A 29-year-old St. Cloud man has been indicted for allegedly trafficking a minor while he was working in Antarctica.
On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that Justin Vancott-Harnish has been charged by federal indictment for trafficking of a minor. If convicted, he would face a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison.
The indictment alleges that a U.S. Antarctic Program subcontract employee, Vancott-Harnish, was stationed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station when he “solicited a minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act.” This allegedly occurred over a one-month period, spanning from February 28 to March 28, 2025.
The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is located within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the U.S. National Science Foundation – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the St. Cloud Police Department.
Additionally, this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched by the Department of Justice in May of 2006, this nationwide initiative aims to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.