C.J. Gish
Gainesville Police officers arrested two men for sex trafficking after they allegedly held a woman hostage for two weeks at Safe Hands Group Home.
According to a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) social media release, officers arrested Justin Hoyt, 25, and Kevarius King, 20, on Tuesday after a woman reportedly said she was held hostage at the group home at 1221 NW 31st Ave. from Sept. 19 through Oct. 3.
During those two weeks, GPD detectives said the victim stated she lived at the residence—which offered services related to homelessness—where she met Hoyt and King.
The victim told detectives that the defendants coerced her into commercialized sexual activity with dozens of men at the residence, while the defendants took photos and videos with their smartphones.
According to the victim, the defendants arranged meetings with the men and received money in exchange for the victim to perform sexual acts.
GPD obtained a search warrant for the residence and discovered multiple items of mail and receipts in the names of the defendants, condoms, and an empty bottle of brandy. While serving the search warrant, the defendants drove by the residence and officers arrested the defendants and transported them to the GPD.
At the time of their arrest, the defendants were both in possession of phones matching the description provided by the victim as the ones used to take videos of the sexual performances.
GPD charged Hoyt and King with human trafficking and the two are being held in the Alachua County Jail on $250,000 bonds.