William Warren Hart, Sex Trafficking, Georgia 2013

Grimy Times Investigates: Sex Trafficking Ring in Augusta, Georgia

A sex trafficking ring operating in Augusta, Georgia, in 2013 has been dismantled, with the final defendant, William Warren Hart, 35, of Hephzibah, Georgia, pleading guilty to charges of using a facility of interstate commerce to facilitate the carrying on of a business involving prostitution.

Hart faces up to five years in prison for his limited role in the sex trafficking organization. The other four defendants charged in the case include Charles Henry Castillo, a/k/a ‘Joe King,’ 32, of Augusta, Georgia; Allison Jontil Barnes, a/k/a ‘Jah’ and ‘Shantae Davis,’ 29, of Augusta, Georgia; Shelica Daniels, a/k/a ‘Red,’ 27, of Augusta, Georgia; and Heather Leigh Hedrick, 30, of Augusta, Georgia.

Each of these four defendants pled guilty previously to conspiring to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor, a charge that carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

The sex trafficking ring was uncovered after the FBI received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a juvenile’s images were being posted on Backpage.com for prostitution services on August 26, 2013. Through an undercover operation conducted that same day, agents and officers with the FBI’s Computer Crime Child Exploitation (CCCX) Task Force identified and arrested Castillo, Hedrick, and Barnes, and rescued the 16-year-old victim at Castillo’s apartment.

According to evidence presented during several guilty plea hearings, Daniels encouraged a 16-year-old girl to leave home and begin working for and with her as a prostitute in the summer of 2013. Daniels placed ads on Backpage.com using a pseudonym for the victim to facilitate the criminal conduct. Barnes met the victim through Daniels and encouraged her to begin working for her in the same way.

This prosecution was the result of a joint investigation of the FBI’s CCCX Task Force, made up of Augusta-area FBI agents; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide U.S. initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

United States Attorney Edward Tarver stated, ‘Georgia’s children are at risk and continue to be vulnerable to exploitation. More collaborative efforts and faster responses by law enforcement agencies are needed to protect our children. The aggressive prosecution of individuals like these Defendants will continue to be a priority for the United States Attorney’s Office.’

J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, said, ‘The Defendants in this case clearly illustrate the need for law enforcement, working within the community, to protect our youth who remain vulnerable to those who would prey on them. The FBI will continue to provide significant investigative resources toward investigations that focus on juvenile sex trafficking within Georgia.’

Defendant Details:

Defendant: William Warren Hart

Criminal Charges: Using a Facility of Interstate Commerce to Facilitate the Carrying on of a Business Involving Prostitution

City and State: Augusta, Georgia

Exact Date: Summer 2013

Sentence or Outcome: Up to 5 years in prison

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