26 people arrested in Coweta County, Georgia; 6 human trafficking victims rescued

A human trafficking operation was recently conducted in Coweta County, Georgia, United States. According to Coweta County Sheriff’s Office sergeant Toby Nix, one of the primary purposes of the operation was to locate human trafficking victims.

The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office organized the operation along with its counterpart in Haralson County, Georgia. The operation also included cooperation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Frontline Out of Darkness Response Team.

On November 16, 2023, 10 suspects were arrested and two victims were rescued. On November 17, 2023, seven suspects were arrested and four victims were rescued.

The six victims, who are all female, were arrested first before they were identified as human trafficking victims. Three suspects are currently under investigation.

Most of the suspects are from Georgia while some are from Alabama, USA and Florida, USA. Here are 14 of the 26 arrestees:

1. Christopher Allen, 53, of Marbleton, Georgia was charged with pandering.
2. Davian Harding, 41, of Hampton, Georgia was charged with pandering.
3. Deontavius Pittman, 27, of LaFayette, Georgia was charged with pandering and possession of ecstasy.
4. Donald McGaha, 55, of Newnan, Georgia was charged with pandering.
5. Jose Luis Gonzalez-Avarca, 18, of Plant City, Florida was charged with pandering.
6. Juan Puente, 33, of Miami, Florida was charged with pimping and is set to be indicted on human trafficking.
7. Michael Matherne, 59, of Newnan, Georgia was charged with pandering.
8. Miguel Garcia, 35, of Lawrenceville, Georgia was charged with pandering.
9. Phillip Floyd, 60, of Phenix, Alabama was charged with pandering.
10. Octavian Brown, 24, of Manchester, Georgia was charged with pandering and drug possession with intent to distribute.
11. Prince Antoine, 25, of Lithonia, Georgia was charged with pimping.
12. Sergio J. DeArmas Alfaras, 36, of Cutler Bay, Florida was charged with pimping and is under further investigation.
13. Stephen Francis Hovanic, 64, of Sharpsburg, Georgia was charged with pandering.
14. Victor O. Alvarez Martinez, 32, of Miami, Florida was charged with pimping and is set to be indicted on human trafficking.

Stephen Francis Hovanic, a top administrator for the Pentagon’s school system in the Americas region, was arrested on Nov. 15 in a human trafficking sting in Coweta County, Georgia. Six female trafficking victims were identified during sting . https://t.co/pHQyDPiFfC

— Right To Be Free (@rightobefree) November 22, 2023

Founded in 1826, Coweta County is located in the west central portion of Georgia. The county seat is Newnan, which is home to the Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center.

On May 24, 2023, Georgia Cannabis Commission approved Trulieve Georgia’s application for a dispensing license in Coweta County. It would become the fourth dispensary license approved for the company in Georgia.