Men from Rome, Lindale and Cartersville arrested in sex trafficking operation

Police arrested 14 people as part of a proactive, multi-agency investigation targeting traffickers and buyers of sex in the northwest Georgia region. The GBI Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations and Criminal Investigations Division, Cartersville Police Department, Polk County Police Department, and Bartow County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the operation. Police provided resources to 9 sex workers.

The police arrested and charged the following people:

• Lakisha Montera Watkins, 43, of Rome, Georgia, charged with pimping.
• Danny Williams, 59, of Hudson, Florida, charged with pimping.
• Kyefahn Brittain, 44, of Stockbridge, Georgia, charged with pimping.
• Bobby Cannon, 31, of McDonough, Georgia, charged with pimping.
• Nivanshu Mahajan, 22, of Cartersville, GA, charged with pimping.
• James Hallock, 50, of Temple, Georgia, charged with pimping.
• James Nesta, 51, of Davidson, North Carolina, charged with pimping.
• Brandon Treglown, 32, of Evans, GA, charged with pimping.
• Andrew Frey, 37, of Acworth, Georgia, charged with pimping.
• Christopher Smith, 39, of Dallas, Georgia, charged with pimping.
• Richie Digsby, 51, of Lindale, GA, charged with pimping.
• David Webb, 48, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with pimping.
• Jordyn Freeman, 31, of Cartersville, GA, charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
• Aaron Sands, 51, of Cartersville, GA, charged with attempted child molestation.

Additional charges and arrests could follow.

Operation Etowah Exploits took months of planning and the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking. The individuals arrested, ages 22 to 59, came from areas around Bartow County, Georgia, for the purpose of buying or selling sex.

The goal of Operation Etowah Exploits was to attract buyers of sex to reduce demand and to incentivize sex workers to offer their services. The goal was to identify and arrest pimps and human traffickers through this dual approach. Kennesaw State University’s Mobile Medical Anti-Trafficking Unit participated in the operation as did the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) by providing resources to victims.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI HEAT Unit at 404-270-8433, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations and Criminal Investigations Division at 770-607-1169, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office at 770-382-5050, or the Cartersville Police Department at 770-382-2526. All forms of human trafficking should be reported to the Georgia State Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-ENDHTGA. Law enforcement officers, advocates, and trained first responders are available 24/7 to respond to calls.