4 men arrested for sex trafficking Atlanta teens, 5 wanted

ATLANTA – Investigators have arrested four men they believe are involved in the sex trafficking of at least one teenage girl in Fulton and DeKalb counties and have launched a manhunt for a fifth suspect.

Albert Wells, Eugene Talmes Smith, Taalib Blount and Levi Sears face multiple sex trafficking charges. Police urge you to call 911 if you have any information on the whereabouts of Harold Poole, the fifth suspect.

In a news conference in Fulton County on Friday, the Atlanta Police Department’s Special Victims Unit said it received a 911 call on Feb. 29 about a missing 15-year-old girl. Police responded to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and discovered she had previously been reported missing in December 2023.

“She actually went to a shelter and the place she went to was actually very nice to her and actually called 911 for her,” said Tracy Lewis, an investigator with the APD’s Special Victims Unit.

When they interviewed the teenager, police said she identified Albert Wells as her trafficker and also gave the names of the other suspects. Police learned this started in DeKalb County and the girl was then transported to Atlanta. According to police, a forensic investigator who listened to her story noted similarities between this case and a previous case the investigator had worked on. The investigator brought investigators from both cases together, allowing police to identify three additional female victims, ages 14 to 16, who they believe were also trafficked by Wells in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Investigators said during the press conference that they had identified these teenagers but had not yet interviewed them.

“You attract them with the freedom to party and hang out with them. Often there are subjects who try to become her friend. They start off by being nice and buying them things that show them love and affection, and then everything.” “Suddenly they have to start proving their love,” Lewis said.

According to investigators, none of these men had previously appeared on APD’s radar. Additionally, none of these men are based in Atlanta. Smith did have an apartment in Atlanta from which investigators believe a human trafficking victim was evicted, but police say Smith was eventually evicted.

“She remembered tag numbers and things like that. And because she watches crime shows, she told us that she watches crime shows, so she was trying to remember things,” Lewis said.

“Human traffickers don’t just operate in one city or county. “In fact, they often move their victims from place to place to hide from law enforcement,” said Casey Benton of the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

While investigators did not say how the victim in this case disappeared, Lewis said recruiting people for sex trafficking on social media is a major problem. She explained that traffickers often try to lure youth with freedom and excitement by partying or trying to become their significant others.

“It’s always different how they’re recruited,” Lewis said.

In this case, too, Lewis praised the young victim. She explained that the victim went to a shelter where a person was “nice to her” and called 911 on her behalf. Lewis said the victim was very knowledgeable about what was happening and made sure she remembered things, even the tag numbers. Lewis said the victim’s love of crime shows played a role in his vigilance.

“She has a great future ahead of her. We just pray she’s okay,” Lewis said.

Wells faces seven charges, including human trafficking for sexual servitude, rape and enticing a child for indecent purposes. Sears is accused of two counts, including rape and child molestation. Smith is charged with four counts, including rape, child molestation and human trafficking for sexual servitude. Blount faces seven charges, including rape, aggravated assault and aggravated child abuse.

Police have since issued arrest warrants for Poole. He is wanted on six charges, including rape, aggravated assault and human trafficking for sexual servitude. Police ask anyone with information about Poole to call 911 or Crime Stoppers: 404-844-TIPS.