32 arrested in human trafficking sting operation, 2 pastors charged with trafficking [View all]

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https://www.google.com/amp/wate.com/2016/05/20/tbi-conduct-knoxville-human-trafficking-investigation/amp/?client=safari#

32 arrested in human trafficking sting operation, 2 pastors charged with trafficking
A children's pastor at Grace Baptist Church and a volunteer creative pastor at Lifehouse Church in Oak Ridge were charged with trafficking


Published: May 20, 2016, 9:11 am Updated: May 22, 2016, 7:03 am

KNOXVILLE (WATE) – After a three day investigation, agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and detectives with the Knoxville Police Department arrested 32 men and women on prostitution and human trafficking-related charges.

Two of the men arrested were charged with tracking. Both were pastors.

TBI said Grace Baptist Church’s children’s pastor, Jason Kennedy, responded to ads for what he thought were girls under the age of 18. Grace Baptist’s website lists Kennedy as a pastor for birth through fifth grade.

“All of these people are somebody’s neighbor,” said TBI Director Mark Gwyn. During the three-day investigation, undercover agents posted ads on Backpage.com.

Court records say in Kennedy’s case, he allegedly responded to an ad on Backpage.com on May 19 via a text message. The records say he was made aware that a second female who was under 18 would be present and they negotiated a $100 fee for a half hour of sex with both females.

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