08/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/27/2024 05:48
August 27, 2024
Decatur, GA (August 27, 2024) - The GBI arrested and charged 17 people in Operation "Wrong Room," a proactive multi-jurisdictional effort to combat human trafficking in Georgia. Operation "Wrong Room" coincided with Operation "Coast to Coast". On August 22, 2024, law enforcement and service providers from across the United States came together to conduct a multi-state human trafficking operation. This operation named "Coast to Coast" was a grassroots effort involving 26 states with the common goals of identifying trafficking victims, offering these victims much needed services, arresting traffickers and making our communities safer.
In Operation "Wrong Room" alone, authorities contacted 15 adults and offered services including food, lodging, medical services, drug rehabilitation, counseling/therapy and childcare. Law enforcement seized over $255,000 from suspected traffickers during 2 residential search warrants served in Georgia.
The following people were arrested:
They were booked into the Dekalb County Jail.
The GBI partnered with the Chamblee Police Department, the DeKalb County DA's Office, the Gwinnett County Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council during Operation "Wrong Room."
During operation "Coast to Coast," authorities contacted 94 adults and 1 minor and offered services including food, lodging, medical services, drug rehabilitation, counseling/therapy and childcare. A child under the age of 1 was taken into protective custody before being turned over to state social services. Authorities contacted 39 adults and detained them as part of the operation.
Law enforcement agencies and service providers from Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, Minnesota, New Mexico, California, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Illinois were involved. Private organizations also assisted including the Human Trafficking Training Center, Safe House Project, and Nurses Against Trafficking.
Because of the ongoing investigation, no additional details are being released.
Human trafficking remains a serious issue across the United States, and agencies nationwide are working diligently to reduce its devastating impact. If you suspect human trafficking in your area, please call 911 or the Georgia Human Trafficking hotline at 1-866-ENDHTGA (1-866-363-4842). Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
For more information on Operation "Coast to Coast" from a national perspective please contact Dan Nash -[email protected].
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