The Office of Statewide Prosecution in Florida has charged Elise Mizrachi, a 41-year-old woman from Pembroke Pines, with two counts of human trafficking.
The charges stem from a Pembroke Pines Police Department investigation that uncovered Mizrachi’s involvement in a sex trafficking operation, where she allegedly recruited multiple women struggling with heroin and fentanyl addictions and forced them into sex work, keeping most, if not all, of the profits for herself.
According to the investigation, Mizrachi, who was already on probation for trafficking heroin, actively recruited women addicted to fentanyl and heroin from Miami and even as far as Pennsylvania.
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She promised them a way to make money and access to drugs, luring them into her web of exploitation.
Once the women were under her control in Mizrachi’s Pembroke Pines home, she would photograph them and post their pictures on various commercial sex websites, soliciting buyers and directing the victims to the “dates,” while keeping the majority of the earnings for herself.
The investigation revealed that Mizrachi employed a chilling tactic to maintain control over her victims. She would regularly pass out heroin or fentanyl to the women at specific times of the day, effectively keeping them in a state of submission and dependence.
The victims described how Mizrachi would withhold the drugs if they failed to comply with her demands, forcing them to engage in sexual acts with clients in exchange for the substances they craved.
The case came to light when a few of Mizrachi’s victims managed to escape and reported the atrocities to the authorities.
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One victim, in a desperate attempt to free herself, intentionally overdosed on fentanyl, while another victim threw her cellphone out of a car window to preserve evidence of the trafficking. These brave actions ultimately led to the uncovering of Mizrachi’s illicit operation.
“This depraved human trafficker targeted women struggling with addiction, giving them heroin and fentanyl to coerce them to have sex in exchange for money—most of which the defendant kept. I am grateful for those who came forward to report the atrocious crimes to police,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
The investigation uncovered a trove of incriminating evidence on the cellphones seized from Mizrachi’s Pembroke Pines home. Authorities found text messages and emails discussing “clients” and “dates” at various addresses and hotels, clearly documenting Mizrachi’s involvement in the sex trafficking scheme. Additionally, messages between Mizrachi and her boyfriend, Courtney Simpson, who also lived in the home, further corroborated her role in the operation.
Courtney Simpson, Mizrachi’s boyfriend, was also charged in the case.
According to the affidavit, Simpson “would use the firearms inside the house to intimidate her and the other women into complying” with Mizrachi’s demands. Simpson pleaded guilty to the charges and agreed to testify against Mizrachi, who remains the primary target of the prosecution.
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The investigation uncovered that Mizrachi’s criminal network extended beyond Pembroke Pines. A victim from Pennsylvania was allegedly recruited by a woman whom Mizrachi referred to as her “mother” and was also involved in trafficking women in that state. This revelation suggests that Mizrachi’s exploitative activities may have spanned multiple regions, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response to address the complex issue of human trafficking.
The victims’ accounts paint a harrowing picture of Mizrachi’s ruthless tactics. She would withhold clean needles from the women, forcing them to use dirty ones to inject the fentanyl she provided. Mizrachi would also threaten to withhold the drugs altogether if the women did not comply with her demands, leading them to engage in sexual acts with clients to maintain their drug supply and avoid the agonizing withdrawal symptoms.
The victims’ experiences were nothing short of horrific. One woman described how she was charged exorbitant “fees” by Mizrachi, sometimes leaving her with as little as $20 per week or even nothing at all.
Another victim was forced to pay a $500 fee for “disrupting the house” after a dispute with another woman. The emotional and psychological toll on these individuals is immeasurable, with some even resorting to intentional overdoses in a desperate attempt to escape Mizrachi’s clutches.
Attorney General Moody’s OSP will prosecute the case.
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