Cops: 7 charged after Marion boy rescued from traffickers

St. Petersburg police say that, over 11 months in a filthy mobile home, the boy was introduced to sadomasochism and used as a sex slave.

St. Petersburg police say a 16-year-old Marion County boy and another teen have been rescued from a den of human traffickers and sex abusers.

Six men and a woman were arrested this week on human trafficking and interference with child custody charges, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. Four of the men also face charges of sexual battery on a child under 16.

The announcement of their arrests Monday followed an eight-month investigation into human trafficking of teenage victims. Police say the suspects used an online gaming app to lure teenagers.

The investigation began May 9 when a Louisiana law enforcement agency contacted St. Petersburg police about a missing 17-year-old boy at a mobile home at 4000 24th St. in North St. Petersburg. Investigators believe the teenage boy was lured through an online gaming app call Discord, which allows users to communicate with each other. St. Petersburg officials said the app was used to coordinate picking up the boy and driving him to their area.

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