21-04-2025
Two-day, Tennessee undercover operation on human trafficking nets nine arrests, charges
A two-day, joint undercover operation led by state and local law enforcement and aimed at addressing human trafficking in the Hendersonville area has led to the arrest of nine people.
On April 11 and 12, officers working in the sting placed decoy advertisements on websites linked to prostitution and sex trafficking with the focus of identifying people trying to hire minors for commercial sex acts, authorities said in a news release.
The following suspects were charged and booked into the Sumner County Jail as part of the sting:
Vincent Hozie Billingsley, 30, of Memphis, Tennessee.
Steven Mitchell Cannon Jr., 51, of Charlotte, Tennessee.
Jerry Edward Delp, 68, of Westmoreland, Tennessee.
Morgan Garrett, 38, of Cordova, Tennessee.
James Julious Jones, 43, of Gallatin, Tennessee.
Trinity Elu Knutson, 20, of Conway, Arkansas.
Carlynn Evon McIntosh, 28, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
Druce Niverlle Phillips Jr., 21, of Nashville, Tennessee.
Mahicol Jesus Maurera Rivas, 35, of Nashville, Tennessee.
Billingsley faces one count of promoting prostitution, one count of simple possession Schedule VI and one count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He was given a $110,000 bond.
Cannon faces one count of promoting prostitution. His bond was set at $55,000.
Delp faces one count of patronizing prostitution of a minor. His bond was set at $75,000.
Garrett faces one count of promoting prostitution. Her bond was set at $80,000.
Jones faces one count of solicitation of a minor and one count of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. His bond was set at $85,000.
Knutson faces one count of prostitution. Her bond was set at $5,000.
McIntosh faces one count of prostitution. Her bond was set at $12,500.
Phillips faces two counts of patronizing prostitution from a minor. His bond was set at $25,000.
Rivas faces one count of promoting prostitution. His bond was set at $130,000.
Court hearings are scheduled in Sumner County General Sessions Court for all nine suspects later this month.
Investigators also worked to identify potential victims of human trafficking as part of the 2-day operation, and two people were reportedly identified as potential victims, recovered and offered services through human trafficking victim service organizations like Thistle Farms and AncoraTN, the release said.
The multi-agency operation was led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Human Trafficking Unit, Hendersonville Police Department, Sumner County Sheriff's Office, members of the 18th Judicial Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and Office of 18th Judicial District Attorney General Ray Whitley.
For more information about human trafficking or to report a human trafficking tip, visit
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cops: Tennessee human trafficking op ends in 9 arrests, victims aided
