Two Tennessee men charged with sex trafficking

Timothy Carter, 50, of Crossville and Stephen Whited, 29, of Sweetwater were arrested in Bradley County this weekend for trafficking for commercial sex.

Two Georgia men, Brian Hamler, 43, and Donald Thomas, 45, of Lawrenceville, were also arrested during the sting. 

Beginning Thursday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Police Department and Bradley County Sheriff's Department placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex acts.

According to the TBI, the mission of the operation was to find people seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors, to rescue individuals forced into trafficking and target traffickers who looked to force individuals into prostitution. 

The investigation is ongoing and may include additional arrests and charges.