Attorney General Chris Carr announced the conviction and sentencing of Jameesha Harris, 21, from Cleveland, Ohio, to 25 years for her involvement in trafficking a 16-year-old female in the Metro Atlanta area. The victim, reported missing from South Carolina, was recovered on August 2, 2023, following a traffic stop by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement also found over 28 grams of cocaine and more than one ounce of marijuana in the vehicle.
“Our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has secured yet another conviction after assisting in the recovery of an underage victim,” said Carr. “As we have seen time and again, those involved in the trafficking of a child are often engaged in other criminal activity, and they must be held accountable. By working with partners like District Attorney Wright Barksdale, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office, and GBI’s HEAT Unit, we will continue to use the full force of the law to ensure traffickers are off our streets and our children are kept safe.”
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit, and Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Senior Assistant Attorney General Hannah Palmquist led the prosecution.
“We will remain diligent in looking for victims of sex trafficking and holding the traffickers accountable,” stated Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison.
“The Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office’s priority will always be to ensure Georgians feel protected against violent crimes in their communities,” added Taliaferro County Sheriff Tia McWilliams. “Working with our state partners means we can effectively and efficiently work together to hold bad actors accountable.”
“The GBI works diligently to identify victims of human trafficking and hold their traffickers accountable,” noted GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Our HEAT Unit will continue to provide investigative resources to state, local, and federal law enforcement partners to assist in these cases to not only find justice for human trafficking victims but bring an end to these heinous crimes.”
On April 8, 2024, Harris pleaded guilty to one count of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c), among other charges including one count each for Trafficking in Cocaine and Possession of Marijuana. She received a sentence of 25 years with ten years served in prison followed by strict probation. Harris is also required to register as a sex offender.
The incident began on August 2 when a Greene County Deputy observed improper stopping by a white Cadillac sedan at an intersection. The vehicle's driver Anthony Holmes attempted to flee but was eventually stopped with assistance from Taliaferro County deputies. The investigation revealed that Holmes and Harris had transported the minor from South Carolina to Atlanta for commercial sex acts.
Both Holmes and Harris were indicted on October 31 by the Attorney General's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit; proceedings against Holmes are ongoing.
Established in 2019 with support from Governor Brian Kemp and legislative leaders, Carr's statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has rescued numerous victims and secured several convictions since its inception.