An undercover operation in Johnson City led to the arrest of three males on charges of soliciting sexual favors from minors.
A news release from the TBI said that officers “placed decoy advertisements and websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex,” during a two-day investigation.
The operation reportedly resulted in the arrest and booking of three men into the Washington County Jail:
- Dwight Rooker
- Joseph Payne
- Joshua Johnson
One allegation of solicitation of a juvenile and one count of trafficking for a commercial sex act were brought against Johnson City resident Dwight Rooker. The bond amount was $50,000.
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Gray resident Joseph Payne faces two counts of sex trafficking for profit. The bond amount was $50,000.
One count of trafficking for a commercial sex act was brought against Joshua Johnson of Prairieville, LA. A $25k bond was imposed for him.
Two individuals were rescued and offered assistance by a human trafficking victim services agency, along with the arrests, according to the announcement.
Agents from the 1st Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, the Johnson City Police Department, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations’ Human Trafficking Unit, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) all contributed to the operation.
