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TALLAHASSEE, FL — A federal jury has convicted Kimberly Robinson Gandy, 47, of Gulfport, Mississippi, for her role in a human trafficking and money laundering conspiracy that spanned the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. Her co-defendant, Chad Cornelius Seymore, 49, of Dothan, Alabama, pleaded guilty prior to trial. The verdict and plea were announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin of the Northern District of Florida.
Charges and Convictions
Gandy was convicted on June 18, 2025, of:
- Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion
- Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion
- Money Laundering
Seymore pleaded guilty on June 9, 2025, to:
- Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion
- Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion
- Receiving Benefits from Sex Trafficking
- Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
- Money Laundering
Both defendants face substantial prison time and will be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Alan C. Winsor in Tallahassee. Seymore’s sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2025, and Gandy’s for September 15, 2025.
Details of the Criminal Operation
According to court records, the trafficking ring operated over four years, during which Seymore and co-conspirators targeted vulnerable women—particularly those with substance use disorders—at hotels and online. Seymore bonded women out of jail and coerced them into commercial sex work in Alabama and North Florida through threats and physical violence.
Gandy worked with Seymore to traffic women in Panama City Beach and Destin, Florida. They used online financial platforms to launder proceeds from the illegal activity.
Multi-Agency Investigation and Prosecution
The case was the result of a joint investigation by multiple federal, state, and local agencies, including:
- Homeland Security Investigations
- FBI
- Leon County Sheriff’s Office
- Dothan, Alabama Police Department
- Panama City Beach and Panama City Police Departments
- Additional support from sheriff’s offices across Florida and the U.S. Marshals Service
The case was prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Spaven.
National Context
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at dismantling violent criminal organizations and trafficking networks. The operation integrates efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
For further information or access to public records, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
