BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Twenty-two men were indicted for attempting to purchase illicit sex from minors in an undercover human trafficking operation in Brentwood.
During the first three days of the operation in early October, two female TBI Agents posed as individuals offering sex on Backpage.com. During text or phone conversations, the Agents identified themselves as 14 and 16 years old.
Some of the men who still agreed to meet for illicit sex regardless of age included a computer programmer, automotive engineer, construction worker, and a chef.
“This is, without doubt, a demand-driven crime, involving men from all kinds of backgrounds,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director Mark Gwyn. “We need more men to stand up and talk honestly about how we got here as a culture and what we need to do to fix it. Unless we’re willing to hold one other accountable, we will continue to see too many people victimized by this kind of crime, with no one to blame but ourselves.”
On the fourth and final day of the operation, undercover male Agents responded to advertisements on Backpage.com in an effort to identify and recover potential victims of human trafficking. Two women responded, but declined services offered through a partner nonprofit agency.
At the time of the TBI release, 11 of the 22 individuals implicated in the operation remained in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On Monday, the Williamson County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging the 22 men with a variety of offenses. At the time of this release, authorities had arrested nine of the individuals, including:
Francisco Badillo (DOB 5-12-75, Franklin, Bond: $40,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
Ibrahim Demyan (DOB 6-4-68, Nashville, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
Luis Gonzalez-Garcia (DOB 10-7-88, Lewisburg, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
Terry William Garner (DOB 4-20-74), Columbia, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor, 1 count Simple Possession of Marijuana, 1 count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Mohamed Hassan (DOB 3-30-75, Spring Hill, Bond: $40,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
Jeremiah McSpaddin (DOB 1-31-85, Columbia, Bond: $50,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 1 count Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor, 1 count Simple Possession of Marijuana
Ajay Kumar Mistry (DOB 6-2-75, Franklin, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
Jerwon Robinson (DOB 12-4-86, Columbia, Bond: $30,000): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor, 1 count Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1 count Simple Possession
Orozco-Gelacio Navarro (DOB 10-5-17, Held Without Bond): 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class A Felony), 1 count Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor (Class B Felony), 2 counts Patronizing Prostitution, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Statutory Rape, 2 counts Solicitation to Commit Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor
“Unfortunately, the results of this joint operation demonstrate the need for continued vigilance for signs of human trafficking in our communities,” said 21st District Attorney General Kim Helper. “The fact that so many men were willing to engage in sexual activity with who they believed to be a 14- and 16-year-old is shocking. Our office will continue to vigorously pursue and prosecute individuals involved in any form of human trafficking.”
All of the individuals were booked into the Williamson County Jail on a variety of bond amounts.