HAMILTON COUNTY – A joint undercover operation by special agents with TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit, with the assistance of the Bureau’s Criminal Investigation and Drug Investigation Divisions, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the 11th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office has resulted in three arrests.
On October 2nd and 3rd, investigators conducted an operation aimed at addressing human trafficking in the Chattanooga area. The focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in sex acts with minors. As a result, three individuals were arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center.
*Dakota Neetz (DOB 08/02/1995), Chattanooga: Charged with one count of Trafficking for Commercial Sex Act, two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and one count of Solicitation of a Minor, $250,000 bond.
*Fidel Navarro Lopez (DOB 06/15/2004), Guatemala: Charged with one count of Trafficking for Commercial Sex Act, two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, one count of Solicitation of a Minor, one count of Resisting Stop, Frisk, Halt, or Search, and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, $210,000 bond.
*Tommy Reed (DOB 05/28/2000), Chattanooga: Charged with one count of Promoting Prostitution, $2,500 bond.
Additionally, seven individuals were identified as possible victims and accepted services through two local human trafficking victim service organizations, WillowBend Farms and Street Grace.
Information about human trafficking and TBI’s efforts to address this type of crime can be found online at www.ITHasToStop.com.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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