A Greenville woman in Greenville was arrested along with 28 others in 13 cities in eight states during a federal investigation into sex trafficking in the Southeast. To see a map that details the multi-state operation, click here. Amada Garcia, who also goes by Marlene, was arrested in Greenville. Authorities did not provide the address of the suspected brothel.
Two people were also arrested in Columbia. A news release said 15 victims of trafficking were rescued during the sweep. Their identities are being protected while HSI arranges emergency medical assistance, food and shelter for them. In a five-count indictment filed in the U. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, at least one victim discovered during the month investigation was identified as a juvenile while she was trafficked.
Annan said. To the criminals behind these illegal enterprises, these women are just pieces of meat used to pull a quick profit and then discarded or passed on to the next trafficker down the line. The initial investigation started in July of in Savannah, where special agents with Homeland Security identified a loosely affiliated organization that coordinated the illegal trafficking of Hispanic females from Mexico and Central America across the southern border and then throughout the Southeast.
Some were underage teenage girls. Zaina Greene with Switch, a ministry that seeks to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation, said she is not surprised Greenville was part of the sting.
We are a great hub in between the two," said Greene. Six suspects are charged with conspiracy to participate in the sex trafficking of a minor and 38 suspects are charged with conspiracy to transport a person in interstate commerce for prostitution -- nine suspects remain at large after 29 were arrested Thursday.
