The Kentucky Attorney General’s office has announced that an ongoing labor trafficking investigation involving multiple agencies has led to an Indiana man being charged in Bowling Green for endangering the welfare of 12 minors.
Shawn Floyd, 54, of Indianapolis, was charged with 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and one count of have a controlled substance prescription not in its original container.
On July 12, the Bowling Green Police Department made a traffic stop on Floyd, who was already under investigation for human trafficking by the Attorney General’s office. An investigator from the AG’s office responded to interview the suspect. During that interview, Floyd was detained and 12 minors were taken into protective custody, according to the Attorney General’s office.
Floyd is accused of bringing children from Indiana to Kentucky to sell candy for him for profit. He forced the 12 juveniles to sleep in one hotel room with three adults, authorities said. The minors were forced to purchase their own meals and water.
The youngest juvenile was 11-years-old. Kentucky labor law requires a person to be at least 14-years-old to be employed.
“I want to commend the work of the Bowling Green Police Department and our human trafficking investigator,” Attorney General Andy Beshear said. “Their actions prevented any further possible exploitation or suffering for these children. When it comes to preventing such crimes, it requires cooperation across agencies and promoting awareness of such actions in every community.”
The Attorney General’s office has been notified of about 25 solicitor permits issued in Bowling Green, mostly for minors, officials said. Investigators have also received information referencing Floyd for possible human trafficking of juveniles in Anderson, Daviess, Fayette, Jessamine, and Warren counties over the past two years.
The investigation is ongoing and includes the Bowling Green Police Department, Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky Department of Labor, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and the Office of the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
