A Tampa man accused of child pornography and human trafficking was arrested Wednesday, according to the Clearwater Area Task Force Against Human Trafficking.
&nbps;0 Comments A Tampa man wanted by the Clearwater Area Task Force Against Human Trafficking and featured on America’s Most Wanted was arrested in New Jersey on Wednesday afternoon, according to officials.
Special agents from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Eric Antwan Bell without incident at 3 p.m. in Parsippany, NJ.
Bell was wanted on charges including sex trafficking of a minor, producing child pornography and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He had been living in Jersey City, according to Clearwater Police.
Bell was found based on a tip, according to Joelle Castelli, Clearwater police spokeswoman. But officials will not say whether the tip came in because of the June 11 profile on America’s Most Wanted.
A 23-page criminal complaint against Bell was filed in federal court in Tampa on Jan. 3.
In the complaint, Bell is alleged to have "pimped" a 15-year-old runaway as well as other minor girls from a Tampa home beginning as early as November 2009.
Bell used Craigslist and other Internet sites to solicit for his prostitution business, according to the complaint.
One girl recounted that she performed 15 to 20 sexual acts each day for up to $200 each, bringing in nearly $50,000 for Bell in three weeks, according to the complaint.
Bell, a convicted felon, wore a gun in his waistband, had other rifles and firearms around the house, sold drugs and had a recreational vehicle plastered with Tampa Bay Buccaneers memorabilia, according to the complaint.
Bell's criminal past includes felony convictions for cocaine possession.
Bell was also featured on several billboards in the Tampa Bay area and on the ICE website.
Special agents from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Eric Antwan Bell without incident at 3 p.m. in Parsippany, NJ.
Bell was wanted on charges including sex trafficking of a minor, producing child pornography and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He had been living in Jersey City, according to Clearwater Police.
Bell was found based on a tip, according to Joelle Castelli, Clearwater police spokeswoman. But officials will not say whether the tip came in because of the June 11 profile on America’s Most Wanted.
A 23-page criminal complaint against Bell was filed in federal court in Tampa on Jan. 3.
In the complaint, Bell is alleged to have "pimped" a 15-year-old runaway as well as other minor girls from a Tampa home beginning as early as November 2009.
Bell used Craigslist and other Internet sites to solicit for his prostitution business, according to the complaint.
One girl recounted that she performed 15 to 20 sexual acts each day for up to $200 each, bringing in nearly $50,000 for Bell in three weeks, according to the complaint.
Bell, a convicted felon, wore a gun in his waistband, had other rifles and firearms around the house, sold drugs and had a recreational vehicle plastered with Tampa Bay Buccaneers memorabilia, according to the complaint.
Bell's criminal past includes felony convictions for cocaine possession.
Bell was also featured on several billboards in the Tampa Bay area and on the ICE website.
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