Police arrested a Tampa man who operated a prostitution ring through a website and two homes in the Seminole Heights area, according to a search warrant.

Tampa prostitution ring busted



10-to-15 prostitutes were working for suspected pimp Preston Taylor



Taylor facing 13 charges

“When we get these people off the streets that are committing prostitution, they’re forced to go inside,” said Lt. Carlos Rodriguez. “I don’t think anybody would appreciate that going on next door.”

The suspected pimp, Preston Taylor, 41, had 10-to-15 prostitutes working for him and would advertise their services on his website discretemeetsoftampabay.com, according to a confidential informant.



Preston Taylor would advertise prostitutes on his website discretemeetsoftampabay.com, according to a confidential informant.

Police said Taylor used a home he rented at 2206 North Boulevard as the base of operation for the prostitution ring and used his own home at 407 E. Cayuga Street to collect $75 of every $200 earned by the women.



“If that was a prostitution house… I think the cops did a good job cleaning it up,” said resident John Elm.



Two prostitutes told police that Taylor used a Craigslist advertisement claiming to hire bartenders and waitresses to lure women into the ring, according to the warrant. Detectives said during a second interview Taylor would photograph the women’s driver’s licenses, sexually assault the victims and then flash a gun warning them not to “cross him” because he knows where their families live.



To further intimidate the women, Taylor said he had a working agreement with the Tampa Police Department to protect his operation, according to the report.



“I believe he said something to the effect that ‘TPD was on his payroll,’” said Lt. Rodriguez. “Well, clearly that’s not the case.”



Police said Taylor used his own home at 407 E. Cayuga Street to collect $75 of every $200 earned by the women.



Police said he used this home he rented at 2206 North Boulevard as the base of the operation.



Rodriguez said police first began investigating Taylor when they received multiple anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay in March. Bay News 9 captured exclusive video of detectives executing a search warrant at both homes on July 20. Officers could be seen bringing out long guns and hand guns from Taylor’s home, along with a box full of binders.



According to the warrant, Taylor would require johns who wanted to hire a prostitute to submit two forms of identification, a work email address and a credit card or utility bill. Clients could order prostitutes by texting Taylor’s cell phone after being verified, according to police.



“We’ve come across a lot of ledgers as a result of our search warrant,” Rodriguez said. “Information that we’re going to be utilizing to see if there’s any other crimes or any other people that were involved in this.”



Taylor was arrested on 13 charges including deriving proceeds from prostitution, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and unlawful use of a two way communication device. Taylor’s being held in a Hillsborough jail on a $35,000 bond.



Police said a tipster who called in will be the second person to receive an additional reward of $1,000 under the Crime Stoppers gun bounty program because Taylor was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.



“People who call in tips, that helps us out,” Rodriguez said. “That’s basically the only way you’re going to catch something like this run out of a private residence.”



Tampa police ask anyone with information about Taylor to call 813-231-6130.