In a shocking case from Marion County, Florida, a couple has been apprehended and charged with human trafficking. The duo, identified as Joselito Martinez and Tanya Wurster, allegedly bailed three women out of jail, provided them with accommodation, and then coerced them into prostitution. The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation revealed that these incidents occurred at various locations across Central Florida between 2019 and 2021.
The couple reportedly forced the women into performing “commercial sex acts with customers,” which enabled them to amass over $300,000 from the victims over a two-year period. Martinez and Wurster’s actions have been described as a form of modern-day slavery, exploiting vulnerable individuals for their own financial gain.
Investigators have shed light on the disturbing methods employed by Martinez to maintain control over the victims. These included the use of narcotics, threats of violence, and degrading acts such as shaving the victims’ heads. In a further act of domination, he allegedly compelled two of the women to get tattoos, marking them as his property.
Adding to the distressing scenario, the couple’s shared child was also present in the home where the alleged prostitution took place. This revelation raises concerns about the child’s welfare and the environment in which they were being raised.
Authorities believe there may be more victims, as Martinez and Wurster were reportedly always on the lookout for new victims. Following their arrest, the couple was taken into custody at the Orange County Jail. The case serves as a grim reminder of the persistent issue of human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in society.