A federal jury on Monday found 33-year-old Jordan O’Keefe Woods of Seffner guilty of sex trafficking and related charges, a verdict that prosecutors say shut down an operation that moved a victim between states and ran commercial sexual activity out of Tampa-area hotels. Woods was convicted on two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of inducing travel to engage in prostitution, and now faces the possibility of life in federal prison. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
What prosecutors told jurors
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, evidence at trial showed Woods trafficked a victim on Sept. 22, 2024, and July 22, 2025, and that investigators observed him conducting countersurveillance at hotels in Tampa while the victim engaged in commercial sexual activity. The office says the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Derry and that Woods faces a statutory maximum of life behind bars.
Trial testimony and allegations
Jurors heard testimony that sketched out what prosecutors described as an organized scheme in which Woods set prices for sexual encounters, managed communications with clients, and “seized the victim’s earnings,” according to reporting by the Tampa Free Press. Prosecutors also alleged Woods persuaded and coerced the victim to travel from North Carolina to Florida on multiple occasions to engage in prostitution, and jurors returned guilty verdicts on all counts.
Federal and local task forces
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Locally, HCSO has been running multi-week undercover operations targeting buyers and traffickers as part of a sustained enforcement effort in recent months.
Legal penalties and next steps
The convicted counts carry a statutory maximum of life in federal prison, local reporting notes, and Woods will be sentenced under federal guidelines that judges use to set terms. Victim impact statements and pre-sentence reports will help inform the court once a sentencing date is set.
Local enforcement climate
Hillsborough County law enforcement has emphasized anti-trafficking work this year. In March, the sheriff’s office announced a multi-week operation that resulted in 89 arrests and the rescue of potential victims, the agency reported. That operation involved partnerships with victim-service groups to connect survivors with housing and counseling.
How victims can get help
Anyone who believes they or someone they know is being trafficked can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or use its text and chat options, to reach specialists 24/7. The hotline also connects callers to local resources and can help coordinate services for survivors, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
