Three individuals were apprehended in Johnson City following an undercover operation that revealed their alleged involvement in seeking inappropriate relations with minors.
During a two-day operation, law enforcement officers utilized decoy advertisements and websites associated with illegal activities, as stated in a news release by the TBI.
As per the report, three individuals were apprehended and taken into custody at the Washington County Jail following the operation.
- Dwight Rooker – from Johnson City is facing charges of trafficking for a commercial sex act and solicitation of a minor. The judge set his bond at $50,000.
- Joseph Payne – from Gray has been charged with two counts of trafficking for a commercial sex act. The judge set his bond at $50,000.
- Joshua Johnson – a resident of Prairieville, LA, has been charged with one count of trafficking for a commercial sex act. The judge set his bond at $25,000.
Furthermore, two individuals were successfully rescued and provided assistance by a reputable organization that supports victims of human trafficking, according to the statement.
Collaborating on the operation were special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) Human Trafficking Unit, the Tennesee Human Trafficking Task Force, the Johnson City Police Department, and the Office of the 1st Judicial District Attorney General.