Investigators said the victim’s sister called 911 on Saturday after receiving a voice message from the 13-year-old saying she was in danger.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities have charged two men with human trafficking following the rescue of a 13-year-old girl from a motel in Tampa on Saturday, as reported by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began when the victim’s sister contacted 911 on Saturday after receiving a voice message from the 13-year-old, indicating she was in danger at the A1 Motel in Tampa.
Upon arriving at the motel, deputies encountered two men: 28-year-old Marlon Alfaro-Alvarez and 25-year-old Floyd Amaya Garvin. Investigators stated that Alfaro-Alvarez tried to escape through the motel room’s window when deputies arrived, while Amaya Garvin was discovered in the room with the victim.
The sheriff’s office said an investigation found that the victim communicated with the suspects using social media, and was picked up under false pretenses and taken to a gas station before being brought to the motel.
Investigators said the victim repeatedly told the suspects she wanted to go home, but was held against her will and the suspect offered her money in exchange for sex.
The victim then secretly recorded a message asking for help and sent it to her sister, who then contacted authorities, investigators said.
“This child was lured, isolated, and targeted by adults who made the deliberate choice to exploit her. Their actions were not impulsive — they were predatory and calculated,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Thanks to the bravery of this young victim and the swift response of our deputies, we stopped these men before they could cause even more harm. Let this be a clear message: in Hillsborough County, we don’t turn a blind eye to those who prey on children — we turn the full force of the law against them.”
Alfonso-Alvarez faces charges of human trafficking for commercial sexual activity with a victim under 18, lewd and lascivious molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, false imprisonment, contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a minor and resisting an officer without violence.
Amaya Garvin faces charges of human trafficking for commercial sexual activity with a victim under 18, contributing to delinquency of a child and false imprisonment of a child.
The investigation is ongoing and investigators said additional charges could be filed.
