Women Locked In Storage Unit, Given Drugs To Have Sex: Deputies

BRADENTON FL - A Bradenton man locked two women in a storage unit and forced them to prostitute themselves in exchange for drugs, deputies said. Juan Cruz Jr., 41, of Bradenton has been arrested on human trafficking charges, according to an affidavit.

A 24-year-old woman reported to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 4 that she was being held against her will, the Bradenton Herald reported. Detectives say they found that the 24-year-old and a 29-year-old woman were given “large amounts” of heroin and crack cocaine in exchange for having sex with several people.

Cruz eventually moved the women to a storage unit that had no toilet or shower and where they were often left without food or drink, according to deputies. The women said they sometimes would be locked in the unit from four hours to overnight, the affidavit said. Detectives served a search warrant Thursday and Cruz was arrested.

Cruz is being held on a $1 million bond at the Manatee County jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

Read the full Bradenton Herald story here.

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