This year’s Super Bowl was held in Atlanta, Georgia and featured the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. While everyone else in the country was enjoying the football festivities leading up to game day, the FBI was busy trying to crack down on the increase in sex trafficking that typically occurs during Super Bowl week. This year, there were 169 arrests during an 11-day investigation throughout the metro Atlanta area.
According to investigators, this problem is nothing new. Sex trafficking occurs every day and in every single city in the country. When a major event occurs in a town, such as the Super Bowl, it brings with it an increase in money, crime, and ultimately sex trafficking and prostitution. Investigators were focused during Super Bowl week on reaching the victims of sex trafficking and protecting them from further harm, as well as arresting and charging the perpetrators of these crimes.
Atlanta is considered one of the 14 U.S. cities with the highest levels of sex trafficking of children. In 2007 alone, the sex trade industry generated $290 million in Atlanta with Craigslist being a major reason for the increase in sex trafficking throughout the metro area. According to statistics, each month 12,400 men in Georgia pay for sex with a young woman and 7,200 go on to sexually exploit a n adolescent female.
Consequences of Sex Trafficking
When individuals are arrested during a sex trafficking sting operation, multiple people are caught up in the events. The victims may even be arrested at first before they’re identified as victims. Johns and pimps are also arrested and charged with differing crimes. Georgia law prohibits the trafficking of persons for sexual servitude. If an individual under the age of 18 is engaged in commercial sex, they are automatically considered to be a victim of sex trafficking – even if they consented to the sexual activity.
In 2011, HB 200 law went into effect raising the prison sentence to 20 years for individuals convicted of sex trafficking. In addition, the law removed lack of knowledge of a victim’s age as a legal defense. In 2015, laws were passed that required convicted traffickers to register as sex offenders.
If you are convicted of sex trafficking in Georgia, you face serious penalties and consequences, including:
- Sex Trafficking – felony offense that is punishable by 10-20 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000.
- Sex Trafficking a minor – felony offense that is punishable by up to 25-50 years in prison and fines of $100,000
In addition to lengthy prison sentences, property may be required to be forfeited and individuals will be required to register as sex offenders.
Have You Been Arrested and Charged with a Sex Crime?
Have you been arrested and charged with a sex crime? Sometimes individuals are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and caught up in sting operations. If you’re charged with a sex crime, such as prostitution or sex trafficking, it is important to know how serious these charges can be. At Schnipper Law, P.C., our Atlanta sex crime defense attorneys will fight aggressively to protect you and your freedom during the legal process. Call Schnipper Law P.C., at (404) 545-5845 for a free initial consultation and review of your case.
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