FBI Miami
Public Affairs Specialist Jim Marshall
(754) 703-2000
February 7, 2020

FBI Announces Sex Trafficking Task Force Arrests and Juvenile Recoveries

The FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force announces the results of its sex trafficking operations conducted in partnership with the Miami Dade Police Department’s Super Bowl LIV Human Trafficking Committee, the United States Attorney’s Office, and multiple federal, state, and local agencies from January 25 through February 2, 2020.

During this period, three individuals were arrested on federal sex trafficking charges:

  • Edward Walker, 46, of Connecticut, was arrested for allegedly sex trafficking two adult females and one juvenile female; and
  • Tiphani Pereira, 25, and Richard Walker, 24, were arrested for allegedly sex trafficking an adult female.

The court documents detailing their charges are attached and any further information may be found in PACER in due time.

Miami Dade Police Department and the FBI jointly made these arrests.

Additionally, four juveniles involved in sex trafficking were recovered: 3 in Miami Dade County and 1 in Broward County.

The reporting of human trafficking crimes occurs more often in some regions of the U.S. than others or is prevalent during large events. While the FBI cannot comment as to the existence of any investigation or operation, there is no reliable data to determine the prevalence of human trafficking in any one city or geographic region, nor that there is an increase in human trafficking surrounding large, national events.

Unfortunately, human trafficking is not restricted to one area and can happen anywhere and at any time. To effectively combat this global issue, the FBI works closely with numerous local, state, federal and international law enforcement partners, as well as other non-governmental and non-profit organizations to combat human trafficking. All 56 of the FBI’s field offices have reported human trafficking incidents, and the FBI combats human trafficking through its 85 Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces.

The FBI would like to thank the following agencies for their strong partnerships combating human trafficking:

Miami Dade Police Department; United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida; Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office; Broward County Human Trafficking Task Force; Broward State Attorney’s Office; Broward Sheriff’s Office; Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); Health and Human Services (HHS); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Miami Police Department; Miami Beach Police Department; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Aventura Police Department; Coral Springs Police Department; Davie Police Department; Doral Police Department; Fort Lauderdale Police Department; Hollywood Police Department; Miami Gardens Police Department; Miami Springs Police Department; Miramar Police Department; North Bay Village Police Department; North Miami Beach Police Department; Plantation Police Department; Seminole Police Department; and Tampa Police Department.