South Fulton Restaurant Shut Down After Evidence of Human Trafficking

Fulton County Courthouse

South Fulton, Ga. – Authorities have shut down a local restaurant in South Fulton after they discovered evidence of human trafficking.

Investigations began after allegations of sex trafficking inside the business. The Mayor of South Fulton has made the following statement: “We will not tolerate this kind of stuff anymore. It's over. Today begins New National with the same heart of Old National.”

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind the offense of sex trafficking as it is outlined by law in the state of Georgia.

Sex Trafficking in Georgia

Sex Trafficking in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §16-5-46 as:

When a person knowingly subjects another person to or maintains another person in sexual servitude or knowingly recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means another for the purpose of sexual servitude. 

By law, sexual servitude includes any sexually explicit conduct or performance involving sexually explicit conduct for which anything of value is directly or indirectly given, promised to, or received by any individual, which conduct is induced or obtained:

• By coercion or deception;
• From an individual who is under the age of 18 years;
• From an individual whom the accused believes to be under the age of 18 years;
• From an individual who has a developmental disability; or
• From an individual from whom the accused believes to have a developmental disability. 

If convicted of trafficking an individual for labor or sexual servitude, a person will be guilty of a felony and will be punished by a prison term of ten to twenty years and a fine up to $100,000.00. 

Furthermore, the penalty will be escalated if the person has a developmental disability or was under the age of 18 and was coerced or deceived into being trafficked for labor or sexual servitude. Upon conviction, the accused will be guilty of a felony and will receive a fine up to $100,000.00 and a prison term between twenty-five and fifty years.

Practice Note

Sex Crimes in Georgia are highly stigmatized. Most of the time people who are accused of committing a sex crime are assumed guilty as a mere result of the accusation. We know this is not the case. Call us now.