Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged bail bondsman Russell Bruce Moncrief with human trafficking and racketeering, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.
Moncrief allegedly used his position to target female inmates in the Orange County jail, often those facing prostitution or drug charges, offering to post their bond in exchange for sex.
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“The defendant used his position as a bail bondsman to prey on women in the criminal justice system. After bailing his victims out of jail, he continued to use his power over them to sell the women for sex to others for his own financial gain. Working with MBI, we uncovered this sickening scheme, and we will prosecute the defendant on human trafficking and racketeering charges,” said Moody.
Moncrief, owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds, allegedly coerced women into performing sexual acts by threatening to revoke or alter their bonds. He reportedly expanded his control by selling some of the women to other buyers and even attempted to arrange sex exchanges with people outside the jail.
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The investigation links Moncrief’s actions to a previous case involving former defense attorney John Gillespie, who faced similar allegations, with several of Gillespie’s victims also implicating Moncrief.
Moncrief was arrested by the Orange County Fugitive Unit and is currently held without bond.
He faces three counts of human trafficking, one count of racketeering, and one count of unlawful use of a communication device to facilitate a felony, totaling four first-degree felonies and one third-degree felony.
If convicted, Moncrief could face up to 125 years in prison, with OSP Statewide Prosecutor Mary Sammon leading the case.
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