Seven men have been arrested and three teenage girls rescued after cops busted a human trafficking operation in Hartford, authorities said Wednesday.
The suspects were charged with a range of crimes, including kidnapping, sexual assault, human trafficking and possession of child porn, the Hartford Police Department said.
“The investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated,” Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert told the Connecticut Post.
Ahmad Compton, 36, and James Williams, 35, were each charged with three counts of trafficking in persons, three counts of kidnapping and three counts of first-degree sexual assault, local ABC affiliate WTNH reported.
Raheem Jones, 50, was accused of kidnapping and human trafficking, according to local NBC affiliate WVIT.
Donovan Dun, 19, was hit with the most charges: human trafficking, sexual assault, possession of child sex abuse material, strangulation and enticing a minor for an obscene performance, WTNH reported. While the other six suspects were arrested in Connecticut, Dun was nabbed in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Tyrod Jackson, 19, and Tahjay Wilson, 20, were charged with three counts of sexual assault, according to local Fox affiliate WTIC. Bernard Mickens, 38, was charged with sexual assault and kidnapping, but not human trafficking.
Cops said the investigation began in May and culminated in all seven suspects being arrested by Tuesday. The victims have been returned to their families and will not be publicly identified, cops said.
