Watch CBS News

Homestead Couple Accused Of Sex Trafficking

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A Homestead woman accused of sex trafficking involving two teen girls is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court this week.

Sandra Simon, 23, and Ricky Atkins, 28, have been charged with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking of minors.

Atkins was previously arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alicia M. Otazo-Reyes who ordered that he be held pending trial.

Atkins met the two minors who residents of the Florida Keys Children's Shelter in Tavernier. In August 2014, he picked them up in Tavernier and drove them to a motel in the Homestead area where he introduced the girls to Simon.

Atkins left them in the motel with Simon who photographed them and arranged for them to have sex with men for money.

During the several days that the minors stayed with Simon, Atkins visited them on multiple occasions, including once to pick up money that was earned during their prostitution.

After several days, they left Simon and traveled with another adult couple to Sarasota County, where they were picked up by police after a hit-and-run traffic accident.

Simon is scheduled to be arraigned Friday, December 19th.

RELATED CONTENT:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.