BRENTWOOD

22 indicted in 'significant' Brentwood human trafficking sting

Elaina Sauber
The Tennessean
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced a "fairly significant" undercover human trafficking sting conducted in Brentwood last month that resulted in felony indictments for 22 men who believed they were meeting with minors for sex.

Two female TBI agents posed as 14 and 16-year old girls in early October, offering sex on Backpage.com, said Jason Locke, deputy director of TBI. 

"Our agents identified themselves as minors. Sadly, that was not the slightest deterrent," Locke said. "Over the course of three days, 22 men showed up at our location intending to purchase sex with a child." 

Those men ranged from a computer programmer and automotive engineer to a construction worker and a chef.

Locke said the men showed up at a hotel in Brentwood to meet the girls for sex, but wouldn't identify which hotel. 

"This is a demand-driven crime — we will never arrest our way out of it," Locke said. "We need men to expect more from themselves and their friends, and hold one another accountable. These women and children are people, not products." 

As of Thursday morning, 11 of the 22 men who were implicated were in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations' efforts in Tennessee, said those 11 people were arrested for violating immigration laws, and included a fugitive from Texas. 

The Williamson County Grand Jury returned indictments on Monday, charging the 22 men with various offenses. So far, nine have been arrested. 

All of the individuals were booked into the Williamson County Jail on various bond amounts. 

Charges included patronizing prostitution of a minor, a felony, solicitation to commit aggravated statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor.

The Brentwood Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and office of the 21st District Attorney General Kim Helper also assisted with the sting.

This marks the 11th human trafficking sting TBI has conducted in the state since May 2015.

Reach Elaina Sauber at esauber@tennessean.com, 615-571-1172 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.