TBI arrests Two Men for Exploiting Minors and Promoting Prostitution

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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Metro police arrested two Nashville men on charges that they allegedly promoted prostitution and sexually exploited a minor.

Police arrested Thomas M. Hufford, 55, and Micah L. Toland, 46, on the charges, which, according to the TBI, resulted from a Davidson County grand jury indictment and stemmed from a mid-state investigation into a prostitution operation last year.

On Saturday, TBI agents, along with Metro police, executed a search warrant on Hufford’s apartment where he operated a photography studio called Hufford Photography, according to the TBI. There agents allegedly found evidence Hufford possessed child pornography and promoted prostitution.

Police and the TBI performed a similar search last August on Toland’s home on Branch Oak Trail, seizing related evidence then as well.

David Ridings, attorney for Toland, said that he still looking into the charges filed against his client in a direct presentment to the grand jury. Toland said his client “absolutely” maintains his innocence.

It was unclear if Hufford had hired an attorney.

The case started in February 2010 when the TBI received information that an underage girl had been advertised as a prostitute on Backpage.com. Last September, Frank Atwell of Murfreesboro pleaded guilty to especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, promoting prostitution and solicitation of aggravated statutory rape, according to the TBI.

Both Hufford and Toland are scheduled to be arraigned on May 4.