Operation Not Forgotten: Nine arrested in Georgia cross-agency op that rescued 15 sex trafficking victims
A recent two-week operation resulted in the rescue of dozens of missing children from Georgia, including 15 sex-trafficking victims, according to officials. 'Operation Not Forgotten,' which was conducted in Atlanta and Macon this month, saw the rescue of 26 children, the safe location of 13 children and the arrest of nine criminal associates, the US Marshals Service said on Thursday, August 27, in a statement.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 15 of these children were sex-trafficking victims. According to officials, they also cleared 26 arrest warrants and filed additional charges for alleged crimes related to sex trafficking, parental kidnapping, registered sex offender violations, drugs and weapons possession, and custodial interference. The officials also added that US Marshals Service Missing Child Unit, the agency’s Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Georgia state and local agencies were involved in the rescue. The authorities mentioned that the victims were the most at risk and were among the most difficult recovery cases in the area, due to signs of child sex trafficking, exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions.
“When we track down fugitives, it’s a good feeling to know that we’re putting the bad guy behind bars. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child,” said Darby Kirby, Chief of the Missing Child Unit, said in a statement. “It’s hard to put into words what we feel when we rescue a missing child, but I can tell you that this operation has impacted every single one of us out here. We are working to protect them and get them the help they need.”
Director of the Marshals Service Donald Washington said in a statement, "The US Marshals Service is fully committed to assisting federal, state, and local agencies with locating and recovering endangered missing children, in addition to their primary fugitive apprehension mission. The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you.”
This initiative was the cumulative effort of several months of planning and coordination between the USMS, NCMEC, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Office of the Attorney General, Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 also fuelled the US Marshals’ authority to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement with the recovery of missing, endangered or abducted children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender was involved. The Marshals have also consolidated a Missing Child Unit to oversee and manage the implementation of its enhanced authority under the act.
In 2019, the USMS helped to recover 295 missing children based on requests for assistance from law enforcement and they have made substantial contributions of recovery of a missing child in 75 percent of cases received. Apart from this, of the missing children recovered, 66 percent were recovered within seven days of the USMS assisting with the case. Ever since its partnership with NCMEC began in 2005, the agency has recovered more than 1,800 missing children.