Alpharetta man charged with human trafficking in Athens

ATHENS, Ga. — An Alpharetta man is one of two men the GBI says is connected to a human trafficking investigation in Athens.

The GBI says Nicholas Fernandez, 23, was arrested Tuesday. Brady Hart, 50, of Kent County, Maryland is still wanted in connection with their investigation.

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In April 2020, the GBI was requested to assist in connection to a missing person’s case. They located a 14-year-old girl who had been reported missing at Hart’s Maryland home. Their investigation led to Fernandez being named a suspect in her disappearance as well.

In July 2021, Fernandez was arrested in south Georgia for conspiracy to commit interstate interference with custody, interference with custody and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Once he was arrested in connection to the GBI’s investigation, Fernandez was charged with:

• Trafficking of persons for labor or servitude (sex trafficking of a minor) and enticing a minor (in Cook County, Ga.)
• Trafficking of persons for labor or servitude (sex trafficking of a minor) (in Athens-Clarke County)
• Child molestation
• Aggravated child molestation
• Statutory rape
• Kidnapping

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Police say they identified one of the victims in this case.

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