Jose Gomez, 31, of Lake County, was convicted last week of human trafficking a child for commercial sexual activity and three charges of lewd or lascivious battery. A jury found Gomez guilty on May 28, 2025, and sentenced him to life in prison. Judge Cary F. Rada presided over the proceedings.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson was joined by Attorney General Uthmeier and Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri to announce the conviction.
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“This conviction signifies a crucial milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking,” stated Bill Gladson. “Furthermore, it serves as a clear message: we maintain a zero-tolerance stance toward human trafficking and the exploitation of children in our community.”
On July 15, 2024, Eustis Police Department officers responded to a 911 hang-up call from an apartment on North Prescott Street in Eustis, revealing the heinous crimes. Though the initial callback was unsuccessful, officers were quickly approached by a concerned individual who was eventually identified as the victim.
The victim reported that Gomez dumped him off at an apartment for a meeting. Once inside, Gomez offered cash and drugs in exchange for sex. He then sexually battered the victim, who escaped by kicking Gomez and fled the apartment. After dialing 9-1-1 and flagging down nearby officers, the victim sought medical treatment at a hospital.
When cops arrived, they sought to locate Gomez, who had locked himself inside his flat upon seeing law enforcement. After several hours, a police canine located Gomez and took him into custody.
During a post-Miranda interrogation, Gomez revealed to officers that he was approached by someone who offered to coordinate sex acts involving the victim for a fee. After arranging for the victim’s transportation to his residence, Gomez admitted to paying $100 to engage in sexual behavior with the victim. Officers discovered obvious scratches on Gomez’s torso, supporting the victim’s claims of a violent encounter.
Officers conducted a search warrant at Gomez’s flat to gather evidence. Furthermore, important evidence for the prosecution was gathered through a search of Gomez’s cell phone, which was carried out with the aid of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
