A Florida couple has been arrested for child human trafficking after detectives find the husband was paid children for sex, and his wife assisted.
On November 22, 2022, Marion County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Dwight Tawan Edwards, 47, after inappropriate texts between Dwight and two juvenile victims, who were between 12 and 16 years old, were found.
During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Dwight had been coercing the children into trading sexual favors for cash and items of monetary value for more than a year.
“Detective Peterson brought Jessica (Jessica Lynn Edwards, 33) in for an interview to inform her that we would be arresting Dwight when he was located,” said MCSO.
Detectives asked for her assistance in locating him; however, she declined.
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It was also discovered that during the Thanksgiving holiday, Jessica had forced the juvenile victims to have “contact” with Dwight alone, according to investigators.
Based on this information, detectives arrested Jessica for Child Neglect.
MCSO detectives obtained a warrant for Dwight’s arrest. Members of the US Marshal’s Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force determined that Dwight had made his way to Stockbridge, Georgia.
They contacted the US Marshal’s Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force, and with the assistance of the Henry County Police Department, they took Dwight into custody.
Dwight Tawan Edwards, 47, was arrested on a Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) warrant for six (6) counts of Human Trafficking and six (6) counts of Lewd or Lascivious Battery.
Jessica is currently being held at the Marion County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Dwight is being held at the Henry County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Marion County, Florida.
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