Sex Trafficking Investigation in Murfreesboro Leads to Arrest of Florida Man

Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) Special Investigations Division Vice Unit detectives, with assistance from special agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), arrest a Florida man on sex trafficking charges.

Vytal Dominique Cote, 27, was arrested in Broward County, Florida on May 11. Cote was indicted May 4 by a Rutherford County Grand Jury on charges of trafficking for a commercial sex act, promoting prostitution, and money laundering.

The investigation led MPD Detectives Sam Day and Jonathan Brown to Dania Beach, Florida, where they took Cote into custody with help from FDLE agents. The detectives were able to recover several electronic devices and a ledger from the man’s home.

A Florida woman, who moved to Spring Hill, Tennessee, was charged with prostitution in November 2021. During the investigation, detectives dismissed charges against the woman once discovering she was a victim of sex trafficking. She told investigators Cote followed her to Tennessee and forced her to do massages and then perform sex acts on clients. She said Cote even threatened to have her deported if she didn’t comply.

The Rutherford County District Attorney’s office issued an extradition letter for Cote, where he will eventually be returned to Rutherford County to answer to the charges.

FDLE located at least four more possible sex trafficking victims in the South Florida area as part of this investigation.