Bail bondsman suspected of trading bail money for convenience
Russell Moncrief, a 75-year-old bail bondsman charged with trading bail bonds for sexual entertainment, appeared before a judge Wednesday. Moncrief is charged with three counts of human trafficking and one count of extortion, and is being held without bail at the same prison, where investigators say he has been keeping women for more than 10 years. It is said that it was targeted.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Russell Moncrief, a 75-year-old bail bondsman charged with trading bail bonds for sexual entertainment, appeared before a judge Wednesday.
Moncrieff faces three counts of human trafficking and one count of extortion and is being held without bail at the same prison where investigators say he has been targeting women for more than a decade. I think I was doing it.
During his court appearance, Moncrief, who was handcuffed and wearing a yellow prison jumpsuit, bowed his head at times as he stood before the judge.
According to the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI), Moncrief exploited female inmates throughout Central Florida, forcing them to perform sexual acts in exchange for securing their release. MBI claims the plan has been “common knowledge” among inmates for more than a decade.
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A 2011 report to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) detailed similar allegations, with one tipster claiming Moncrief’s misconduct dates back several years. However, no arrests were made at that time.
The MBI began investigating Moncrief in 2021 as part of a separate case. This year, law enforcement officials began closely monitoring his activities in several Florida counties.
Mr. Moncrief owns bail bonds offices in Orange, Osceola, Brevard and Pinellas counties, and opened his first office in Orlando in 1978. If convicted, he could face up to 125 years in prison.
“It is Mr. Moncrief’s position to deny all allegations and looks forward to proving his innocence in court,” defense attorney Rose Ferrer said in a statement. Ferrer also said he had just received a copy of the sealed pretrial motion and was reviewing it with his client.
A schedule for Mr. Moncrief’s transfer to the Orange County Jail has not yet been determined.
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