Alcoa, TN (WOKI) An undercover operation in Alcoa results in the arrest of seven men for sex trafficking.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say the two-day operation focused on hunting down traffickers who prey on victims on websites known to be linked to prostitution or commercial sex cases with minors.
All seven men are accused of seeking sex from minors. They were arrested on charges of trafficking for a commercial sex act and have been booked into the Blount County Jail.
- Rene Gonzalez, 44, of Sevierville
- Hardkkumar Patel, 31, of Knoxville
- Jorge Pickens, 21, of Knoxville
- Bradford Hartman, 34, of Maryville
- Kenneth Price, 60, of Rogersville
- Jeremiah Williams, 23, of Knoxville
- Chethan Ranganatha, 40, of Knoxville
The investigation also helped identify two women victims of human trafficking, and they were offered housing and counseling through Grow Free Tennessee, a program of the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking.
