HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas — Nine men are facing misdemeanor charges of sexual solicitation following a human trafficking investigation into massage parlors in Hot Springs.
Agents with the Special Investigations Division of the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office led a multi-agency operation in Garland County that resulted in the arrests. Investigators identified online platforms where men would arrange meetings with prostitutes to engage in sex for money, according to a press release from the AG’s office. Some of the women who advertised on these platforms were victims of human trafficking, AG Tim Griffin said.
“For the past two years, we’ve focused primarily on the supply side of these kinds of operations by going after the establishments where illicit activity is occurring,” Griffin said, adding that the arrests include one “mid-level ringleader.”
The nine men arrested were Vicente Santos, 46; David Hicks, 22; Jacob Benson, 32; Edward Freeman, 22; Antron Pearson, 37; Isaias Martinez-Sanchez, 30; Michael McConnell, 32; Carthon Cooper, 27; and Gustavo Gonzalez, 28.
Griffin said his office provided services to 30 victims.
“Make no mistake, this is despicable behavior, and it perpetuates human trafficking, plain and simple,” Griffin said.
Sexual solicitation is a Class A misdemeanor.
Agencies working on the operation included 18E Prosecutor Michell Lawrence, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, Garland County Sheriff’s Office, Hot Springs Police Department, Little Rock Police Department and Arkansas State Police.
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