Pentagon Official Arrested in Human Trafficking Operation
A Department of Defense administrator was arrested in Coweta County, Georgia, as part of a human trafficking operation.
A video was released of the official attempting to pay for sexual services from an undercover agent.
Police in Coweta County, Georgia, arrested a top Department of Defense administrator as part of a human trafficking sting and released video of him allegedly requesting paid sex from an undercover agent.https://t.co/BPJYg1SFtc
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 28, 2023
"Department of Defense Education Chief of Staff Stephen Hovanic—who oversees the schools educating the children of U.S. service members—was caught on video allegedly soliciting sex in a motel room as part of a sting operation by local investigators," the Daily Beast reported.
"Hovanic faces a pandering charge for misdemeanor solicitation of sex. His is one of two dozen arrests that resulted from a two-day human trafficking sting carried out by Coweta County authorities," it added.
NEW: Pentagon official Stephen Francis Hovanic reportedly arrested in a human trafficking sting in Georgia where over 2 dozen people were arrested for pandering, drug possession, prostitution & pimping.
It gets worse. Hovanic worked for the Department of Defense, specifically… pic.twitter.com/EJvxep2BCj
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 22, 2023
"The victims were taken to an undisclosed 'safe house,' where they will receive the help they need to move forward from the heinous crime of human trafficking," said Sgt. Toby Nix.
"Pandering is not a victimless crime, as the demand for prostitution drives the s*x trafficking market," he continued.
Three of the other individuals arrested are also under investigation for drug charges in the operation.
The operation was conducted Nov. 15-16. Six victims were recovered and placed in the care of safe houses, according to law enforcement.
The human trafficking arrests come as part of a growing number of federal operations targeting the crime that is often part of an online business offering explicit services.
The arrest of the Pentagon official is tragic for the agency, though no comment has yet been shared by his employer to the public.
