Florida Bondsman Arrested for Human Trafficking After Decade of Trading Freedom for Sexual Favors: Authorities

An Orlando man was arrested and charged with multiple counts of human trafficking and racketeering after multiple women revealed that he demanded sexual favors in exchange for freedom from imprisonment, officials say.

Russell "Bruce" Moncrief was arrested and charged with three counts of human trafficking and one count of racketeering following a years-long investigation that was sparked by the arrest of Brevard County attorney John Gillespie for human trafficking, reported WESH.

"Russell "Bruce" Moncrief, bail bondsman and owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds, was arrested by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI) after a three-year investigation revealed Moncrief "demanded sexual favors from women in exchange for bond services, with threats to revoke or deny bonds if they refused," wrote the Orange County Sheriff's Office in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter).

"MBI believes he exploited vulnerable women this way for over a decade."

Moncrief, who owns Moncrief Bail Bonds, has been accused of extorting women for sex, promising to bail them or others out of jail in exchange for sexual favors. A number of women who were victims of Gillespie revealed Moncrief's abuse of power to the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.

The women further alleged that Moncrief's conditions were common knowledge, and that he often used his position to persuade women to have sex with him.

"The defendant used his position as a bail bondsman to prey on women in the criminal justice system," said Attorney General Ashley Moody in a press release.

Moncrief now faces up to 125 years of jail time.