ORLANDO, Fla. — The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation announced it has arrested three people accused of sex trafficking teenagers.
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Investigators said Tracy Koger, Shana Bryant and Tyrell Ponds trafficked three girls, two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old, between February 2021 and July 2021 at multiple locations throughout Orange County.
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In July 2021, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said that a 15-year-old girl who was in the hospital said she had been battered.
“An Orange County deputy responded to the hospital,” MBI Director Ron Stucker said. “Through his initial investigation, he realized there was so much more gong on here.”
The investigation revealed human trafficking was occurring, and the deputy notified MBI agents who responded to the hospital, according to a news release.
Investigators said they found evidence that Koger and Bryant made money by engaging in commercial sex acts.
They said Koger and Bryant also recruited underage girls by targeting runaways, children in foster care and others by luring them with places to stay at hotels or promises of taking care of them.
Investigators said Koger and Bryant would then post the girls online for commercial sex and arrange for them to have sex with men.
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Deputies said Ponds worked with Koger and Bryant and provided drugs to them.
Ponds also drove them to locations for commercial sex and had sex with one of the minors, according to investigators.
Agents said they believe there may be more victims.
“We know, based on our investigation, there are other victims out there that haven’t been identified yet,” Stucker said.
The MBI said Koger, Bryant and Ponds would frequent the following hotels:
- Quality Inn at 3956 West Colonial Drive, Orlando.
- Motel 6 at 5300 Adanson Street, Orlando.
- Budget Inn at 3600 West Colonial Drive, Orlando.
- Quality Inn and Suites at 8300 Jamaican Court, Orlando.
“Someone may put it together,” Stucker added.
Koger and Ponds have been arrested and are in the Orange County Jail. Bryant is currently being held in the Seminole County Jail.
Anyone with information is asked to call MBI, Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477) or their local law enforcement agency.
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