Miami Gardens man accused of sex trafficking Sunrise girl: police
A Miami Gardens man was arrested Friday for trafficking a girl who had been reported missing in Sunrise, police said.
The girl, who was younger than 15, was reported missing on March 30 to the Sunrise Police Department, according to an arrest affidavit. Miami Gardens Police Department officers found her at a home along Northwest 169th Terrace a few days later.
During an interview with police, she said she performed sexual acts with Maurice Anton Thomas, 29, and another man known as “RJ”, the affidavit said. They gave her money, clothing and food.
The girl told police that Thomas gave her ecstasy pills. He would hit her when she didn’t “do what he wants” and when he was angry, the affidavit said.
When Thomas’ family was home, he would hide her in a closet, sometimes for hours, the girl told police. She asked to go home, but he would constantly tell her no unless she had sex with him.
Thomas is a truck driver and accused of planning to take her across state lines, the affidavit said.
He pleaded not guilty Sunday to human trafficking of a minor younger than 15 years old, lewd or lascivious battery on a child 12-16, delivering drug paraphernalia to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a child, court records show. He was being held Monday on a $16,000 bond at the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Thomas’ public defender, Alejandra Preciado, didn’t immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 7:45 PM.
