By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
On Nov 21-22, the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the Prattville Police Department, Montgomery Police Department, US Marshals and the Covenant Rescue Group conducted an operation targeting those who partake in human sexual trafficking.
Autauga County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Tom Allen spoke at a press conference this morning, sharing information about the operation.
“Our goal was to catch and arrest child sex predators. We were successful in catching several individuals coming to our county to have sex with who they believed to be a minor,” Allen said.
The 15 arrested include 10 from Autauga, Elmore or Montgomery counties. They are:
Richard Terrones, 20, of Wetumpka charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child.
Horace Oneal Cooper, 63, of Prattville charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
Michael Len Wright, 25, of Montgomery charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
Jaylen Ahjier Kennedy, 21, of Prattville charged with Sex Offense – Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Human Trafficking First Degree.
Michael Edward Martin, 55, of Autaugaville charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Eric Levail Billups, 40, of Montgomery charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Parrish Patton, 28, of Deatsville charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Sex Offense – Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
William Gary Denton, 41, of Millbrook charged with Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Human Trafficking 1st.
Jeff Bozeman, 25, of Wetumpka charged with Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Human Trafficking 1st.
Christopher Cheatham, 34, of Montgomery charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Others arrested were:
Austin Shane Gill, 29, of Bainbridge, Georgia with Dangerous Drugs Possession of Cocaine, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Aaron Blake Schofield, 30, of Lapine, Alabama charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Jefferson Andrews, 51, of Greenville, Alabama charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Joshua Guy Harp, 26, Columbus, Georgia charged with Human Trafficking 1st, Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Ki-Shawn Lasagius Quenzel, 31, of Tuskegee, Alabama charged with Human Trafficking 1st Degree, Sex Offense – Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Josh Cochran said, “On behalf of District Attorney CJ Robinson, I would first like to thank the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the Prattville Police Department, as well as the Covenant Rescue Group, and other law enforcement agencies that took part in this operation.”
Cochran continued, “Over the two nights of this operation, we arrested 15 individuals. Fourteen of those 15 individuals are charged with Human Trafficking 1st degree, Traveling to Meet a Child for a Sex Act, and Electronic Solicitation of a Child. We sought under Aniah’s Law to have no bond placed on all 14 of those individuals who were charged with Human Trafficking 1st degree, which is eligible for no bond under Aniah’s Law.”
Those hearings were held Friday and Monday in Autauga County.
“We presented evidence before two different District Judges, and both of those judges gave no bond to all 14,” he said.
Speaking next was Jared Hudson, CEO of Covenant Rescue Group.
“We partner with local agencies. In this case the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office was the lead agency on this training and operation. We trained them on how to best target individuals who show up to buy or sell children for sex. One thing to note, all of these individuals are innocent until proven guilty. But it is our goal to train the agency to target those individuals who are actively doing crimes within the community.”
“We do this all over the country. We go all over the U.S. and actually all over the world internationally,” Hudson said., “But primarily, here in the U.S., we get with local agencies to build a solid, state case at the local level. At that point in time, the Feds can adopt a case if they want to do something with it. But our goal is to work with local agencies and train them on how to target individuals in their community that are targeting the kids”
From here, those arrested will work their way through the court system.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Cochran explained that it is still early in the investigation, and more charges could be pursued.
“The next step is Grand Jury,” he said. “Once the investigation is completed and the file is completed and turned into our office, we will review it and present it to an Autauga County Grand Jury. If indictments are rendered, and I fully anticipate they will be indicted, we will go to Circuit Court for trial.”
As for other operations that Covenant Rescue Group has conducted, Hudson gave some general information.
He referred to an operation conducted two years ago in Cullman County where individuals were arrested.
“From the time of arrest we got an Aniah’s law hearing, and then the Grand Jury was within 27 days. That is why in the state of Alabama, the Aniah’s Law is so important. There are certain charges that have to be made to get that.”
Hudson said he personally knows Aniah’s family. “They say this is exactly what we want to do. These things are so important because it does make these cases happen quicker.”
For more information on the Covenant Rescue Group, visit their website at https://www.covenantrescue.org/
The Heart of CRG
Covenant Rescue Group (CRG) is a 501c3 organization and was founded in June 2019 by former US Navy SEAL Jared Hudson and his wife. They saw a lack of skills and funding to properly rescue victims and arrest criminals involved in Human Trafficking. Sharing a passion for children who fall victim to human trafficking globally, they decided to become active. They organized their passion, training, and expertise, to bring this wicked, organized enterprise to an end.
The heart of CRG is to bring good news of hope and freedom to the millions of victims of human trafficking around the world – to release the captives, bind up the brokenhearted, to bring swift, sure justice to their captors.
CRG provides funding for REAL-LIFE operations that lead to REAL rescues, arrests, and prosecution. We provide essential training and equipment for law enforcement. We create teams that are dedicated to the mission. We spread awareness, advocating through news, social media, and conferences to the growing global problem of human trafficking and how to end it.
Our Team
Our dedicated team is comprised of former military special operators, law enforcement, business executives, and everyday individuals who are committed to putting an end to human trafficking. Due to the sensitive and high-risk nature of our work, it is essential that our team remains anonymous. Our anonymity allows us to operate efficiently and effectively, without putting ourselves or those we serve at risk. We believe that the heinous crime of human trafficking must be eradicated, and we are tirelessly working towards that goal. With a range of skills and expertise, we bring unique perspectives and strategies to the table to combat this issue. We understand the devastating impact that human trafficking has on individuals, families, and communities, and we are driven to make a difference. By working together, we believe that we can create a world where people can be free from human trafficking.
What is Aniah’s Law?
Aniah Blanchard was a 19-year-old college student from Homewood. In 2019 she was abducted from an Auburn convenience store. Her body was found one month later in rural Macon County.
The man eventually found guilty in her death was Ibraheem Yazeed. Prior to killing Aniah, he had been released from jail on $280,000 bond having been charged with kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder in Montgomery.
Aniah’s law was passed in 2020 with the full backing of her family. Amendment 1 adds murder, kidnapping in the first degree, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, sexual torture, domestic violence in the first degree, human trafficking in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, arson in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, terrorism, and aggravated abuse of a child under the age of 6 as charges that can keep the defendant without bail.
The Fight Against Exploitation Starts With Awareness. Did you know?
👉 Every year, over 1 million children are exploited through human trafficking worldwide.
👉 In the U.S. alone, 1 in 7 runaways are likely victims of trafficking.
👉 Online exploitation of minors has skyrocketed, with reports increasing by over 35% in recent years.
