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 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.
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.
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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