Twenty people were arrested during a two-day undercover operation that was conducted to help stop sex trafficking in the area, according to the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force.
Five of those arrested were charged with traveling to meet a minor for a sex act and electronic solicitation of a child.
In a news release on Monday, the task force identified those five suspects as:
Zachary Nathaniel Bradley, 20, of Tuscaloosa
Terence Xavier Colvin, 23, of Tuscaloosa
Francisco Marin-Cuevas, 35, of Tuscaloosa
Miguel Angel Garcia-Gonzalez, 29, of Bessemer
John Stephen Shoemaker, 64, of Tuscaloosa
Fifteen other suspects were charged with soliciting prostitution. Some face additional charges, such as possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia or carrying a pistol without a license. In total, 32 charges were brought against the 20 suspects who were arrested, police said.
20 arrested in undercover human trafficking investigation in West Alabama By WBRC Staff | March 1, 2021 at 11:11 AM CST - Updated March 1 at 12:23 PM
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - Investigators with The West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force made 20 arrests during an undercover operation in Tuscaloosa on Friday and Saturday nights.
Investigators said the operation was designed to help stop the illegal purchase of sex in West Alabama.
Five people arrested were charged with both Traveling to Meet a Minor for an Unlawful Sex Act and Electronic Solicitation of a Child.
Fifteen other people were arrested for Soliciting Prostitution. Some face additional charges, including Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Carrying a Pistol without a License.
4 Men Charged in Robbery Spree Near UA Campus
Four men accused of robbing victims in neighborhoods and apartments near the University of Alabama campus were arrested and charged this week, according to a Tuscaloosa Police Department spokeswoman.
Stephanie Taylor, TPD s public information officer, said the first case was reported around midnight on November 29th, when three men approached a victim on the University of Alabama Strip and asked if they wanted to purchase some marijuana. The suspects allegedly followed the victim back to a residence on Dearing Place, where they robbed four people inside of items including cash and a video game console.