A joint undercover operation by the Conyers Police Department and Rockdale County Sheriff's Office resulted in the arrest of three males and three females at a local hotel on Feb. 20 for pimping, pandering and prostitution charges.
Utilizing social media, undercover officers were able to communicate with several individuals and ultimately arrest three prostitutes, two panderers and one pimp. The operation, carried out with the help of local hotels/motels, was aimed at identifying and arresting individuals who are involved in the business of soliciting for sex.
One of the panderers, or johns, Ramon Knight, is a convicted felon with previous arrests in multiple states for Trafficking in Cocaine, Escape, Robbery, and Rape.
A 22-year-old woman arrested for prostitution was traveling with a 41-year-old man she identified as her "broker" or pimp, Terrence Talley of Jonesboro.
When a 24-year-old black female was arrested for prostitution, she told investigators that her 4-year-old son was in her vehicle.
When investigators located the vehicle, the 4-year-old son and a 22-year-old white female, who investigators believe had advertisements posted for prostitution services but was not involved in this prostitution incident, were in the vehicle.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found the 22-year-old to be in possession of two capsules of a type of ecstasy called MDMA, also known as "Molly." Three additional capsules were located in the 24-year-old mother's purse.
DFACS was called to the scene and took custody of the 24-year-old's son.
Police Chief Gene Wilson explained, "Social media has become an easy way for individuals who would not, in many cases, involve themselves in prostitution to conduct such activities in and across many jurisdictions. This is not a problem unique to our city and county. Prostitution commonly breeds greater and more dangerous circumstances and opportunity for serious crime."
Sheriff Eric Levett said, "This operation between the RCSO and CPD was a great cooperative effort to target a dangerous crime that often gets overlooked. Although the charges are misdemeanors, operations that target prostitution and pimping can help prevent more dangerous crimes, such as assaults, rapes and robberies that often go hand in hand with these crimes. By not overlooking these crimes, the RCSO and CPD were able to get a child out of a unsafe lifestyle and get a dangerous drug off the street. I want to thank Chief Gene Wilson and the Conyers Police Department for a safe and successful joint venture."
1. Brandon Danielle Dye, 28, Conyers; Pandering
2. Ramon Theodore Knight, 47, Stone Mountain; Pandering
3. 22-year-old female, Stone Mountain; Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance
4. 26-year-old female from Florence, SC; Prostitution
5. Terrence Talley, 41, Jonesboro; Pimping
6. 24-year-old female from East Point; Prostitution, Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance