PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco announced a series of arrests in a large human trafficking case, which stemmed from a 16-year-old survivor. Sheriff Nocco was joined by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, as his agency assisted PSO with this case.
Although January was Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the work of the members of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office never stops to bring justice and resources to survivors of this awful scourge. The case announced today began November 21, 2022 when the survivor ran away and was reported missing to PSO. PSO recovered the survivor on December 4 and she reported being a survivor of human trafficking at that time. Detectives then discovered what this young person had endured and survived in just two weeks.
The survivor began a friendship with Steven Graham who was contracted to clean the survivor’s guardian’s pool in late 2021. This relationship turned sexual in June 2022 and continued for several months. On November 21, 2022, the survivor got in an argument with her guardian and ran away from her home in New Port Richey with the goal of reconnecting with Graham.
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Shortly after leaving, she was picked up by Mark Poore, who is a registered sex offender. Poore, who had no previous relationship or interactions with the survivor, engaged in sexual conduct with her and then provided her a ride and a meal. After Poore dropped off the survivor in the area of US 19 and SR 54, she walked to the area of Graham’s house, but was unable to get in touch with him. Instead, she met John Malley who offered to let her shower at his home, but would not allow her to stay at his home. During that time, they engaged in sexual conduct.
After that, Malley drives the survivor to the 7-11 at US 19 and Moog Rd., where she finally meets up with Graham. While at the 7-11, the survivor meets Deontre Poole, who gives her his phone number. Graham then drives her to a closed Golden Corral to have sex.
The survivor then reaches out to Malley to again provide her with a ride, and he picks her up from the same 7-11. Malley then brings the survivor to the Walmart at US 19 and Ridge Rd., where he buys her makeup and clothing. He then brings her back to his house and they again engage in sexual conduct after she informs him that she is 16 years old. After Malley told her she couldn’t stay at his house, she calls Poole to pick her up.
After Poole picks up the survivor, they drive around doing drugs and conducting drug sales. They end up driving to the Rodeway Inn near the intersection of US 19 and SR 52. Poole gets them a room and they engage in sexual conduct. Poole then leaves the survivor at the hotel alone.
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On November 22, while the survivor is at the hotel, she meets Branden Dunn and Alan Schiavo, and engages in sexual activities with them. She then meets Timothy Colon at the hotel and they engage in a sexual act in Colon’s car. She informs Colon of her age and he tells her that if anyone asks her how old she is, she is to say she’s 20 years old.
Around 2 a.m. on November 23, Colon meets the survivor again and drives her to a bar in the Hudson area. After a short stay there, Colon takes her to his house in the Spring Hill area of Hernando County, where they again engage in sexual activities and use drugs. Candice Tekdogan, who is an acquaintance of Colon’s, meets Colon and the survivor at Colon’s house, where they engage in sexual activities together. Colon and Tekdogan then take the survivor to Colon’s secondary residence in the Seven Springs area of New Port Richey and again engage in sexual activities together, which is video recorded. Tekdogan then brings the survivor to Tekdogan’s house in the Spring Hill area of Hernando County.
Between November 23 and December 4 when the survivor is recovered, the survivor largely stays with Tekdogan at her Spring Hill home. Tekdogan helps provide the survivor with wigs, clothing and an alias. Tekdogan also helped the survivor make connections at adult establishments in both Pasco and Pinellas counties. While the survivor was working at one of these establishments, she met Jaimi Manning and engaged in sexual activities with him in the VIP area. Manning and the survivor exchange contact information and Manning travels to Tekdogan’s house to engage in sexual activities in Manning’s car outside Tekdogan’s home.
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The survivor also meets Jeremy Francis at an adult entertainment establishment, where they begin texting each other. Francis also travels to Tekdogan’s house to engage in sexual contact with the survivor. Graham also meets up with the survivor at an adult entertainment establishment where he pays to engage in sexual activity with her. The survivor also meets up with Jeremy Nanos-Sky while at a bar. The survivor overhears Nanos-Sky say that he is a record producer and she tells him that she is a singer. They exchange contact information and the next day, Nanos-Sky travel to Tekdogan’s home and picks up the survivor. They then travel back to Nanos-Sky’s Port Richey home where she stays the night and engages in sexual activities with him.
Some time on December 2, Tekdogan holds a party at her Spring Hill home. An associate brings Pierre Williams to the house party. Williams is told by Colon that if he wanted to engage in sexual activities with the survivor, that Colon could make that happen. Colon is seen telling the survivor to engage in sexual activities with Williams, and she does so unwillingly.
On December 3, Tekdogan leaves her home, but the survivor remains there. Another individual approaches Tekdogan while she is working as an exotic dancer at an adult entertainment establishment and shows her the missing persons post on social media from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, which includes that the survivor is 16 years old. Tekdogan calls Graham and tells him to get the survivor out of her house. Graham takes the survivor to the La Vista Inn in Port Richey, next to the Rodeway Inn. Graham rents the survivor a room and leaves her there. Tekdogan than calls to report the survivor’s location to PSO, where deputies recovered her and took her into protective custody after observing that she was highly intoxicated.
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While the missing persons investigation concluded when the survivor was recovered, the investigation into her activities while she was missing immediately began. This survivor was surrounded by many adults during the time she was missing, but all of them failed to look out for her safety and well-being. Instead, they took advantage of her for their own pleasure. The survivor told the suspects her age, but that didn’t matter to these people.
They instead saw this person as something they could use, regardless of her age. They took her to other locations for these horrific acts; from adult establishments, to their homes, to homes of their friends and now co-defendants. The survivor stated that she did these things because she needed food or shelter. She wasn’t treated as a child or even a human during this time.
In total, PSO, arrested 12 men and women who failed this 16-year-old girl. The latest arrest in this case came on January 30, 2023. In addition to human trafficking charges, these 12 suspects face charges such as Sheltering, Unlawful Sex with Certain Minors, Use of a Child in Sexual Performance, Traveling to Meet Minors and Possession of Child Pornography. We’re also thankful for the assistance of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with conducting a search warrant on Colon’s house. The survivor was immediately connected to community-based resources through PSO’s Victim Advocates.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Thanks to the hard work of Sheriff Nocco, Sheriff Nienhuis and their dedicated deputies, a minor has been rescued from human traffickers. Those who abused the victim are facing serious charges and my Statewide Prosecutors will make sure justice is served.”
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Sheriff Nienhuis also spoke about the importance of reporting anything suspicious, including suspected human trafficking. Additionally, he spoke about the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to bring quick resolution to cases such as these.
This case is not over. Though PSO has made several arrests, there is more work to be done and this investigation remains ongoing. PSO remains committed to combating the scourge of human trafficking in our area.
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