A Wellington man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found he preyed on a 16-year-old girl and forced her into commercial sex, a case that has put a harsh spotlight on how newly arrived immigrants can be exploited in South Florida.
Prosecutors and the investigation
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the sentence and praised the work behind the case, saying, “This predator knowingly took advantage of a child who was in a vulnerable position,” according to WPTV. The investigation started in June 2021 after the Florida Department of Children and Families referred the case to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit. Detectives arrested Raul Brown, 45, in August 2023, and the case ultimately went to trial.
How investigators say he lured and exploited victims
Investigators and local reporting say Brown targeted a 16-year-old who had recently moved to the United States, persuaded her to move into his Wellington home, and then forced her to work as an exotic dancer and perform sexual acts while taking about half of what she earned, as reported by Boca Post. Authorities also allege he exploited an adult woman living in the same residence, using her income to bankroll his lifestyle. Those accounts come from victim interviews and law enforcement records.
Conviction and court timeline
A jury convicted Brown on five counts, including human trafficking of a child, promoting the sexual performance of a child, and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution, and a judge imposed a life sentence, prosecutors said, according to WPTV. The 15th Judicial Circuit’s trial docket lists Brown’s case under number 50-2023-CF-007468 and shows it was set for jury selection the week of April 20–24, 2026, per the circuit’s trial docket: 15th Judicial Circuit.
What the law says
Under Florida law, human trafficking of a child for commercial sexual activity is classified as a life felony, a category that allows for life imprisonment. The state’s sentencing schedules list §787.06(3)(g) among offenses that carry potential life terms, per state statutes: Florida Senate.
Where to get help or report tips
Anyone with information can contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which lists non-emergency numbers, public-affairs contacts, and victim-services resources on its website, and Crime Stoppers maintains a tips line, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Victims seeking help can also reach out to the Florida Department of Children and Families or local victim-witness programs for support.
The life sentence caps an investigation that began in 2021 and, officials say, reflects a coordinated push by child-welfare workers and trafficking detectives to hold human traffickers accountable in Palm Beach County.
