KNOXVILLE - May 20, 2016 - Two local ministers, 30 others snared in prostitution, human trafficking sting

Description

Two local ministers face felony charges for seeking sex with underage girls during an undercover sting targeting human trafficking and prostitution this week, authorities said Friday.

Jason Evan Kennedy, 46, head of the children's ministry at Grace Baptist Church of Knoxville, was one of two men charged with felony human trafficking and patronizing prostitution after they answered online advertisements specifically offering sex with an underage girl, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced during a news conference.

Also charged with felony trafficking is Zubin Percy Parakh, 32, of Oak Ridge, who serves as creative pastor with Lifehouse Church in Oak Ridge, according to the church's website.

A three-day operation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and detectives with the Knoxville Police Department to combat human trafficking in Knoxville has resulted in the arrest of 32 men and women on prostitution and human trafficking-related charges. Two of the men, including a children’s minister, responded to ads for what they thought were girls under the age of 18. The Knoxville anti-trafficking operation, called “Operation Someone Like Me”, is the fifth operation of its kind in the state between the TBI and partner agencies to help identify, investigate and prosecute trafficking, and rescue victims.

With the partnership including the Knoxville Police Department, Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking, End Slavery Tennessee, and Second Life Chattanooga, TBI Agents and intelligence analysts embarked on an undercover operation to identify potential victims of trafficking, arrest those seeking to purchase illicit sex from a juvenile, and learn more about the specific nuances of this type of crime.

“Finding these people who are trying to buy Tennessee children is a priority for us,” says TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “We want anyone responding to these ads to think there may be a TBI Agent on the other end of it. We will do whatever we can to make a difference in reducing the human trafficking that takes place in Tennessee.”

During the three-day operation, undercover Agents posted ads on Backpage.com. During that time, more than 300 contacts were made to those ads. In one ad the Agents posed as a juvenile girl. That ad received more than two dozen contacts.

“Human trafficking is a scourge on society,” says Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch. “We will continue to commit all the necessary resources and work alongside our law enforcement partners to help protect our most precious resource, our children.”

“We’re changing the conversation about human trafficking,” says TBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Margie Quin. “These operations are designed to identify and help victims of trafficking, as well as take these predators off the street.

With the assistance of nonprofit agencies Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking, End Slavery Tennessee, and Second Life Chattanooga, the undercover operation conducted this week also identified potential victims of trafficking. The women were offered services provided by the nonprofits that include housing, counseling and addiction treatment. Three women took advantage of those services and left the operation and were immediately placed in safe houses.

Last year, Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation into law giving TBI original jurisdiction over investigations of human trafficking. Additionally, the state legislature approved funding for four Special Agents, who work exclusively to investigate human trafficking cases and train law enforcement statewide on recognizing and combating this type of crime. These four Special Agents, who have now completed their fifth operation across the state, have arrested or cited just under 100 individuals during that time.

Last year, as part of its commitment to address this issue, the TBI unveiled a public awareness campaign, entitled “IT Has To Stop,” which includes online resources, public service announcements, and contact information for nonprofits who work with survivors of human trafficking. Visit www.ITHasToStop.com for more information.

“OPERATION SOMEONE LIKE ME” STATS

Since “Operation Someone Like Me” began in May 2015, there have been 98 arrests/ citations.

The investigation was conducted in Brentwood/ Clarksville, Jackson, Chattanooga (twice, once in conjunction with Georgia Bureau of Investigation), Knoxville.

As a result of “Operation Someone Like Me” this week in Knoxville, 32 individuals were arrested/ cited.

Those charges include:

2 A Felonies
2 D Felonies
1 E Felony
30 A Misdemeanors
2 B Felonies

Those charged during the Knoxville “Operation Someone Like Me” are below. The charges were enhanced due to the location’s proximity to a church.


Michael Clayton, 43, Clinton, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Larry Quarles, 52, New Market, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Gerrado Merchant, 36, Jacksboro, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
James Perkins, 50, Sweetwater, TN- Patronizing Prostitution
Greg Hensley, 44, Mascot, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Jaton Johnson, 38, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution, Simple Possession
Samuel Rivers, 27, East Point, GA – Patronizing Prostitution, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Simple Possession
Prashante Bhakta, 35, Columbus, NC – Patronizing Prostitution

James Warren, 32, Newport, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Dariusz Jurczak, 45, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Gary Bauer, 56, Heiskell, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Nicholas Rains, 24, Maryville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Ignacio Jimenez, 38, Maryville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Patrick Douthat, 27, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Brandon Slatton, 22, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Jeffrey Sweeney, 63, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Robert Aiken, 48, Jacksboro, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Atari McNabb, 28, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Zubin Parakh, 32, Oak Ridge, TN – Patronizing Prostitution, Trafficking
Jonathan McCarthy, 30, Augusta, GA – Patronizing Prostitution
ose Juarez, 38, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Robert Lambert, 40, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Cornelius Turner, 26, Memphis, TN – Promoting Prostitution
Jerry Rhode, 63, Kodak, TN – Patronizing Prostitution
Zachary Desha, 24, Knoxville, TN – Promoting Prostitution
Jason Kennedy, 46, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution, Trafficking
Kelsey Martin, 23, Boaz, KY – Prostitution
Alexis Phelps, 21, Knoxville, TN – Prostitution
Shirley Henry, 23, Clinton, TN – Prostitution
Stephanie Thomas, 26, Knoxville, TN – Prostitution
Crystal Myers, 37, Knoxville, TN – Prostitution