Two Men Indicted for Luring Women to South Florida, Drugging and Filming Them in Sexual Acts, and Then Selling the Recorded Footage

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Keith F. Dunn, Chief, Miramar Police Department, announce the arrest of Lavont Flanders, Jr., 40, of Miami Gardens, and Emerson Callum, 45, of Miami, and the unsealing of a 22-count indictment charging them with conspiracy and attempt to commit human trafficking and human trafficking. Flanders was also charged with distribution of Xanax. The defendants are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ted E. Bandstra.

The indictment alleges that beginning as early as May 2006, Flanders would search for potential victims on websites mainly known for the posting of profiles of aspiring models and actresses. Flanders would then contact the potential victim online, falsely claiming to be a model scout or commercial business representative. Flanders would entice the women to travel to South Florida for a purported model audition. Once the women arrived in South Florida, Flanders would tell the women that they had to drink alcoholic beverages as part of their audition. Flanders would then provide alcoholic beverages that, unbeknownst to the victims, contained Xanax.

The indictment further alleges that, after the drug took effect, defendant Callum would engage in sexual acts with the victim while defendant Flanders video recorded. Callum is the president and sole director of Miami Vibes, which is a South Florida business that produces and distributes adult pornography. Callum included the recordings of the sexual acts with the victims in DVDs, which he sold online and at local businesses.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Miramar Police Department. Mr. Ferrer would also like to thank the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Hollywood Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Pembroke Pines Police Department, the Miami Gardens Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department in Maryland for their assistance in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roy Altman and Barbara Martinez.

An indictment is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.