JACKSON - April 3, 2019: Two Men Indicted on Charges of Solicitation of a Minor

Description

An undercover operation conducted by the Human Trafficking Unit of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics Unit has resulted in the indictment and arrest of two men in a targeted effort to identify individuals attempting to purchase illicit sex from minors.

In October of 2018, a female TBI Agent posed as an underage girl on an online site and was solicited for commercial sex. Even after identifying herself as 16-years-old, these men still traveled to the location for the purpose of illicit sex.

On Monday, the Madison County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Michael Gant and Joshua Cole in connection with the operation. Gant (DOB: 10/13/1983) is charged with one count of Solicitation of a Minor. Cole (DOB: 5/22/1987) is charged with two counts of Solicitation of a Minor. This remains an ongoing investigation with additional arrests possible.

On Tuesday, Gant was taken into custody and booked into the Madison County Jail. Today, Cole was taken into custody and booked into the Madison County Jail. Bond has not been set for either as they await arraignment before a judge.