Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed 22 men were indicted following an undercover human trafficking operation in which the men tried to purchase illicit sex from minors.
The TBI conducted the operation along with the Brentwood Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the office of 21st District Attorney General Kim Helper.
“Yet again, our collaborative effort proves human trafficking is happening every day in communities across Tennessee,” said Jason Locke, Deputy Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “For years, our state has led the way in fighting this injustice, and we won’t stop doing whatever we can to send the message that it has to stop.”
The first three days of the operation took place in early October when two female TBI agents posed as a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old offering sex on backpage.com.
Their assumed ages came up during text and phone conversations.
Authorities said the men who were undeterred and still traveled to meet the alleged minors for sex included a wide range of people from a computer programmer and automotive engineer, to a construction worker and a chef.
“This is, without doubt, a demand-driven crime, involving men from all kinds of backgrounds” said TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “We need more men to stand up and talk honestly about how we got here as a culture and what we need to do to fix it. Unless we’re willing to hold one other accountable, we will continue to see too many people victimized by this kind of crime, with no one to blame but ourselves.”
“Think about that: three days, 22 men, all of them willingly, knowingly want to pay for sex with a minor,” TBI Deputy Director Jason Locke said.
Male agents responded to backpage.com ads on the fourth and final day of the operation in an attempt to recover potential victims of human trafficking. Although two women responded, they declined services offered through a partner nonprofit agency.
“Educating law enforcement and the public alike on the prevalence of human trafficking in society today has become a priority that requires our attention,” said Brentwood Police Chief Jeff Hughes. “I would like to commend the TBI on conducting this undercover operation, and similar operations around the state, in combating Human Trafficking. The Brentwood Police Department stands ready to work with the TBI and our law enforcement partners to target and arrest those who would promote this type of criminal activity.”
As of Thursday morning, 11 of the 22 men indicted in the operation were in the custody of ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“ICE/HSI is proud to once again partner with TBI on this important effort,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI’s efforts in Tennessee. “Apprehending illegal aliens who seek to prey on our youth in Tennessee remains a top priority. ICE/HSI stands ready to provide the appropriate protections to the victims of this form of modern-day slavery.”
The 22 men were charged with a variety of offenses. TBI agents released the following list of the nine men who had already been arrested:
- Francisco Badillo (DOB 5-12-75, Franklin, Bond: $40,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
- Ibrahim Demyan (DOB 6-4-68, Nashville, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
- Luis Gonzalez-Garcia (DOB 10-7-88, Lewisburg, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
- Terry William Garner (DOB 4-20-74), Columbia, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor, 1 count Simple Possession of Marijuana, 1 count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Mohamed Hassan (DOB 3-30-75, Spring Hill, Bond: $40,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
- Jeremiah McSpaddin (DOB 1-31-85, Columbia, Bond: $50,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor, 1 count Simple Possession of Marijuana
- Ajay Kumar Mistry (DOB 6-2-75, Franklin, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
- Jerwon Robinson (DOB 12-4-86, Columbia, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor, 1 count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1 count Simple Possession
- Orozco-Gelacio Navarro (DOB 10-5-17, Held Without Bond): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
“Unfortunately, the results of this joint operation demonstrate the need for continued vigilance for signs of human trafficking in our communities,” said 21st District Attorney General Kim Helper. “The fact that so many men were willing to engage in sexual activity with who they believed to be a 14- and 16-year-old is shocking. Our office will continue to vigorously pursue and prosecute individuals involved in any form of human trafficking.”
“We need men to expect more from themselves and their friends. Hold one another accountable. Remember, these women and children are people not products,” Locke said.
Sex trafficking, a crime every state has been facing, has officers wanting help from the public to combat it.
“I don’t think we’ll ever arrest our way out of this problem. We have to bring this to the forefront. We have to bring it out and expose it, let people know that it’s going on and that it's not acceptable,” said Locke.
