In a concerted effort to combat human trafficking in Montgomery County, a two-day undercover operation starting August 16th, led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Unit, alongside the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Clarksville Police Department, and the 19th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, resulted in the arrest of five men.

The operation targeted individuals seeking commercial sex acts with minors by placing decoy advertisements on websites associated with prostitution. The arrested individuals—Franklin Poe, Andre Johnson, Dashuan Ramey, Patrick Kugler, and Anthony Rice—face charges including Trafficking for Sexual Servitude, with one also charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Possession of a Firearm during a Dangerous Felony. Bonds range from $5,000 to $145,000.

Additionally, the operation identified seven potential human trafficking victims through outreach to prostitution-linked ads, offering them support through a victim service organization. More information on human trafficking and TBI’s initiatives is available at www.ITHasToStop.com. The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.