Undercover operation against human trafficking in Marion County yields two arrests

Press release –

An undercover operation by special agents from the TBI Human Trafficking Unit, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the 12th Judicial District Drug Task Force resulted in arrests.

Over a period of two days beginning on August 7, As part of a sting operation aimed at combating human trafficking in eastern Tennessee, agents placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be associated with prostitution and commercial sex.

The focus of the operation was to identify individuals who were seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors. As a result, agents, officers and detectives arrested two men, who were booked into the Marion County Jail.

• Bryan Edward Lawson (DOB: 07-25-1988), Georgetown. Three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means. No bail.

• Jeremiah James Masters (DOB: 06/09/1997), Chattanooga. One count of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means, $2,500 bail.

To identify victims of human trafficking, law enforcement officers contacted advertisements posted on websites linked to prostitution and commercial sex advertising.

As a result of this portion of the operation, one individual was arrested and another individual was issued a ticket. Both individuals were offered and accepted services through a human trafficking victim support organization.

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 accusations referenced in this press release are merely allegations of criminal conduct and are not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.