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Writer's pictureSwop Behind Bars

Bonded and Betrayed

Corruption within the Bail Bond Industry

Allison had barely opened her eyes when she saw her phone screen blinking with notifications. Text after text piled up, each message from friends linking to the same shocking news story. Russell "Bruce" Moncrief—the man she had once thought of as a lifeline, but came to see as her nightmare—had been arrested.



A flood of memories surged, disorienting and painful, pulling her back to a time when trusting Moncrief had led her into darkness. Allison’s journey had been complicated; life as a sex worker meant navigating a system designed to scrutinize her while offering little support. Decades earlier, Moncrief had appeared during one of her lowest moments, a well-known bail bondsman promising to help her avoid jail time after a prostitution arrest. He offered her a way out, and in that moment, she desperately wanted it.


Decades ago, after her arrest, Moncrief offered her what seemed like a lifeline. Exhausted and eager to regain her freedom, she hadn’t asked too many questions—she just wanted to get out and begin again. But freedom, she discovered, came at a dark price. Moncrief made his intentions known as soon as the papers were signed, veiling his demands as “favors.” She felt cornered; refusing him could mean a return to jail, a threat he made all too clear. Alone, she had felt forced to comply, hoping it would end his control. Less than 24 hours after her release, Moncrief revoked her bond, citing a fabricated technicality. Allison realized, with a sinking heart, that he had only used his power to tighten his grip. It was a betrayal that left her hollow, her trust shattered, and her story—one of many like it—absorbed by a system that too often ignored her humanity.

The Body Remembers

For years, Allison carried this trauma quietly. She often heard about other women who had experienced similar betrayals by people in power, yet her story remained her own—a wound she had learned to live with. Eventually, she found an advocacy group that saw her, listened to her, and believed her. Their compassion helped her reclaim her voice, though justice for what Moncrief had done still felt like a distant hope.


Now, staring at her phone, Allison felt that distant hope had finally arrived. News reports labeled Moncrief’s arrest as part of a broader investigation into human trafficking and coercion. It wasn’t just her; there were other women, other survivors, whose stories mirrored her own. She always knew she wasn’t alone, but she never thought there would be any real justice.


Allison’s hand trembled as she held her phone, staring at the screen with a mix of dread and determination. Reporting her assault felt like an insurmountable task, a maze with no clear way out. She replayed every possibility in her mind, feeling the overwhelming fear that had weighed her down for so long. For years, she had kept the assault buried, convincing herself that silence was her only safety. But in her heart, she knew it was time to tell the truth.


Picking up the phone was a monumental task. As a sex worker with a criminal record, Allison knew how often her story, her life, was dismissed and minimized. The system had not been kind to her; it treated her like she was invisible, her voice drowned in the noise of courtrooms and jail cells. Would they believe her? Or would her work be used to silence the violence she endured? She set the phone down. And picked it up again - staring into a void that highlighted the number in one of the news reports to call to report. She hung up before anyone could answer but felt compelled to try again. Finally - on her third dial, someone answered and she spilled her tale as if it had just happened.


In jail, Allison’s story was lost in the routine of incarceration. To the guards and the system, she was just another repeat offender. But her pain ran deeper—a reminder of how vulnerable she was in a world that ignored her humanity. Discarded, her voice felt small, drowned by a system that kept her silent.

For people like Allison, the cycle feels unbreakable. The fear of reporting is compounded by knowing the system rarely believes them. But Allison wasn’t broken, not entirely. As each year passed, she became stronger, refusing to let fear guide her life, even though it was an ever-present weight. Her journey isn’t unique. Countless women share her story, bound by resilience in the face of a system that often fails them.


Institutional and Systemic Failures

The recent allegations against Russell "Bruce" Moncrief, owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds, cast a harsh spotlight on power abuse within the bail bond industry. Moncrief, facing charges of human trafficking and racketeering, allegedly leveraged his position to coerce women into providing sexual favors in exchange for bond services. This case underscores the need for transparency in the bail bond system and highlights the vulnerabilities faced by marginalized groups, including sex workers.


Moncrief allegedly exploited women by making sexual favors a condition for bond services, with refusal leading to denied or revoked bonds. This exploitation isn’t isolated. Historically, marginalized individuals—particularly those entangled in the justice system or facing economic hardship—are at heightened risk of abuse. For those in precarious situations, like many sex workers, power imbalances with bail bond agents and similar figures create impossible choices.


This case follows allegations against Florida attorney John Gillespie, accused of using his position to coerce women in 2020. That two high-profile cases of abuse within the justice-adjacent system surfaced so closely highlights a troubling trend within the bail bond industry, one that warrants greater public scrutiny.


Sex Workers’ are Uniquely Vulnerable

Sex workers, especially those with legal troubles, are disproportionately at risk of exploitation. The bond industry, while essential, operates with minimal oversight, offering individuals in positions of power opportunities to exploit those who are already marginalized.

Legal Precarity and Stigmatization: Sex workers often have fewer legal resources and limited public support. Fear of criminalization or stigmatization deters many from reporting exploitation.

Economic Disadvantage: Financial hardship forces many into positions where refusing coercive conditions is impossible. Without secure income, the risk of exploitation in an unregulated system becomes alarmingly high.

Lack of Oversight in the Bond Industry: Bail bondsmen hold significant power with little public accountability, making it easier for unscrupulous individuals to exploit vulnerable clients.

Failure of Law Enforcement to Respond: Sex Workers’ reports of sexual assault not only denies them justice but also perpetuates cycles of exploitation and abuse by reinforcing their vulnerability in an already dangerous system.


Systemic Failures Exposed

Moncrief’s case reveals how corrupt practices exploit systemic gaps, leaving marginalized individuals disempowered. Without accountability, abuses of power can remain unchecked. Many charged with minor or poverty-driven offenses are people in need of support, including sex workers seeking stability and safety.


Moncrief’s actions represent a troubling trend of exploitation within the bail bond industry. This case is a call for reform, with the justice system meant to be a place of protection—not exploitation. Addressing corruption, fostering transparency, and creating pathways for accountability are essential steps to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their past, is treated with dignity and humanity.


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