Category: Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -Dozens of people from around the Coastal Empire gathered in Johnson Square this afternoon for a “Save The Children’ flash rally.
“Exploitation of children is not something that happens only on private islands in the Carribean,” Box said. “It’s something that takes place in our schools, in our churches, in our streets, and the reason why we’re bringing awareness today, the reason why we have this rally is because we feel like it’s an issue that hasn’t gotten enough attention.”

A grant to the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will fund a multidisciplinary task force composed of law enforcement agencies, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and several victim service organizations. Funds will also support direct victim services provided under the auspices of the Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking.

Wellspring Living, the Atlanta nonprofit that received the funding, estimated that $200,000 could help 80 women through its programming. The organization offers services including recovery programs, housing and professional development to victims and people at risk of sex trafficking.

More than half of the homeless youth in metro Atlanta have experienced human trafficking, with minority and LGBTQ youth being more likely to be forced into working against their will, according to a study by Georgia State University sociology professor Eric Wright.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation recently ran an operation in Northeast Georgia where they arrested more than 15 people accused of trying to arrange relationships with teens.

In a first of its kind case here in Georgia, four sex-trafficking survivors have filed a lawsuit against four metro Atlanta hotels, claiming the hotels profited from and participated in sex trafficking. The complaint also alleges a sign was a front desk fixture there for years declaring “no refunds after 15 minutes,” encouraging commercial sex for a one-night rate.

“Sexually exploiting children is pure evil, and our Office will continue to bring the full weight of our prosecutorial powers to ensure that offenders are brought to justice,” said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney. “To the victims of child exploitation: we support you and we will continue to target, arrest and prosecute those who have hurt you.

Experts say one out of every nine Middle Georgia ninth graders admits they know someone who has been sold for sex. Traffick Jam quickly grew. Dr. Tammy Crutchfield with Mercer University said since its inception in 2015, students have educated over 3,000 Middle Georgia high schoolers.

In the next two weeks, Georgia’s First Lady plans to announce who will take part in a special commission created to address human trafficking in the state. “People don’t want to talk about, [be]cause they don’t think it’s going to happen to them,” said Marty Kemp. “We’ve had it happen in Athens. We’ve had it happen in Atlanta personally, with people that I know and I’m close to in my staff. So, you know, it’s right at our backdoor and we can’t ignore it anymore.”

It truly took a community effort to build this community of tiny houses. More than 40 businesses donated materials and labor. Every Saturday 50 to 100 volunteers, many from local churches, would show up to help.

In Atlanta, GA. more than 25 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as seven non-government organizations cooperated together to apprehend traffickers, according to an FBI announcement Tuesday. Law enforcement made 169 arrests between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2, according to the FBI.

Among those arrested in Atlanta, GA. before the Super Bowl were 26 suspects alleged to be sex traffickers and 34 suspects who allegedly attempted to engage in sex acts with minors, according to the FBI. Nine juvenile victims of sex trafficking were rescued, including a 14-year-old.

Three days before Super Bowl LIII, 33 people were arrested for sex trafficking in the Atlanta area. The city hosts Super Bowl LIII on Sunday. Atlanta, GA. is also considered one of the biggest hubs of sex trafficking nationwide.

“It’s not necessarily about football or the NFL,” says Courtney Dow, an outreach coordinator for the Atlanta-based nonprofit Dream Center. “It’s just about when groups of men get together, usually trafficking and exploitation increases. “They’re on vacation, their wives and girlfriends aren’t with them, and it’s also a boys’ club, and it’s time for boys to boys.”

An Atlanta, Georgia-based faith organization dedicated to eradicating child sex trafficking is using technology to help victims of the crime receive help and even prevent them from entering what could be a lifetime of degradation and tragedy. The Super Bowl brings millions of people into the city and sex trafficking will ebb and flow with the event, just like business at restaurants, bars and adult establishments.”

Because Atlanta ranks among the top U.S. cities for human trafficking, The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta is calling upon our city’s officials, leaders, businesses and citizens to band together to rescue and prevent the exploitations of the 4,000 victims per year.

The Georgia Restaurant Association is asking its members to voluntarily post signs in restrooms to help victims of human trafficking.

A Lithonia man who is known as World was sentenced to spend at least 30 years in prison after he was convicted of several charges related to sex trafficking and drug possession, according to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.