Mr. Gardner faces human trafficking charges for soliciting sex with a teen at a Florida hotel before choking her, police say.
Tampa police have arrested Jimmie Gardner, the brother-in-law of failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, on charges of alleged human trafficking involving a 16-year-old girl.
Mr. Gardner, 57, whose wife is a federal judge and sister to Ms. Abrams, was arrested by Tampa Police on Friday following the incident at the Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza.
The 16-year-old girl told Tampa Police that the incident unfolded around 1:43 a.m. Nov. 17 when Mr. Gardner initiated contact with her and invited her to his hotel room, which she accepted.
Once inside the room, Mr. Gardner allegedly “offered the victim money in exchange for sexual acts,” according to a police news release. Although initially agreeing, the girl later changed her mind, leading Mr. Gardner to react angrily.
“Gardner advised the victim that she needed to leave his hotel room. The two got involved in a verbal altercation that escalated to a physical dispute after Gardner placed his hands around the victim’s neck, impeding her breathing,” the release stated.
After the dispute, Mr. Gardner left the hotel room, and the girl called 911. When officers arrived at the hotel, Mr. Gardner had already left. However, police located the girl.
While police met with the girl, Mr. Gardner turned himself in to the Tampa Police District 1 Office, where he was apprehended.
Mr. Gardner faces serious charges, including one felony count of human trafficking involving a minor, one felony count of lewd or lascivious touching of a minor, and one misdemeanor count of battery.
Authorities connected the girl with the Tampa Police Victim Advocate and other community resources for support.
Mr. Gardner appeared virtually before a judge in a Hillsborough County courtroom on Saturday. Court records show that he is being held on a $500,000 bond.
