After finding their victim on a chat app, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested suspects involved in human trafficking.
After a mother found disturbing content on her 16-year-old’s cell phone, the Human Trafficking Section of the HCSO launched an investigation into a case on February 9, 2023. Detectives discovered via their investigation that the victim had interacted with Moises Escoto, 36, of Temple Terrace, on the Sniffies chat and meetup app two years prior.
From their first encounter, Escoto has asked the youngster for pornographic photos and videos in exchange for cash and gifts. Also, the suspect was covertly meeting with the minor teen and having sex with him. Escoto served as the youth pastor at the 10902 N. Iglesia de Christ Misionera Mahanaim Church. Armenia Street On the same day, he was taken into custody by human trafficking investigators.
Detectives discovered another suspect over the course of the inquiry who had also located his victim on the Sniffies app and had sex with a child for money. Joel Lutz, 38, a registered foster parent who resides in Pasco County, was named as the suspect. On February 15, 2023, at his place of employment, an Outback Restaurant in Pinellas County, HCSO Human Trafficking detectives arrested Lutz in collaboration with FDLE agents and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said:
“It is absolutely disgusting that these two men, who were placed in positions of mentorship and trust with children in our community, used online apps to seek out and victimize our youh.”
“Unfortunately, we know that predators are constantly on the hunt to ruin the innocence of our community. I urge parents to know where and what their children are doing online at all times. We will not stop searching for these deviants wherever they may be, and we ask for parents and the community to help us protect our precious children,” he added.
Moises Escoto and Joel Lutz are facing multiple charges in connection to the incident, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Lutz is charged with:
- Human trafficking for commercial sexual activity with a victim less than 18
- Lewd or lascivious battery
- Use of computer services or devices to solicit certain illegal acts
- Traveling to meet minor after using computer services to solicit certain illegal acts
- Use of computer services for lewd or lascivious exhibition
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
- Two counts of transmission of harmful material to minor
Escoto is charged with:
- Human trafficking for commercial sexual activity with a victim less than 18
- Use of computer services or devices to solicit certain illegal acts
- Traveling to meet minor after using computer services to solicit certain illegal acts
- Use of computer services for lewd or lascivious exhibition
- Transmission of harmful material to minor
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
- Lewd or lascivious battery
- Unlawful sexual activity with a minor
- Criminal disclosure
- Resisting an officer without violence
Sources: Breaking911, Yahoo, LawandCrime
