Indian-Origin Man Among 12 Arrested For Child Trafficking Ring
An undercover investigation has led to the arrest of 12 men in the state of Georgia in the US, suspected of being involved in a child trafficking ring. According to information released by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office, 11 of the individuals were arrested on charges of attempting to have sex with a minor girl, while one suspect faces charges related to child pornography. The list of suspects includes an Indian-origin man currently residing in Georgia.
The case emerged following a sting operation called 'Operation Phantom Whisper," aimed at identifying adults attempting to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors. Officers involved in the operation posed as underage girls and arranged meetings with individuals suspected of such intentions. Multiple federal, state, and local agencies participated in the investigation.
The team that worked on Operation Phantom Whisper included the Cherokee Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security Investigations–Atlanta, Gwinnett County Police, Cobb County Sheriff's Office, Grovetown Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Eleven of the twelve suspects were arrested when they arrived at a pre-arranged location, believing they were meeting a 14-year-old girl. Authorities confirmed that the suspects' motive was to engage in physical acts with a minor. All were taken into custody and charged with various felony offences. 'The safety and well-being of our children has always been and will always be a top priority," said Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds in the news release.
The individuals arrested in the sting operation were identified as Sudhakar Gogireddy, Nivell McKindley, Jonathan Wayne Brian Brackett, Daylon Emil Figueroa, Jonathan Torres Nunez, Nicholas Ryan Robinson, Steven A. Davis, Kenneth Soto-Jaimes, Jose Fernando Salgado, Michael Vang, Timothy Morice Drawdy, and Hunter William Bowman-Daniel.
Sudhakar Gogireddy, aged 34, is believed to be of Indian origin and lives in Alpharetta, Georgia. He faces multiple charges, including trafficking a person, luring a child into an illegal act, and criminal attempt. According to Fox5 Atlanta, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office stated that Gogireddy is on an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) hold and is being held without bond. Several other suspects are also being held without bond and are under similar charges with ICE holds in place.
Further information about the ongoing investigation has not yet been released.
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