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Sex investigation
A three-day operation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and detectives with the Knoxville Police Department to combat human trafficking in Knoxville has resulted in the arrest of 32 men and women on prostitution and human trafficking-related charges, including two men from Cocke and Jefferson counties. Two of the men, including a children’s minister, responded to ads for what they thought were girls under the age of 18. The Knoxville anti-trafficking operation, called “Operation Someone Like Me”, is the fifth operation of its kind in the state to help identify, investigate and prosecute trafficking, and rescue victims. Those charged during the Knoxville “Operation Someone Like Me” include; Larry Quarles, 52, New Market and James Warren, 32, Newport, both charged with Patronizing Prostitution The charges were enhanced due to the location’s proximity to a church. The investigation embarked on an undercover operation to identify potential victims of trafficking, arrest those seeking to purchase illicit sex from a juvenile, and learn more about the specific nuances of this type of crime. “Finding these people who are trying to buy Tennessee children is a priority for us,” says TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “We want anyone responding to these ads to think there may be a TBI Agent on the other end of it. We will do whatever we can to make a difference in reducing the human trafficking that takes place in Tennessee.” During the three-day operation, undercover Agents posted ads on Backpage.com. During that time, more than 300 contacts were made to the ads. In one ad, which received more than two dozen contacts, the agents posed as a juvenile girl. With the assistance of nonprofit agencies, the undercover operation also identified potential victims of trafficking. The women were offered services provided by the nonprofits that include housing, counseling and addiction treatment. Three women took advantage of those services, left the operation and were immediately placed in safe houses. Last year, Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation into law giving TBI original jurisdiction over investigations of human trafficking. Additionally, the state legislature has approved funding for four Special Agents, who work exclusively to investigate human trafficking cases and train law enforcement on recognizing and combating this type of crime. The four Special Agents, who have now completed their fifth operation across the state, have arrested or cited just under 100 individuals during that time.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
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