Earnest Benjamin, pastor of Breath of Life Worship Church in Tampa, Florida, has been arrested as part of a sex trafficking sting called “Operation Takedown.” Operation Takedown arrested 79 men ahead of WrestleMania 37 on April 10-11, 2021.
Arrest And Operation Takedown
Earnest Benjamin, Pastor of Breath of Life Worship Church, Arrested. “The Sheriff’s Office said that among those arrested were 39-year-old Earnest Benjamin, a pastor at Breath of Life Worship Church in Tampa. He is accused of offering to pay an undercover detective $25 to engage in a sex act after he dropped off his children at daycare, Chronister said. Benjamin made the deal while his two children were still in the car, the sheriff said.” [TampaBay.com]
Benjamin Arrested As Part Of “Operation Takedown” Sting. “Detectives also arrested Earnest Benjamin, 39, a local pastor at Breath of Life Worship Church in Tampa, and Christopher Ray, 39, a girls high school basketball coach at Land O’ Lakes High School. “Both of these men, trusted and revered members of our community, were arrested for Soliciting Another to Commit Prostitution,” explained Sheriff Chronister. ” [Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]
79 Men Arrested In “Operation Takedown” Sting. “Dubbed “Operation Takedown,“ undercover detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested 79 men as part of a week-long anti-human trafficking operation. It took place from March 30 to April 9, 2021 ahead of WrestleMania throughout all of Hillsborough county. Undercover detectives conducted chat, hotel, and streetwalker operations that led to the arrests. Two men, Jason Brooks, 44, of Tampa, and Jamel Muldrew, 32, of Houston, Texas, were both arrested on human trafficking charges. Brooks was arrested after he responded to a decoy prostitution advertisement. He believed he was going to pay for sex with a 17-year-old girl. Muldrew had been transporting a 17-year-old victim for the sole purpose of commercial sexual acts. On top of one count of human trafficking, Muldrew faces charges of Transporting for Prostitution and Deriving Support from the Proceeds of Prostitution. An additional two victims were recovered as a result of “Operation Takedown.” Selah Freedom offered support to the human trafficking victims.” [Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]
Arrests Connected To WrestleMania 37. “The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday over 70 men were arrested as part of a week-long operation aimed at combating human trafficking. “Operation Takedown” took place from March 30 to April 9, leading up to WrestleMania, and is the second human trafficking operation conducted by the sheriff’s office this year ahead of a large-scale community event.” [News Channel 8]
High School Basketball Coach Christopher Ray Also Arrested. “Sheriff Chronister also highlighted another arrest: 39-year-old Christopher Ray, a girls basketball coach at Land O’ Lakes High School. He said Ray responded to an ad placed on an escort website.” [Fox 13]
Earnest Benjamin Photos
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.
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