HSI, joint law enforcement partner, investigation leads to a dozen human trafficking arrests
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A two-day undercover operation aimed at addressing human trafficking in middle Tennessee, resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals accused of seeking illicit sex from minors.
The operation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Unit, Murfreesboro Police Department, Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force and the office of the 16th Judicial District Attorney General.
“HSI is proud to have partnered with our state and local partners in this successful human trafficking operation involving multiple arrests,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. “Using our victim centered approach to these types of investigations, HSI will continue to target and investigate individuals and networks that engage in crimes that target our most vulnerable populations.”
Beginning Oct. 13, authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex cases. The focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.
As a result of the operation, those arrested and booked into the Rutherford County Jail include:
- Terrance Deshun Becton, 27, of Mason, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude and simple possession/casual exchange.
- Edilberto Nataren-Aguilar, 32, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Colin Patrick Hamilton, 26, of Tullahoma, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Javier Urbina Leija, 31, of Smyrna, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Alasfour Abdullah Hassan, 22, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- John Darrell Schulze, 59, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Garrett Robert Zabloudil, 41, of China Grove, North Carolina, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Edward Pope, 32, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Lucas Javier Diaz-Hernandez, 23, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Francisco Ruiz-Diaz, 29, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- Michael Lee Sovern, 20, of Smithville, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
- William DeJesus Morales-Garcia, 46, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude.
The public is reminded that charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move.
HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
Learn more about HSI’s human trafficking mission here and @HSI_Nashville.
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