ATLANTA — A Cleveland man and woman have been indicted for human trafficking in Georgia following the recovery of an underage victim.
32-year-old Anthony Holmes and 21-year-old Jameesha Harris of Cleveland are facing multiple charges after allegedly trafficking a 16-year-old girl who was recovered in August 2023 following a joint investigation by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, and the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Holmes is being charged with the following:
- 1 count of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude
- 1 count of Trafficking in Cocaine
- 1 count of Possession of Marijuana in violation
- 2 counts of Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- 1 count of Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- 1 count of Fleeing and Attempting to Elude Police Officer
- 1 count of Window Tint Violation
Harris is being charged with the following:
- 1 count of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude
- 1 count of Trafficking in Cocaine
- 1 count of Possession of Marijuana
- 2 counts of Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
“Yet another victim has been recovered, and two people who we allege were engaged in her trafficking are now facing serious charges,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “We’re proud of our strong partnerships with District Attorney Wright Barksdale, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office, and GBI’s HEAT Unit as we fight to protect our most vulnerable Georgians. Together, we will continue to send a strong message that Georgia’s children are not for sale.”
Officials say that on Aug. 2, a Greene County Sheriff's Deputy saw a white Cadillac sedan stop improperly. Holmes was driving the vehicle and Harris and a 16-year-old girl were also inside. After police attempted to pull over the vehicle, Holmes sped away, resulting in a pursuit.
Eventually, officers pitted the vehicle and learned that the 16-year-old passenger had been reported missing out of South Carolina after having previously been reported missing by her family in Ohio.
“The GBI’s HEAT Unit is firmly committed to protecting human trafficking victims by working with our local and state law enforcement partners,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “We will continue to thoroughly investigate these crimes and prepare a strong case for prosecution.”