Attorney General Chris Carr today announced the indictment of Anthony Charles Holmes and Jameesha Monique Harris on charges of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude, Trafficking in Cocaine, and other drug and weapons offenses. This case involves a 16-year-old victim who was recovered in August 2023 following a joint investigation conducted 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.
“Yet another victim has been recovered, and two people who we allege were engaged in her trafficking are now facing serious charges,” said 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.”
“The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is diligently working to take more traffickers off the streets,” said Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison. “We will continue to coordinate with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and put a stop to human trafficking in our community.”
“Protecting Georgians from human trafficking will always be a top priority for the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office,” said Taliaferro County Sheriff Tia McWilliams. “This recent indictment serves as a reminder of how valuable our partnerships with local and state law enforcement are to holding offenders accountable.”
“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.”
Charges
The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit presented evidence to a Greene County Grand Jury, which resulted in the indictment* of both Anthony Holmes and Jameesha Harris on Oct. 31, 2023. Specifically, the defendants are facing the following charges.
Anthony Charles Holmes, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio:
- 1 count of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c)(2)
- 1 count of Trafficking in Cocaine in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-13-31(a)(1)(A)
- 1 count of Possession of Marijuana in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-13-30(j)(1)
- 2 counts of Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-11-106(b)(1) and O.C.G.A. § 16-11-106(b)(4)
- 1 count of Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-11-131(b)
- 1 count of Fleeing and Attempting to Elude Police Officer in violation of O.C.G.A. § 40-6-395(c)(1)
- 1 count of Window Tint Violation in violation of O.C.G.A. § 40-8-73.1(b)(2)
Jameesha Monique Harris, 21, of Cleveland, Ohio:
- 1 count of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c)(2)
- 1 count of Trafficking in Cocaine in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-13-31(a)(1)(A)
- 1 count of Possession of Marijuana in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-13-30(j)(1)
- 2 counts of Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-11-106(b)(1) and O.C.G.A. § 16-11-106(b)(4)
Case Summary
On Aug. 2, 2023, a Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy was conducting highway interdiction efforts in the area of Greensboro when he observed a white Cadillac sedan stop improperly at the intersection of GA-15 and GA-77. Anthony Holmes was driving the vehicle, while Jameesha Harris and a 16-year-old female were traveling as passengers. After observing the traffic violation, the Deputy activated his emergency lights and siren to initiate a stop. Holmes sped away, resulting in a pursuit. Once Holmes crossed into Taliaferro County from Greene County, the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit and assisted in pitting the vehicle.
Following the pit maneuver, and during the initial field investigation, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies 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. Given these reports and multiple red flags indicating the child may be a victim of sex trafficking, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office contacted the GBI’s HEAT Unit to assist with the investigation. The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit also joined in the effort soon after.
The investigation indicated that Holmes and Harris had transported the victim from South Carolina to Atlanta to perform commercial sex acts.
During the pursuit and the weeks that followed, deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office also located a firearm, cocaine prepared for distribution and marijuana, among other evidence.
About the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
In 2019, with the support of Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp and leaders in the Georgia General Assembly, Attorney General Chris Carr created the first-of-its-kind statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Last year, the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit led and assisted 33 case investigations and rescued and assisted 116 victims.
So far, the Unit has obtained 26 new convictions in 2023, all of which have included prison sentences.
The Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has 39 defendants who are currently under indictment for sex or labor trafficking, with some facing charges in multiple jurisdictions around the state.
The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit is housed in the Prosecution Division, which also includes Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit and his Public Integrity and White Collar Crime Unit.
*Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government’s burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.
