“Operation Etowah Exploits” leads to 14 arrests in multi-agency investigation

CARTERSVILLE – The GBI’s HEAT Unit has arrested 14 people as part of a multi-agency investigation into sex trafficking and sex purchasing in Georgia.

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Police arrested 14 people as part of a multi-agency proactive investigation into sex traffickers and sex buyers in northwest Georgia. The GBI’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEAT), the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations & Criminal Investigation Division, the Cartersville, Polk County and Bartow County Sheriff’s Departments coordinated the operation. Police offered assistance to nine sex workers.

The police have arrested and charged the following people:

• Lakisha Montera Watkins, 43, of Rome, GA, charged with pimping.
• Danny Williams, 59, of Hudson, Florida, charged with pimping.
• Kyefahn Brittain, 44, of Stockbridge, GA, charged with pimping.
• Bobby Cannon, 31, of McDonough, GA, charged with pimping.
• Nivanshu Mahajan, 22, of Cartersville, GA, charged with pimping.
• James Hallock, 50, of Temple, GA, charged with pimping.
• James Nesta, 51, of Davidson, North Carolina, charged with pimping.
• Brandon Treglown, 32, of Evans, GA, charged with pimping.
• Andrew Frey, 37, of Acworth, GA, charged with pimping.
• Christopher Smith, 39, of Dallas, GA, is charged with pimping.
• Richie Digsby, 51, of Lindale, GA, charged with pimping.
• David Webb, 48, of Columbus, GA, charged with pimping.
• Jordyn Freeman, 31, of Cartersville, GA, is charged with violating the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.
• Aaron Sands, 51, of Cartersville, GA, is charged with attempted child molestation.

Further charges and arrests may follow.

Operation Etowah Exploits required months of planning and collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking. Those arrested ranged in age from 22 to 59 and came from areas around Bartow County, GA with the intent to buy or sell sex.

The goal of Operation Etowah Exploits was to attract sex buyers to reduce demand and sex workers to offer their services. The goal was to identify and arrest pimps and traffickers through this two-pronged approach. Kennesaw State University’s Human Trafficking Mobile Medical Unit supported the operation, as did the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) by providing resources to victims.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI’s HEAT Unit at 404-270-8433, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations and Criminal Investigations Division at 770-607-1169, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office at 770-382-5050, or the Cartersville Police Department at 770-382-2526. All forms of human trafficking should be reported to the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-ENDHTGA. Trained law enforcement officers, advocates, and first responders are available 24/7 to take calls.