Florida bail bondsman had codewords for illegal sex and release operation — Jail Cell - File Photo

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida bail bondsman is in custody after investigators say they uncovered an alleged scheme in which he would bail women out of jail in exchange for sex, according to the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI). Russell “Bruce” Moncrief, 75, owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds, faces charges of racketeering and human trafficking.

The MBI investigation began in 2021 after victims connected to John Gillespie, a local attorney also charged with human trafficking, told authorities about Moncrief’s activities. One woman reported that Moncrief posted her bail and brought her to Gillespie’s home, where they engaged in sexual acts, according to a 178-page probable cause affidavit.

Accounts from former inmates suggest that Moncrief’s alleged activities were well-known among women in jails across Orange, Osceola, and Brevard counties. The affidavit claims women used coded language, such as “I’ll wash your car” or “I’ll clean your house,” as a way to offer sexual favors in exchange for Moncrief’s assistance in securing their release.

Investigators allege Moncrief targeted vulnerable women, many struggling with addiction or involved in prostitution. “The majority of the phone calls he receives from inmates are females desperate to get out of jail,” detectives wrote in the affidavit. Moncrief would reportedly ignore requests from male inmates, allegedly focusing solely on women willing to offer “anything” for help, the affidavit states.

The investigation also revealed earlier warnings about Moncrief’s conduct. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) reportedly received a tip in 2011 from another bondsman who claimed Moncrief would “loiter in the parking lot of the Orange County Jail and solicit females for oral sex in exchange for bonds.” The FDLE forwarded the information to the state’s Department of Insurance, but the outcome of that earlier inquiry remains unclear.

Moncrief now faces significant legal repercussions as authorities continue to investigate the scope of his alleged activities.

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