RIVERVIEW, Fla. -- A woman from Alabama is in jail in Hillsborough County accused of human trafficking. According to officials with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Kathleen Roberson was arrested Saturday near the intersection of Falkenburg Road and Progress Boulevard. It's where a deputy stopped her for not having a tag on her SUV.
According to authorities, Roberson also had no driver's license and no paperwork for the vehicle. Six other people were also spotted in the vehicle with her. According say five of them were illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Deputies say Roberson admitted she was taking them from Alabama to Immokalee, in southwest Florida. Roberson was arrested, along with another passenger from Alabama, Jessica Roland. Authorities say Roland had cocaine on her.
Sergeant Steven Billor, with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, said authorities got lucky because of the mistakes Roberson made while on the road. "Sometimes we don't catch them cause there's nothing for us to stop them, for probable cause. So in this situation, the mistakes were made, which actually gives us the opportunity to identify them and make the arrest," said Sgt. Billor.
Human trafficking continues to be a problem in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida ranks among the top three states for human trafficking. The Florida Coalition for Human Trafficking calls the Sunshine State a hub for human trafficking.
Both Roberson and Roland remain in jail. Roberson faces federal charges. A Border Patrol agent seized $6,000 in cash she was carrying and her SUV. As for the five Mexican immigrants, we're told they are being held also without bond, pending deportation.