Bonita Springs man said to traffic teen for sex acts

By DENNIS CULVER and JANINE ZEITLIN
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A Bonita Springs man was arrested Friday and charged with human trafficking after he allegedly forced a teenager to perform sex acts for money.

Juan Gomez Domingo, 23, allegedly brought the victim from Homestead to Bonita Springs with plans to marry her.

John Sheehan, a spokesman with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, said the agency is working with state and federal law enforcement and anticipates additional charges for Domingo, whose bond has been set at $1 million.

"It's still an active investigation," he said, after declining to provide the young woman's age.

According to a report from the sheriff's office:

Investigators were contacted by HealthPark Medical Center. There, they found a teen in labor who was believed to be a victim of human trafficking.

She became emotional and said she had entered the United States three years ago illegally by crossing the Mexican border.

She traveled to Homestead where she expected to begin work at a nursery but was told she had to perform sexual acts to pay the fee she owed the smugglers.

She told investigators she was forced to have sex with three managers of the nursery for five months.

Domingo, who was from the same hometown as the victim, knew about the girl's situation, contacted her mother and told her he would marry the girl, if she would allow it.

Domingo then took the victim to Bonita Springs.

Once there, she was taken to various places to have sex for money.

After she became pregnant and had a child, Gomez allegedly became upset the baby was not his and began to physically and emotionally abuse her.

She told investigators he threatened to kick her and her child out of the residence if she didn't work as a prostitute to help pay the rent.

The victim continued to work as a prostitute in brothels in Bonita Springs.

Several other unidentified women were involved in bringing the girl to various places for sex.

Domingo is facing one felony count of forced labor or services by human trafficking and remains in custody at the Lee County Jail.

Lee Sheriff Mike Scott praised Catholic Charities, which provides services to victims, and Lee Memorial Health System officials for recognizing signs of a potential victim.

"Our detectives worked the preliminary facts into yet another excellent case, further establishing our commitment to this scourge," said Scott in a statement.

Scott is a governor-appointee to a statewide trafficking task force.

Nola Theiss, coordinator of the county's human trafficking task force, said the teenager is in the process of getting services and will likely be eligible for a visa to stay in this country.

Theiss, who also leads Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, Inc., said the initial tip came after training on human trafficking.

She said Lee has had a role in several cases and served victims, although counts a single human trafficking case from 2005 when a girl was forced into sexual and domestic slavery in Cape Coral.

"It sounds like nothing is happening but there really is a lot happening," she said.