FBI’s Operation Cross Country X rescues 82 minors, makes 239 arrests

ATLANTA — Eighty-two minors were rescued and 239 accused traffickers and their associates have been arrested in Operation Cross Country X, an international effort focusing on underage human trafficking that ran late last week, the FBI announced today in a news release.

Two of the arrests made in Atlanta involved people who are facing murder charges in the death of a 14-year-old girl in Florida.

The FBI’s Atlanta office said the operation was the 10th iteration of the initiative, which, for the first time, included operations outside the United States. Law enforcement partners from Cambodia, Canada, The Philippines and Thailand had operations in their respective countries.

The results of Operation Cross Country X were announced today by FBI Director James Comey and NCMEC Director John Clark at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in San Diego.

“Operation Cross Country aims to shine a spotlight into the darkest corners of our society that seek to prey on the most vulnerable of our population,” Comey said. “As part of this effort, we are not only looking to root out those who engage in the trafficking of minors, but, through our Office of Victim Assistance, we offer a lifeline to minors to help them escape from a virtual prison no person ever deserves.”

Operations took place at locations including hotels, truck stops and street corners. Minors recovered during an arrest are engaged with state protective services and victim assistance, FBI officials said. Depending on the level of need, officials said, a law enforcement officer and, if available, an FBI victim specialist will accompany the survivor to obtain these services. Adults arrested pursuant to state charges will be processed by state and local law enforcement partners assisting in Operation Cross Country, officials said.

“Child sex trafficking is a global problem, and we must throw every resource we can at combating it,” said National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Director John Clark. “All of us at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are proud to work side by side with the FBI and their law enforcement partners as we work tirelessly every day to find and rescue child victims while ensuring that those responsible for this horrible crime are held accountable.”

In Georgia, the Atlanta FBI’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force conducted two search warrants, seized seven firearms, recovered one juvenile victim in Lake City, arrested 15 accused pimps/traffickers and 54 accused adult prostitutes.

Those arrested for pimping/human trafficking-related charges were Tracy Smith, 30, Dujuan Walker, 35, Natasha Smith, 28, Michael Karp, 55, Anthony Wynn, 45, all in Alpharetta; Shaka Belgrave, 28, in Dekalb County; Jernesha Jachelle Cummings, 20, and Vanessa Lynn Fuller, 29, in Gwinnett County; Ron Ralph, 32, Jetonga Daraya Jackson, 36, Brandon Marquiz Ruffin, 33, Tony Rashad Colin, 28, Reginald McGlotten, 21, all in Dunwoody; Tory Collins, 33, Sydney Sheffield, 19, in Marietta, and Shunterrio J. Thomas, 32, in Augusta.

Operations in Athens, Georgia, resulted in the arrests of five individuals who were traveling in furtherance of having sex with a minor child, FBI officials said, adding two firearms also were seized. Arrested were Jennings B. Summerour, 66, of Athens; Harold C. Williams, 47, of Stephens; Joshua P. Harkins, 29, of Habersham; Randy E. Ash, 35, of Winder, and Mohammed Nihal Patel, 22, of Eatonton.

In addition and as part of the operation, arrests were made in Atlanta of two fugitives, Arthur Lee Coleman III, 26, of Apopka, Fla., and Karla Michelle Quiros-Alsina, 20, of Orlando, Fla., who were wanted out of Orlando for the murder of a 14-year-old sex trafficking victim and exploitation of a 15-year-old minor.

Coleman and Quiros-Alsina were arrested after the operation developed a lead that appeared to have them offering the services of juveniles, the FBI said. While there were no juveniles present, both adults were identified and were flagged with warrants related to first-degree murder, human trafficking of a child, procuring a minor for prostitution, racketeering, and possession and transmission of child pornography. They, along with two other individuals, are alleged to have trafficked two juvenile females (ages 14 and 15), forcing them into prostitution and providing them with drugs, FBI officials said. The 14-year-old girl was later found dead of an overdose.

“The many men and women of law enforcement, working hand in hand with the various non-government organizations who provide specialized relief and services to those being victimized by this brand of human trafficking, understand the problem and are the tip of the spear in addressing this problem,” George Crouch, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office, said. “I commend each and every one of them for their hard work and selfless dedication in doing everything possible to recover these victims and apprehending those responsible for their exploitation.”

Operation Cross Country X, which took place Thursday through Saturday, was the largest in the history of the initiative, with 55 FBI field offices and 71 state and local task forces taking part in the operation in 106 cities across America, FBI officials said. In addition, there were several dozen operations across Canada and approximately 10 operations in six cities across Cambodia, Thailand and The Philippines.

Operation Cross Country X is part of the FBI’s Innocence Lost Initiative, which began in 2003. Teams work all year to recover minor trafficking victims. Since the inception of the program, there have been more than 6,100 child identifications and locations.

Georgia’s participating agencies in this year’s Operation Cross Country X were the FBI; the Atlanta, Alpharetta, Athens Clarke County, Dekalb County, Gwinnett County, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Lake City, Norcross, Smyrna, Cobb County, Kennesaw, Marietta, Milton and Henry County police departments; Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; Richmond County Marshals Office; Clarke County Sheriff’s Office; the Dekalb County and Fulton County district attorney’s offices; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Georgia Attorney General’s Office; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. Also providing assistance to law enforcement were Georgia Cares, iCare, Out of Darkness and 4Sarah.

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