8 Albany gang members indicted on human trafficking, gang charges

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Eight members of an Albany gang were indicted on human trafficking and gang charges, according to a release from Attorney General Chris Carr’s office.

The eight indicted were:

Bryant Hooker
Johnny Howard
Jamie Rosier
Tre’Shawn Smith
Jeston Yates
Ronaldo Patterson
Korina Johnson
Robert Wingfield

The indictment listed a slew of different charges.

The charges include:

Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act; Conspiracy to participate in an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
Rape
Aggravated sodomy
Simple battery
Aggravated sexual battery
Aggravated assault
False imprisonment
Trafficking of persons for sexual servitude
Pimping

The offenses stem from the eight people, who are members of the Inglewood Family Gang, after it was found out that “a victim was physically and sexually assaulted, drugged, held against their will and placed into sexual servitude by these known gang members in order to generate money for their gang,” Carr’s office said in a release.

The eight people were arrested following a yearlong investigation from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Albany Police Department.

The indictment alleges the eight did the following:

Utilizing methods of control over a trafficking victim by engaging in forcible sex acts against a minor in order to establish psychological dominance and instill fear
Photographing and posting a minor for sexual servitude online
Transporting a minor for the purposes of sexual servitude
Renting hotel rooms for purposes of sexual servitude of a minor
Using proceeds from the sexual servitude of a minor to support each other and fellow street gang associates
Using proceeds from the sexual servitude of a minor to pay dues to their street gang
Using violence and threats of violence to maintain the street gang’s control over a minor
Promoting and advertising the unity of the street gang by posting images on social media of associates of the enterprise demonstrating the allegiance and prominence of their gang
Providing financial support and assistance to the gang’s associates

If convicted, each count could carry the following penalties:

Human trafficking - 25 years to life
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations - five to 20 years
Simple battery - up to 12 months
False imprisonment - one to 10 years
Aggravated assault - one to 20 years
Aggravated sodomy - 25 years to life
Rape - 25 years to life
Gang counts - five to 20 years

“Gangs are behind the crime wave that is affecting Georgia communities, and members are willing to commit horrific acts to help fuel their illegal activities,” Carr said. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute gang members for their crimes, and we look forward to presenting this case – which contends there is a nexus between gangs and human trafficking – in court.”

“Conducting human trafficking and criminal street gang investigations are top priorities for the GBI,” Vic Reynolds, GBI director, said. “We are committed to investigating crimes that affect the safety of our communities. No human should be subjected to sexual servitude or labor trafficking. We will continue to work with Attorney General Carr’s office as they prosecute these horrendous crimes.”

A Dougherty County grand jury returned the indictment on Wednesday.

Read the full indictment below: