Members of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team conducted a recent prostitution sting in Ocala that resulted in six arrests.
The operation, which was conducted in the area of SW 5th Avenue and SW 3rd Street, followed numerous complaints from residents and business owners about prostitution activities taking place in the city. The UDEST operation’s goal was to identify and arrest those committing such acts.
All told, the strike team arrested four women and two men. They were:
• Kayla M. Futch, 24, of Ocala, was charged with prostitution and possession of cocaine. There also was an active warrant for Futch’s arrest on a charge of soliciting prostitution. She was held on $6,000 bond at the Marion County Jail and is scheduled for court hearings on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. on the new charges and Oct. 4 at 9 a.m. on the prior charge.
• Destinie Rose Cook, 20, of Ocala, was charged with prostitution. She is being held on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 15 at 8 a.m. to answer to the charge.
• April Lowe, 19, of Ocala, was charged with prostitution. She is being held on $2,000 bond and has a court date of Oct. 15 at 8 a.m.
• Kimberly Stewart, 46, of St. Petersburg, was charged with prostitution and is being held on $1,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 15 at 8 a.m.
• Joshua Robert Fowler, 38, of Silver Springs, was charged with having no valid driver’s license and no motorcycle endorsement. He is being held on $500 and will appear in court Oct. 15 at 8 a.m.
• James Lee Gavin, 48, of Ocala, was charged with driving with a suspended license (habitual offender) and having no motorcycle endorsement. He was released after paying $6,000 bond and is awaiting a court date.
UDEST is an initiative of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It is comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement from the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security.
