Four men arrested after teen says she was trafficked for months

Four people have been arrested for allegedly trafficking a teenager in Atlanta and Dekalb County, Georgia, and at least one other suspect is still on the run, according to authorities.
Taalib Blount, Talmes Eugene Smith III, Albert Wells and Levi Sears were arrested. They are being held in jails in DeKalb, Gwinnett and Fulton counties, according to authorities.

Blount, 47, is charged with rape, aggravated assault, trafficking a person for sexual servitude, false imprisonment, two counts of contributing to the unruliness of a minor, aggravated child molestation and sodomy.

Smith, 48, is charged with rape, trafficking a person for sexual servitude, two counts of contributing to the unruliness of a minor and child molestation.

Wells, 23, is charged with trafficking a person for sexual servitude, rape, enticing a child for indecent purposes, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, pimping person under 18 years of age, pandering person under 18 years of age and interference with custody.

Sears, 22, is charged with rape and child molestation.

Police said 40-year-old Harold Poole is still on the run. He is wanted for rape, aggravated assault, trafficking a person for sexual servitude, two counts of contributing to the unruliness of a minor, aggravated child molestation and interference with custody
Atlanta Police Detective Tracy Lewis said the 15-year-old victim connected major dots in this investigation.
“She was absolutely wonderful,” Lewis said. “She is a very sweet young lady. She has a big future ahead of her. We just pray that she will be okay from this.”

On Feb. 29, police were called to the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, where they spoke with a 15-year-old girl who had been missing since December.
The girl said she was trafficked in DeKalb County and Fulton County, police said.
Lewis said the teen found a way to escape.
“She actually went to a place of refuge,” Lewis said. “The person who she went to seek refugee from was very nice to her and called 911 for her.”
Investigators believe those arrested may have been involved in the trafficking of three others between the ages of 14 and 16.
Casey Benton, a human trafficking investigator at the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, said inter-department cooperation was essential to solving the case, as traffickers often move victims from place to place.
“Today, we stand united to send a message to traffickers: that if you victimize people in our community, we will find you, we will stop you and we will hold you accountable,” he said.

Police ask anyone with information about the case or Poole’s whereabouts to call 911. You can also anonymously report to Crime Stoppers by calling 404-577-8477 or submitting an online report.