Two individuals have been arrested in Miami on grave charges of human trafficking, with one facing an additional count of kidnapping a baby, authorities announced. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office described the series of events that led to the arrests of Dimitri David Lubin, 23, and Falon Elizabeth Dunkelberger, 25.
Dunkelberger is charged with luring a 21-year-old Oklahoma woman to Miami with deceptive tales of a glamorous lifestyle, according to CBS News Miami. Upon the victim's arrival, she quickly learned the harsh reality that she was expected to engage in prostitution against her will. Lubin, labeled a "pimp" by law enforcement, allegedly held her one-year-old child hostage to exert control over her.
The human trafficking accusation surfaced following a tip to the State Attorney's hotline, as reported by Local 10. During an elaborate attempt to rescue the victim's child, authorities set up a controlled call between the victim and Lubin. It lasted hours, concluding with law enforcement downing Lubin when he appeared with the baby at a designated meeting spot.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said "She bought her a one-way ticket and told the victim she could stay with her and, upon arrival, she was taken to a luxurious apartment,”, as per CBS News Miami. She urged anyone in a similar plight to reach out to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Human Trafficking Hotline.
Lubin is currently detained at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he faces charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, false imprisonment of a child, and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution. Dunkelberger, on prostitution charges, is also being held without bond. If you suspect instances of human trafficking in Miami-Dade County, contact the SAO hotline at 305-349-7867 for assistance.
