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FALL | 2025
Confronting Sex Trafficking in Georgia: Resources and Strategies for Law Enforcement
Part 1 of 3
Georgia Bureau of Investigation – Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GBI-GISAC) Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)
By Meredith Bailey
Fall | 2025
Introduction
Sex trafficking remains one of the most persistent public safety threats facing Georgia. Traffickers exploit both children and adults through coercion, deception, and abuse, capitalizing on vulnerabilities such as homelessness, addiction, or unstable family environments. Unlike other crimes, sex trafficking is often hidden in plain sight, operating through online platforms, hotels, truck stops, residential locations, and even within communities that may not consider themselves at risk.
Law enforcement plays a central role in detecting, disrupting, and prosecuting sex trafficking networks. Yet, many trafficking cases are not initially identified as what they really are. These cases don’t play out like a Hollywood movie plot. They may present as domestic violence, narcotics, prostitution, chronic runaways, or missing persons cases. Recognizing the indicators of trafficking and knowing how to respond is critical.
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) functions as the coordinating agency for the management of the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force and other initiatives. The mission of the Task Force is to protect the citizens of Georgia from perpetrators and systems of exploitation by concurrently working to support professionals in the state to improve efforts to prevent, identify and recognize trafficking, hold offenders accountable, and ultimately support the recovery and rehabilitation of survivors. The CJCC is committed to equipping law enforcement with the tools and partnerships necessary to combat trafficking.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is a critical partner of this Task Force approach. In July of 2020, the GBI Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEAT) was created and focuses on enforcement efforts of commercial sex trafficking and labor trafficking as well as the safe recovery of trafficking victims. The HEAT Unit is comprised of Special Agents and a dedicated intelligence analyst who investigate trafficking and work closely with state, local, and federal partners to tackle the issue in victim-centered, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative ways.
Perhaps the most important role in this fight against “modern day slavery” is the front-line law enforcement and public safety personnel who are out within the communities and able to recognize these victims often hidden in plain sight. Chiefs of police and agency leaders are uniquely positioned to ensure their officers have both awareness and resources at the local level.
The Scope of Sex Trafficking in Georgia
The term “human trafficking” is commonly used to describe or reference different types of human exploitation. Human trafficking crimes focus on the act of compelling or coercing a person’s labor, services, or commercial sex acts, or using children under the age of 18 for commercial sex acts.27 The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical, or psychological, but it must be used to coerce a victim into performing labor, services or commercial sex acts.
In this first article of a three part series, the focus is on sex trafficking.
Sex trafficking of minors: Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 16-5-46), any minor engaged in commercial sex is a victim of trafficking, regardless of coercion or deception. A child cannot consent to commercial sex.
Adult sex trafficking: Victims are manipulated through force, fraud, or coercion. This may include physical violence, psychological manipulation, debt bondage, or threats against family members.
In the most recent 2024 statewide threat assessment, GBI-GISAC assessed human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable populations posed a high threat to the state of Georgia and would very likely continue to pose a threat to public safety throughout the year. Specifically, GBI-GISAC assessed the recruitment of minors and other forms of victimization would become easier to facilitate with online methods and digital technologies.
Challenges for Law Enforcement
Trafficking investigations are complex because victims often:
- Do not self-identify as victims.
- Fear retaliation from traffickers.
- Distrust law enforcement due to prior arrests for prostitution or related crimes.
- Exhibit trauma-related behaviors such as inconsistent statements, avoidance, or aggression.
Trafficking cases may first appear as unrelated offenses: narcotics, financial fraud, wage theft, or domestic violence. Without a trauma-informed approach, these underlying trafficking elements can be missed. Chiefs should encourage a mindset shift across their departments: asking “what happened to this person” rather than “what is wrong with this person.”
Criminal Street Gangs and Their Role in Sex Trafficking in Georgia
Criminal street gangs are increasingly involved in sex trafficking in Georgia. Gang members often groom victims by posing as romantic partners, particularly targeting younger individuals. This approach builds trust and dependency in the victim before coercion begins. Once control is established, gangs manipulate victims by exploiting the perceived relationship. They frequently use threats of violence against the victim or their family members, as well as isolation and psychological manipulation, to maintain dominance and compliance.
Unlike drug sales, which are subject to supply disruptions and law enforcement seizures, sex trafficking provides gangs with a steady and repeatable revenue stream. Victims are sold or rented for commercial sex repeatedly, generating ongoing profit. In addition, gangs sometimes force victims into other gang-related crimes such as drug distribution or robbery. This further entangles victims in criminal activity and creates fear of legal repercussions, discouraging them from seeking help.
Children remain among the most vulnerable to this form of exploitation. The average age of a child sold for sex is between 12 and 14 years old. Traffickers frequently target youth who experience homelessness, family instability, or lack strong protective relationships. These vulnerabilities provide gangs with opportunities to recruit, exploit, and control victims in ways that can be difficult for law enforcement to detect without proactive intervention.
In May 2025 , two leaders of the LOTTO gang (Sean Patrick Harvey and Sean Aaron Curry), a hybrid criminal street gang with ties to the national Crips and Gangster Disciples, were convicted in Gwinnett County for human trafficking and other violent crimes. They trafficked one child and four adult female victims for sexual servitude, kidnapped one adult victim, and were involved in racketeering, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, and gang activity. The convictions highlight several gang behaviors: recruiting vulnerable victims, using coercion and violence for control, repeated exploitation of victims, and layering sex trafficking with other felonies to further the gang’s criminal enterprise. The sentences (40 years for Harvey and Curry, with portions to be served in prison and strict probation for the remainder) also demonstrate Georgia’s commitment to holding gang-affiliated traffickers accountable.
The Role of CJCC and the Human Trafficking Task Force
The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) administers the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force, a coalition of law enforcement, service providers, prosecutors, and community partners. The Task Force focuses on:
- Coordinating statewide strategy.
- Providing specialized training to law enforcement.
- Supporting victim services and safe housing.
- Distributing practical resources, including the Human Trafficking Tip Card.
The CJCC also manages federal funding streams that sustain victim services and training opportunities, ensuring statewide consistency in response.
The Human Trafficking Tip Card: A Resource for Officers
The Human Trafficking Tip Card is designed specifically for law enforcement. It outlines:
Legal references: O.C.G.A. 16-5-46 (trafficking), 16-6-10 (keeping a place of prostitution), 16-6-11 (pimping), and 16-6-12 (pandering).
Indicators: Behavioral red flags (truancy, fearfulness, scripted answers), circumstantial signs (dependence on exploiter, excessive work hours), physical indicators (trauma, branding tattoos), and possession-related clues (multiple phones, hotel receipts, lack of ID).
Protocols at the scene: Prioritize safety, separate potential victims from suspects, secure interpreters, collect evidence, and engage the appropriate victim service provider.
Key contacts: Centralized hotlines (1-866-ENDHTGA) and specialized partners for minors, adults, and foreign-born victims.
Chiefs of police and command staff should ensure these cards are distributed to all patrol officers, investigators, and supervisors. Having immediate access to indicators and response steps in the field can mean the difference between identifying a victim or missing a trafficking situation entirely.
Partnerships and Task Forces
The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (CEACC), the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEAT), and partnerships such as the FBI’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force (MATCH) provide investigative support statewide. Chiefs are encouraged to establish direct contact with these units for deconfliction and investigative assistance.
Additionally, specialized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Wellspring Living, Frontline Response, and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia provide trauma-informed services for survivors. Early coordination with these providers ensures victims receive care while law enforcement pursues criminal accountability.
Training and Trauma-Informed Response
CJCC and GBI offer training for patrol officers, investigators, and command staff on victim-centered, trauma-informed approaches. These trainings stress:
- Conducting interviews in safe, neutral environments.
- Using conversational questions rather than interrogative approaches.
- Allowing breaks and respecting victims’ choices.
This training helps prevent retraumatization and increases the likelihood of victim cooperation. Chiefs of police should prioritize integrating trafficking awareness into basic recruit training, annual in-service requirements, and specialized investigative units.
CASE STUDY: IDENTIFYING TRAFFICKING THROUGH ROUTINE PATROL
On August 2, 2023, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 20 that ultimately led to the recovery of a 16-year-old female reported missing out of South Carolina. Deputies noticed indicators consistent with human trafficking during the interdiction, including the victim’s anxious behavior and the circumstances of travel. Subsequent investigation revealed that the driver, Anthony Charles Holmes, was transporting the minor for sexual servitude. Holmes was later convicted of human trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, statutory rape, enticing a child for indecent purposes, and related charges. He received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 60 years. A co-defendant, Jameesha Harris, was also convicted for her role in transporting and exploiting the victim.
This case demonstrates how routine patrol functions, including traffic enforcement and interdiction along Georgia’s highways, can directly intersect with the detection of human trafficking. The awareness and proactive actions of deputies during a seemingly ordinary traffic stop ultimately rescued a minor victim from exploitation and resulted in significant prison sentences for the offenders. Police leaders and command staff should reinforce the expectation that officers reference trafficking indicators during any encounter where exploitation is suspected.
Call to Action for Chiefs of Police & Command
Chiefs and command staff can advance Georgia’s anti-trafficking efforts by:
- Ensuring distribution of the Human Trafficking Tip Card to every officer in their agency.
- Incorporating trafficking awareness into training, roll-call briefings, and investigative priorities.
- Building partnerships with GBI, CJCC, local prosecutors, and victim service providers.
- Encouraging reporting to the statewide hotline (1-866-ENDHTGA) and GBI-GISAC for deconfliction and intelligence sharing.
- Championing a victim-centered approach, recognizing that those engaged in commercial sex may be victims of exploitation rather than offenders.
Conclusion
Sex trafficking is a hidden but pervasive crime that affects every region of Georgia. Law enforcement leaders have the authority and responsibility to ensure their officers are trained, equipped, and supported in recognizing and responding to this threat. The GBI and CJCC stand ready to partner with agencies statewide, offering investigative support, training, and victim services.
By utilizing tools such as the Human Trafficking Tip Card, fostering partnerships, and maintaining a trauma-informed approach, Georgia’s law enforcement community can continue to make strides in rescuing victims, dismantling trafficking networks, and holding offenders accountable. Together, we can ensure that every officer from patrol all the way up the chain to command staff, is prepared to confront sex trafficking and protect Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens.
Meredith Bailey
Meredith Bailey is a Supervisory Criminal Intelligence Analyst with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation assigned to GISAC, the Georgia Fusion Center, for the past 16 years. She has her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University. As a field analyst, her primary assignments were with the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes unit, specifically supporting the state’s Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force and human trafficking investigations. While she now supervises a team of analysts, Meredith still oversees a variety of GISAC’s special projects, research, and report-based initiatives.
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