A courageous 19-year-old woman was rescued by police officers at a hotel in Miami Beach from the clutches of a 39-year-old man who she believed was attempting to sell her for a mere $700. The harrowing incident unfolded at the Red South Beach Hotel, located at 3010 Collins Ave., and prompted an urgent response from law enforcement.
The young woman, hailing from Texas, dialed 911 in a state of fear, her voice reduced to a whisper. “Come and help. I am scared,” she pleaded, as documented in the police report. Responding swiftly, the officers discovered her in room 501, accompanied by Jose Cuevas, a Puerto Rican individual employed at a local liquor store and residing near Coral Way in Miami.
According to the victim’s account to the police, she had crossed paths with Cuevas following a heated dispute with her sister, and he had deceitfully offered assistance. However, her suspicion was aroused when he suggested a disturbing arrangement, offering her $10,000 in exchange for her complete submission and obedience.
In a display of remarkable resourcefulness, the woman pretended to be asleep while discreetly recording Cuevas engaged in a transactional conversation in Spanish, further solidifying her suspicions. With this crucial evidence in hand, the Miami Beach police officers swiftly apprehended Cuevas at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Sunday within the confines of the hotel.
Cuevas was subsequently booked by Miami-Dade corrections officers at around 3:20 a.m. on Monday, placing him under the custody of the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Facing charges of human trafficking or coercion to subject a victim to engage in commercial sex, Cuevas stood before the bond court on Monday.
To aid in the investigation, detectives urge anyone with pertinent information about the teen rescued from sex trafficker to contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
If you or someone you know in California has been affected by sex trafficking, seek immediate support and assistance from the Women’s Rights Group. We offer crucial resources and a safe haven for victims, empowering them on their path to recovery. Remember, help is available, and you don’t have to face this alone. Call us today for a free, confidential consultation.
