Florida sex trafficker sentenced to more than 33 years

TAMPA, Fla. — A Lakeland resident was sentenced Thursday to 33 years, nine months in federal prison on sex trafficking charges, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lakeland Police Department.

Michael Gallon, 49, must also serve a concurrent term of 20 years for distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, Gallon was a pimp operating in Florida and in the southeastern United States. He recruited minor and adult females to join his "dance team." He would then transport the females to bachelor parties and house parties arranged by him. The females danced and performed acts of prostitution at the parties. Gallon set up VIP rooms at each of the parties, where he would encourage the females to engage in commercial sex acts. He would charge the women to use the VIP rooms, and he kept most of the money the women earned.

Law enforcement has identified at least 12 victims under the age of 18 who were victims of Gallon's crimes.

Gallon pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 5.