75-year-old man, 2 others arrested in Orlando human trafficking bust

ORLANDO, Fla. — Multiple arrests were made Thursday when the Orlando Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation went to a home where a 75-year-old man and two others have been housing human trafficking victims, authorities said Thursday.

Investigators said arrest warrants were issued against three people on charges of human trafficking for commercial sexual activity, human trafficking for labor and services and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution.

At the center of the investigation is Richard Rawles, 75, who authorities said is a violent career criminal with 47 felony arrests and 10 misdemeanor arrests that include crimes such as robbery, sexual battery, battery, child abuse, cocaine possession and many other charges.

Rawles, James King, 50, and Wilbert Shaver, 49, all face charges in the case.

Documents show Rawles forced the women who worked for him to bow down when he walked in the room.

"You're just terrorized constantly," said Gibson. "While you may not see bars, the victims do feel trapped like they're in a cage."

The investigation revealed that Rawles was recruiting female prisoners from Lowell Correctional Institution, State Prison for Women in Ocala, and was taking those women to Orlando after their release.

Authorities said Rawles, through various contacts within the prison, had a network where women would contact them via letter and they would start an exchange.

"He would keep money in their accounts and he would befriend them and once they were let out of prison, he would go pick them up and bring them to any one of his houses," said MBI Lt. Mike Gibson.

Channel 9's Karla Ray asked Rawles as he was taken to jail, "How many women were you writing to in prison?"

Rawles replied, "Two or three."

"And, what were you writing them for?" Ray asked.

"Consolation," said Rawles.

"How many women did you have in that house?" asked Ray.

"About 25," said Rawles, who denied being a pimp.

Rawles, King and Shaver used a home on Cepeda Street in Orlando as a base for their organized prostitution operation, said authorities.

Police said the trio advertised the women on prostitution websites and took them to locations in central Florida to commit acts of prostitution. Some customers went to the home to engage in acts of prostitution as well, investigators said.

Authorities said the women were given narcotics by Rawles, such as cocaine and heroin, and were not allowed to leave the home unless they were escorted by one of the men.

Several of the victims were also threatened and beaten by Rawles and King, investigators said.

"She would drug them, he would beat them. He would then force them into prostitution," said Gibson.

Agents said they executed a search warrant at the home and placed the three men under arrest. Plenty of evidence, including luxury vehicles, were taken from the home.

An assumed victim couldn't control her trembling as she was led out of what investigators are calling the "house of horrors," according to Ray.

Rawles' bond was set at $300,000 but he'll first have to verify the money used to bond out was obtained legally.

MBI requests that anyone with additional information related to the human sex trafficking investigation to please contact MBI at 407-836-9701 or CrimeLine at 407-423-TIPS.

WFTV