Doctor accused of human trafficking, solicitation and providing cocaine to minor

“A mother’s fear for the well-being of her daughter helped expose the alleged illegal activities of an individual who may have felt that his wealth and prominence gave him license to do anything.”

— State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle

A Miami Beach doctor has been arrested after he met two minor girls on the dating app Tinder and a call to deputies from one of the girl’s mothers led officers to find the girls at his condo.

Dr. Jeffrey Kamlet, 68, was arrested Thursday on multiple charges of human trafficking, solicitation of a child using a cellphone to commit an unlawful sexual act, unlawful sexual activity with a minor, delivery of a controlled substance and interference with custody of a child. He made his first appearance in Miami-Dade County court Friday.

Kamlet was allegedly involved with the 16- and 17-year-old girls between April and August 2022, the State Attorney’s Office said. The 17-year-old’s mother reported her daughter and her daughter’s friend missing to the Broward Sheriff’s Office and said she tracked her daughter’s location to a Miami Beach condo.

Miami Beach officers went to Kamlet’s address and found the girls. Kamlet said the girls wanted to sleep there because they were escaping from an armed man “who was trying to prostitute them,” the State Attorney’s Office said in a news release Friday.

Kamlet said he met them on Tinder, and they showed him identification that proved they were of age.

They had no identification when officers spoke to them, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

The girls were taken to police headquarters and brought back to their parents.

In later interviews, “sexual contact with Kamlet was described in detail,” the release said.

Even after police arrived at Kamlet’s home, he continued communicating with the 17-year-old and paid her for sex at his condo, where he also gave her cocaine, the release said.

“A mother’s fear for the well-being of her daughter helped expose the alleged illegal activities of an individual who may have felt that his wealth and prominence gave him license to do anything,” State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in the release.

Kamlet’s medical license was first issued in 1988, according to his state Department of Health profile. As of Friday, his license was clear and active.

His primary business address is at Tristar Wellness in the 400 block of West 41st Street in Miami Beach. His profile does not show any disciplinary or emergency actions or public complaints.

Kamlet is allowed to prescribe controlled substances for pain treatment and to order low-THC cannabis to treat qualified patients, his profile shows. He also holds staff privileges at South Miami Hospital.

Tristar Wellness’ website says Kamlet holds the title of pain medical director with experience in addiction management. His personal website says he is “widely recognized as the world’s expert on cardiac care in ibogaine treatment.”

Ibogaine is a naturallyoccurring is a dissociative, psychedelic drug that has been shown to eliminate or reduce opiate withdrawal symptoms, according to a manuscript published on the National Library of Medicine’s website by researchers of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine and Crossroads Treatment Center in Rosarito, Mexico.

Court records show Kamlet was released Friday on house arrest and has been ordered to stay away from the victims.