Friday March 29th, 2024 12:40AM

71 arrested, including Hall Co. woman, in multi-state child sex trafficking sting

By The Associated Press
ATLANTA - Authorities said 71 people, including one from our area, were arrested and 11 juveniles were rescued from prostitution in Georgia as part of a national undercover child sex trafficking sting.<br /> <br /> Officials in the FBI's Atlanta field office Monday said they along with authorities in Macon, Augusta and Savannah participated in the weeklong sting operation, which resulted in arrests on charges including pimping, prostitution and solicitation.<br /> <br /> Authorities said arrests ranged from 18-year-old women charged with prostitution to a 51-year-old metro Atlanta man who's charged with attempted child molestation and enticement.<br /> <br /> Investigators said the suspects who were arrested in Georgia were also from South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois and New York.<br /> <br /> "The FBI's commitment and dedication toward the protection of our nation's children is clearly demonstrated in this latest national initiative and its primary objective of recovering juveniles being exploited and arresting those exploiting them. This is not an easy endeavor and the extensive participation and support from our various law enforcement partners is not only appreciated but is very much needed for these initiatives to be successful," J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office said in a news release.<br /> <br /> Among last week's arrests, one suspect is from northeast Georgia. According to the FBI, 34-year-old Tarah Casandra Ellis of Flowery Branch is charged with prostitution.<br /> <br /> The national initiative was called Operation Cross Country 8.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <i>accessnorthga.com contributed to this story.<br /> <br /> <br /> Arrests and charges made in Georgia as part of Operation Cross Country 8, according to the FBI:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Bobby Oneal Negri, Jr., age 47, of Powder Springs, GA - Criminal Attempt Child Molestation/Enticement<br /> <br /> Keith Brown, age 51, of Stone Mountain, GA
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