CONYERS Ga. – The Conyers Police Department (CPD) arrested nine men, including four Covington men, in a pandering sting April 19.
According to a press release from the department, this is the 14th pandering sting conducted by CPD since 2013.
“In early 2013 two violent incidents occurred which brought to light a common criminal activity occurring in local motels,” according to the release. “One panderer, or ‘john,’ was robbed by two men after setting up a meeting with a prostitute using Craigslist. One month later, four men were arrested after kidnapping, raping and robbing two women who had posted an ad for prostitution on Backpage.”
Conyers Chief of Police Gene Wilson tasked the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) with formulating a plan to end prostitution and pandering at the local motels.
The operations have since been conducted with the help of the Covington Police Department and Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
“When we look at the number of johns coming through Conyers on a Wednesday night, it is telling just how much of this is happening throughout the metro area,” Wilson said in the release. “This kind of enforcement is something we feel we must do and will continue to do so when staffing allows.
“So many people have fallen victim to human trafficking and there is no doubt the Atlanta area plays a part in that.”
The following men were arrested in the April 19 sting and charged under the City of Conyers disorderly conduct ordinance for pandering and booked into the Rockdale County Jail:
- Simeon Bynom, 24, Covington
- Geoffrey Johnson, 29, Covington
- Quintarious Manning, 24, Covington
- Calvin Webb, 32, Covington
- Tommy Tucker, 49, Conyers
- Chris Reed, 28, Conyers,
- Kumar Paka, 21, Decatur
- Deon Kelley, 47, Lithonia
- David Martinez Cruz, 19, Lithonia
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Rockdale County Sheriff's Office was unable to locate a mugshot for David Martinez Cruz, according to Public Information Officer Michael Meyers.
