October 03, 2023
Operation Southern Comfort Leads to 10 Arrested for Pandering Charges in the Houston County Area
Perry, GA (October 3, 2023) - Ten people were arrested following a proactive multi-agency online undercover investigation named “Operation Southern Comfort” that targeted sex traffickers and commercial sex buyers in the Houston County area. The operation was coordinated by the GBI’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEAT), Perry Police Department, Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division, and the Houston County District Attorney’s Office. Nine commercial sex workers were offered services.
Operation Southern Comfort involved months of planning and collaboration amongst several law enforcement agencies and the Houston County District Attorney’s Office. The arrestees, ranging in age from 23 to 68, traveled with the intent to purchase sex or sell sex commercially.
The goal of Operation Southern Comfort was to reduce the demand by identifying and bringing in commercial sex buyers and drawing in commercial sex workers to offer them services. The objective was to identify and arrest pimps and human traffickers through this two-fold approach.
The following individuals were arrested and charged with Pandering:
Carl Barnard Henry, age 34, of Unadilla, Georgia
Alvin Lamonte Payne, age 48, of Kathleen, Georgia
Jose Dejesus Casillas, age 44, of Warner Robins, Georgia
Timothy Wayne Kinard, age 55, of Vienna, Georgia
Michael Anderson Seymour, age 68, of Albany, Georgia
Julius Lamont Barnes, age 49, of Kathleen, Georgia
Trey Austin Jaylen Whitehead, age 23, of Perry, Georgia (also charged with obstruction)
Jeremy Dashawn Johnson, age 31, of Unadilla, Georgia
Stephen Greenfield, age 52, of Byron, Georgia
One woman, age 39, of Byron, GA, was arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant.
Additional charges and arrests may follow.
This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI’s HEAT Unit at 404-270-8433 or the Houston County Sheriff’s Office at 478-542-2125. All forms of human trafficking should be reported to Georgia’s statewide human trafficking hotline, 1-866- ENDHTGA. Trained law enforcement agents, advocates, and first responders are available 24/7 to answer calls.