A 22-year-old man from Stockbridge has been taken into custody in relation to an ongoing commercial sex trafficking investigation. Unique Patterson was arrested on March 14 and is being charged with Interference With Custody after a 16-year-old girl who had been reported missing from Gwinnett County was located at an extended-stay motel in Union City, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The teen was found to be involved in commercial sex trafficking, with active sex advertisements for her appearing on the adult websites as early as January.
The multi-agency operation involved the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, along with Clayton County and Gwinnett County police, who worked together to locate the missing teenager. Following the rescue, the girl was medically cleared at a local hospital before being placed under the custody of Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, according to informations obtained from Atlanta News First. Patterson is currently booked into the Fulton County Jail while investigators suggest that additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.
In statements made to the press, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick "Pat" Labat emphasized the grave nature of such crimes and the regional commitment to stopping them. "I want to be clear, the exploitation of minors will not be tolerated," Labat stated, according to Atlanta News First. He also praised the collaborative efforts made by the agencies involved to protect vulnerable individuals and hold perpetrators accountable.
Angela Williams, herself a survivor of child sexual abuse and now the leader of Angela's Voice, an organization supporting survivors, highlighted the lifelong trauma that survivors endure. "This young child will suffer in her healing for most of her life and people don’t really understand that type of trauma," Williams told Atlanta News First. Williams also noted her belief that due to Atlanta's status as a world's busiest airport and its prominence as a large convention city, it could easily be a hub for predators.
These incidences bring to light the broader issue of human trafficking in the Atlanta area, which has been a focal point of attention from both local government and advocacy groups. Less than two months ago, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and airport officials acknowledged the severity of human trafficking during their annual news conference. With more than 370 girls trafficked in Georgia every month according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the fight against such a lucrative industry remains an uphill battle.
