Miami Beach sting uncovers Venezuelan woman forced into prostitution. Two jailed, cops say

Two people threatened a Venezuelan woman’s family to keep her in a human-trafficking and prostitution operation, according to Miami Beach police.

Carleana Garcia-Garcia, 24, and Carlos Medina Puche, 24, were taken into custody on Wednesday after an undercover investigation led to their alleged operation.

Investigators found an advertisement on Listcrawler.com, a website frequently used for prostitution services, according to the pair’s arrest paperwork.

The ad featured a Hispanic woman and listed a phone number, which an undercover officer contacted while posing as a potential client.

When the officer texted the number, the woman responded, confirming she was available and offering to meet at the client’s location. Detectives arranged for the meeting at the Julia Hotel in Miami Beach, and once the woman arrived, police moved in, identifying her as a trafficking victim.

The victim agreed to speak to police after learning they were human-trafficking detectives and told them Garcia-Garcia and Medina Puche were in a car nearby.

Authorities say the pair recruited a woman from her hometown in Venezuela. Police say Garcia-Garcia knew the victim and was a friend of the victim’s sister in Venezuela.

According to investigators, the victim initially stayed with her aunt near Orlando before Garcia-Garcia contacted her and convinced her to come to Fort Myers, where she was working with Medina Puche. The victim admitted she was aware she would be engaging in prostitution.

The group later moved to Miami, where they shared an apartment. The victim said she was required to pay $500 in advance for rent. Police say Garcia-Garcia took photos for online advertisements and managed client communications, while Medina Puche controlled the victim’s pricing, ranging from $200 to $300 per appointment. He also allegedly took half of her earnings immediately after each meeting.

The victim told detectives she feared leaving the operation, believing Garcia-Garcia and Medina Puche would harm her family in Venezuela. She also claimed to have witnessed Medina Puche physically assault Garcia-Garcia and worried he would become violent with her as well.

During the arrest, police found a clear bag containing a pink powdery substance, believed to be the drug 2C, inside the phone that Medina Puche had given the victim for work. She told officers he provided the drugs in case customers requested them, but she did not receive any of the money from those sales.

The pair were hit with multiple charges, including human trafficking and coercing a commercial sex act involving an unauthorized immigrant.

This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM.