On Wednesday July 26, 2012, 30 year old Heather Ann Kaminsky was released from the Putnam County Jail to be returned to Laurel County Kentucky to face felony human trafficking charges. Kaminsky was tracked down and arrested by Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Detective John Merchant and members of the U. S. Marshal’s Service on July 18, 2012 at the Winn-Dixie on State Road 19 in Palatka. Kaminsky was wanted on a felony warrant for human trafficking of a victim under 18 years of age. Kaminsky is alleged to have traded her newborn son for a 1999 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck shortly after his birth in January of this year. Investigators believe she then sold the truck for $800.00 and some methamphetamines.
Kaminsky had previous connections to Putnam County and has previously had two other children taken from her by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The couple who traded their truck for the baby, Jeremy and Jamiee Brown, of Laurel Kentucky will also face human trafficking charges.
Sheriff Jeff Hardy said “This was a major case that Laurel County is taking very seriously. They were glad to get her and I’m very proud of Detective Merchant and the excellent work he did to help bring her to justice”.
