Nine arrested for attempted human trafficking, solicitation of child during Limestone County operation

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. ( WHNT ) — The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and the Athens Police Department arrested 10 people during an undercover child exploitation investigation.

The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office said officers with its department and the Athens Police Department arrested nine men who attempted to target and solicit children, but the targets were undercover law enforcement officers.

The sheriff’s office said these offenders found the undercover officers in chat rooms on social media, specifically Snapchat and other online portals.

A 10th person arrested during the operation, an 18-year-old from Huntsville, is facing public intoxication, attempting to elude law enforcement and second-degree possession of marijuana charges. They were released on a bond of $2,500.

The nine individuals accused of attempting to traffic and solicit children are:

23-year-old Barry Louvert Knight Jr. of Madison, AL, held on a $200,000 bond. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

40-year-old Cederick Lamar White of Athens, AL, held on a $200,000 bond. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

26-year-old Ladi Antiono Hernandez of Indian Town, FL, was released on a bond of $200,000. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

23-year-old Enrique Marquez Hipolito of Decatur, AL, was released on a bond of $200,000. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

36-year-old Raul Aguilar Martinez of Decatur, AL, was released on a bond of $200,000. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

28-year-old Brandon Lee Smith of Prospect, TN, was released on a bond of $200,000. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

34-year-old Daevid Marcelius Williams of Huntsville, AL, was released on a bond of $200,000. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

22-year-old Jakobe Ray Fields of Muscle Shoals, AL, was released on a bond of $200,000. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act

19-year-old Trinton Obryan Bouldin of Huntsville, AL, was released on a bond of $201,000 bond. He is charged with:

• First-degree Attempted Human Trafficking
• Electronic Solicitation of a child
• Traveling to meet a Child for an unlawful sex act
• Second-degree Possession of Marijuana

LCSO asks parents to be involved in their children’s digital lives and not let them become victims by being exposed to ‘extreme evil at such a young and influential age.’

The sheriff’s office said this after the arrests:

Human trafficking, often called modern-day slavery, is known as the fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world. Each year, 100,000 to 300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked for commercial sex in the United States. The average age for a girl to enter the commercial sex trade is 12-14 years old, while boys are even younger at 11-13 years old. If you suspect that a person may be a victim of human trafficking, call local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hot Line at 1-888-373-7888.  You should never attempt to confront a suspected trafficker or rescue a suspected victim. Doing so could put you and the victim’s safety at risk. By immediately informing law enforcement of your suspicions, you can safely assist in the recovery of the victim and the dismantling of the trafficking operation. If you’d like more information on Human Trafficking in Alabama, please visit END IT Alabama .

Limestone County Sheriff’s Office

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