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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
An undercover investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, along with several other agencies, led to the arrest of nine individuals on felony sex trafficking charges in Madison County.
The investigation began on August 29, with the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, the 26th and 28th Judicial Drug Task Forces, and the Jackson Police Department working together in the operation “aimed at addressing human trafficking in the Jackson area.”
Decoy advertisements were placed on several websites that are known to be frequented by those involved in prostitution and commercial sex. Officers were intending to find individuals looking for minors with whom to engage in commercial sex acts.
The nine men arrested were between the ages of 21 and 53 years old. They were each given a $25,000 bond, with the exception of one man who was given a $5,000 bond.
*Blake Coulspon (DOB 03/25/1994), Jackson – $25,000 bond.
*Michal Knepp (DOB 10/29/1980), Jackson – $25,000 bond.
*Christopher Virgle (DOB 05/31/1983), Jackson – $25,000 bond.
*Jabbar Franklin (DOB 01/15/1993), Muscle Shoals, AL – $25,000 bond.
*James Brown (DOB 01/13/1978), Jackson – $5,000 bond.
*Rayvione Walker (DOB 12/24/2002), Jackson – $25,000 bond.
*Shane Meeks (DOB 07/01/1970), Michie – $25,000 bond.
*Tevin Williams (DOB 03/10/2002), Jackson – $25,000 bond.
*Angel Felipe (DOB 01/02/1999), Memphis – $25,000 bond.
Police also arrested three other individuals on felony charges of Possession of Meth with intent to sell/deliver/manufacture, Possession of Schedule I Drugs, and Aggravated Robbery.
Officers were also looking to identify human trafficking victims, and they were able to find 12 individuals. While some of the victims did have outstanding warrants that led to an eventual arrest, all were given needed help from an organization specializing in assistance for human trafficking victims.
According to the TBI, the majority of calls received by the state human trafficking hotline involve sex trafficking of minors.
Of the 1375 tips received in 2023, 356 victims were between the ages of 13-17, 59 victims were between the ages of 7 and 12, and 11 victims were between the ages of 0 and 6.
