6 men charged following human trafficking investigation in Clarksville

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — An undercover operation by multiple law enforcement agencies into alleged human trafficking in Montgomery County has resulted in charges against six men and seven potential victims recovered, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

According to the TBI, over a two-day period starting Aug. 16, officers working undercover to address human trafficking in Montgomery County placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to commercial sex work. Per the TBI, the focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.

As a result, six men were arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail:

• Franklin Poe, 25, Memphis – Two counts trafficking for sexual servitude, $15,000 bond
• Andre Johnson, 34, Fort Campbell, KY – One count each possession of firearm during commission of dangerous felony, solicitation of a minor, trafficking for sexual servitude, $145,000 bond
• Dashaun Ramey, 32, Clarksville – Trafficking for sexual servitude, $20,500 bond
• James Francis, 42, Clarksville – Promoting prostitution, $25,000 bond
• Patrick Kugler, 29, Clarksville – Trafficking for sexual servitude, $5,000 bond
• Anthony Rice, 32, Clarksville – Two counts trafficking for sexual servitude, $5,000 bond

According to the TBI, seven individuals were recovered as potential victims of human trafficking and were offered services through an HT victim service organization.

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One of the men arrested is a former assistant football coach at Austin Peay State University . The university confirmed to News 2 Kugler had been employed with the football program but had resigned his position as of Aug. 18.

The operation was conducted by the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Clarksville Police Department, and the Office of the 19th Judicial District Attorney General.

If you suspect that someone may be a victim of human trafficking, you can call the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at +1 (855) 55-TNHTH (86484) .

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