By: Kyla Wetmore
Seven individuals appeared before Judge Kevin Wilson for court dates related to the human trafficking charges against them on Sept. 17 at the Collegedale Municipal Court.
The defendants—arrested as part of Operation Enduring Justice, an initiative launched by the federal government in 2024—were among 11 individuals apprehended in Collegedale on Aug. 21. The arrests resulted from a sting operation conducted by the Collegedale Police Department (CPD), Hamiliton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to the City of Collegedale website and police records, individuals arrested in the sting were: Mustafa Kamil Awda, Juan Castillo Huerta, Smit Kanei Chaudhari, Alejandro Lopez De La Cruz, Crawford James Higdon, Andrew Shawn Hamer, Monquel Domiquce Hughes (whose name is spelled Deomiquce in the photo provided by the CPD), Emerald Starr House, Christopher Jimenez Santana, Tiffany Marie Roberts and Areal Ramos Reinoso, also known as Robert Abraham Campos.
Eight of the 11 individuals were charged with solicitation of a minor after attempting to arrange sexual activity with an undercover cop posing online as a 16-year-old female, according to CPD reports obtained by the Accent. In most cases, the suspects offered monetary payment, except Hughes, who offered alcohol in exchange for sex, according to the police records.
Police documents further indicate:
- The arrestees ranged in age from 19 to 43.
- Two of the 11 arrestees charged were female but were not charged with solicitation of a minor.
- Four of the 11 were listed as homeless, and two provided out-of-state addresses. Hamer was listed in his arrest report as being homeless from Chattanooga. However, in the incident report documenting his interview with law enforcement, he attested that he was going back home to Murfreesboro from a work trip in North Carolina.
- According to arrest reports, none of the arrestees resided in Collegedale, though eight were Chattanooga residents and one was from Ooltewah.
- According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, four suspects “failed to meet the citizenship verification requirements” and were released into ICE custody.
In a press release issued by the HCSO, Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett stated, “The arrest and later release of these four suspects to ICE underscores the critical importance of our partnerships with local, state and federal agencies and highlights one of the many reasons why illegal immigration must be taken seriously in our Nation.”
CPD Assistant Chief of Police Jamie Heath said the four undocumented individuals have already been deported or are awaiting deportation.
“Because these are federal actions, the state will have no other choice but to dismiss its charges against those individuals,” Heath stated in email to the Accent. “We hope that these charges are properly documented at the federal level so that, if these individuals attempt to re-enter the United States, Tennessee authorities will have the opportunity to pursue prosecution for their crimes.”
According to Collegedale Municipal Court Clerk Rachel Shuttles, all defendants had their arraignments via video court on Aug. 22, and bonds were set at that time. The seven cases still in the Collegedale court system continue to be adjudicated.
“Usually at the first appearance, [defendants] either request a public defender or state their intent to hire an attorney and are then given a new court date,” Shuttles stated in the email to the Accent. “In this case, it is set for 11/19/25 at 3 p.m. No pleas have been entered at this time.”
According to a police officer at the Collegedale Municipal Courthouse, all seven defendants paid bail to stay out of jail while their cases are pending.
The Aug. 21 sting operation was just one among several in the area. On March 13, two arrests were made in the Collegedale area in a coordinated human traffic sting, according to a news release from the City of Collegedale. On May 20, a news release from the City of Collegedale stated that one human trafficking arrest, unrelated to any federal or state sting operation, was made in Collegedale. On Aug. 19, three arrests were made in a human trafficking sting operation in the Cleveland area, the TBI reported.
Public reaction
For the local Collegedale community, such law enforcement operations raise two important questions: Does Collegedale have a human trafficking and/or sex trafficking problem? And, if so, what can residents do to stay safe?
Brent Hildebrand, a 30-year-old father of three young girls, has lived in Collegedale since 2014, when he transferred to Southern Adventist University as a pre-med student. While he hasn’t noticed a significant difference in the security of Collegedale over the last 10 years, he admits that hearing stories about human trafficking makes him concerned.
“It’s kind of terrifying. You want to be more careful, lock your doors, have security systems, carry guns.”
Hildebrand believes that carrying firearms as well as being proficiently trained and following essential safety protocols is an important part of keeping families and neighborhoods safe. He also encourages Collegedale residents to get to know their neighbors and have a community of people to trust.
While this may be a strategy for some Collegedale residents, Southern Adventist University’s Student Handbook states that all weapons on campus are strictly prohibited.
“All city, state, and federal laws and regulations governing firearms and weapons apply on university property,” the Handbook states. “Firearms and guns (including, but not limited to, bullet, pellet, BB, and paintball), bows and arrows, blowpipes, knives (or any edged weapon over four inches from bezel to tip), nunchucks, throwing stars, brass knuckles, and any other type of weapon prohibited by law are not allowed on campus. The storage of personally-owned firearms and weapons must occur off campus. Students who violate this policy are subject to university sanctions and fines, and arrest on local, state, and/or federal charges.”
Aubree Hilliard, a Collegedale native, is studying veterinary technology at an out of state online school. After hearing about the local trafficking arrests, she sees the importance of staying protected and informed.
“Stay open hearted, especially like me sitting here by myself, I pay attention to my surroundings. I look at every person who walks by,” she said. “I kind of keep up to date of what’s going on in the city and not to just stand in a small little bubble and not realize what’s actually going on.”
Student perception
When some Southern Adventist University students were read headlines published by various news outlets, referring to the 11 individuals arrested in Collegedale and the three individuals arrested in Cleveland, they imagined scenarios not involving cybercrimes.
Marvin Escalente, a freshman information technology student expressed his unease. “What pops [into my mind is] someone getting kidnapped and being moved around, place to place without them actually wanting to get moved around,” he said.
Freshman film production major Aryanna Davis also imagined victims being physically kidnapped against their will.
“[The victims] don’t have any connections with anybody else,” she said. “I think of hostage. I think dystopian. I think fear, because that’s a huge fear. And the fact that you said 14, that’s a big number to me. One is too big, but definitely 14 is humongous, and that sounds scary, especially in a local area like [Collegedale].”
CPD Assistant Chief Heath stated a common misperception among residents is that trafficking always involves kidnapping or captivity of some kind. However, it relies on “manipulation, threats, and dependency rather than physical restraint.”
“Under state and federal law, human trafficking is defined by exploitation and control, not just abduction or physical force,” he stated. “Any attempt to recruit, entice, harbor, or obtain a minor for commercial sex is automatically considered human trafficking. In these cases, there is no need to prove force, fraud, or coercion because children cannot legally consent.”
Heath then explained, “For adults, trafficking laws apply when there is evidence that sexual services are being arranged or controlled through force, fraud or coercion,” he continued. “Many individuals involved in prostitution are under some form of control—whether physical, psychological, or financial.”
Heath said the Collegedale community has changed significantly over the years.
“Many of us often say, ‘This isn’t the same Collegedale we grew up in,’ and with two operations like this already taking place this year, that statement feels increasingly true—and not always in a comfortable way,” he said.
According to Heath, the CPD will use its resources to take proactive steps against trafficking, like participating in Operation Enduring Justice, to continue prioritizing the safety of the Collegedale community, especially its children.
“This operation is a sobering reminder that predators exist everywhere – even in small-town America,” he stated. “The safety and security of our children will always be a top priority, and no community can afford to let its guard down, no matter how safe it may feel.”
After the students received more information about the operation, their feelings toward the arrests did not change.
“Now that I hear that, that’s also disgusting,” Davis said. “But the fact that you’re so overcome with lust, you don’t care [if] you get it from a 16-year-old girl, and it’s disgusting that there was a total of 14 people that they fell short of that kind of greed and disgust.”
Escalente’s thoughts on the arrests also stayed the same.
“…It doesn’t change my opinion about it,” Escalente said. “I mean, just the situation happening a little differently doesn’t mean it’s right…I have a girlfriend. Sometimes I worry about her whenever she goes out by herself. [It’s important] always having something that can help you keep you safe [in] situations, pepper spray can help save your life. Yeah, you never know when something is happening, never going out super late alone, always having an emergency contact just in case.”
University Safety Measures
Campus Safety Director Kevin Penrod stated in an email to the Accent that the sting operation did not uncover any specific threat to students, and the risk of human trafficking affecting students at Southern is low.
“Students and parents should feel confident that we work every day to make this campus a safe, supportive environment,” he said. “At the same time, students should be aware of the methods traffickers may use, including deceptive offers, online recruitment, and targeting vulnerabilities, such as financial instability, social isolation, and newfound independence.”
Penrod said college students are rarely abducted by force, and traffickers often use online platforms to groom and recruit their victims.
“The key is to remain aware and alert in your interactions, particularly online,” Penrod stated. “While the risk on campus is low, being aware of traffickers’ tactics allows you to prevent and respond appropriately to any suspicious encounters.”
Campus Safety is also planning on updating their procedures to address human trafficking and states that it is their practice, in general, to regularly review their safety protocols to protect the people and property of the university and offer assistance when needed.
“This hasn’t been a prevalent issue in the Collegedale area until now,” he said, “but as we see this issue creeping into the area, we are now looking at what we can do to add training specific to human trafficking situations.”
In general, he encouraged students to participate in ongoing safety workshops, such the R.A.D. self-defense class, report any suspicious persons or behavior to Campus Safety, and request safety escorts if needed. Penrod also welcomes students to reach out to Campus Safety directly with any questions or concerns.
Facing the Judge
At the Wednesday court appearance, Higdon and Santana were the only defendants with an attorney present, and some defendants seemed unsure about how to navigate the court system.
Huerta stood alone in front of the Collegedale Municipal Court clerk’s desk filling out pre-trial paperwork. When he didn’t know the meaning of a word, he turned to an Accent reporter and photographer for help.
“Um, excuse me, sorry to interrupt you girls, do you know what this is?” Huerta asked and pointed to the word “assets.”
Earlier, Judge Kevin Wilson refused to accept paperwork from Roberts, another defendant, because she only filled out the top section. He complained that everyone claimed to be homeless, penniless, owning nothing, with no debt, no employment and no dependents.
“All I know is they want a free attorney,” Wilson said.
House, a third defendant, stood in front of Judge Kevin Wilson with no attorney present. Wilson reviewed her pre-trial paperwork and asked follow-up questions. He noted that she listed $500 as her gross adjusted income on her tax return and asked what she lived on. “Food stamps,” House replied.
As Wilson continued to ask House questions, she revealed that she was living with her mom and aunt who paid for her housing and utilities. Her mom was on social security and somehow, paid her bail bond. When asked how she paid for gas, House said her car was soon to be repossessed. She said that she had no dependents and was not employed. House didn’t know who would pay for her public defender.
Wilson asked where she got the money to pay for prostitution and was corrected by the other court staff that she was caught trying to get paid for prostitution. House stayed silent.
Wilson asked that she pay her $150 municipal bond by Nov. 19, 2025.
“Good luck to you,” he said as House left the stand. “I know this is hard for you.”
