, but this sentence will ensure this criminal cannot cause additional harm,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “The hard work of HSI special agents and the Lakeland Police Department have brought this predator to justice and made our local communities a safer place.”
Michael Gallon, 50, of Lakeland, previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case. On May 29, 2014, he was sentenced to 33 years and nine months’ imprisonment for sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion and a concurrent term of 20 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. Carter pleaded guilty Nov. 24, 2014.
This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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