5 Indicted In Multi-County Human Trafficking Case: AG

ATLANTA, GA — Five people face charges in separate indictments in Cherokee and Fulton counties after being accused of trafficking a 16-year-old girl, Attorney General Chris Carr's office announced Wednesday.

Mark Thomas, who is accused of accepting money in exchange for sex with the teen, is being charged in both counties, Carr said.

Authorities said they learned the teen was being trafficked after a Dec. 18, 2021, traffic stop in Cherokee. Carr said Thomas was driving the car at the time with the girl in the passenger seat.

A multi-agency investigation was launched, and the teen told authorities Thomas had been trafficking her for about three months, starting in September 2021, Carr said. She was 15-years-old at the time.

Thomas is accused of driving the girl to Woodstock to sell her for sex to Jose Medina Dominguez and Cesar Juarez Oaxaca, Carr said.

The three men were indicted Oct. 10 in Cherokee County, Carr said.

Thomas is charged on suspicion of two counts of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude. If convicted, he could possibly be sentenced to life in prison, Carr said.

Both Dominguez and Oaxaca are charged on suspicion of one count of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and one count of statutory rape. If convicted, they could possibly be sentenced to life in prison for the former charge and 10-20 years in prison for the latter, Carr said.

Thomas was named in a second indictment in Fulton.

He is accused of trafficking the teen along Fulton Industrial Boulevard and in nearby hotels, Carr said. Cedric Johnson is accused of receiving money and helping Thomas, Carr said.

Ruben Tolentino is accused of having sex with the teen, Carr said.

The three men were indicted Oct. 17 in Fulton, Carr said.

Thomas faces a slew of charges, including on suspicion of multiple counts of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, battery, aggravated assault, child molestation and cruelty to children in the first degree, Carr said. If convicted on all charges, Thomas could be sentenced anywhere from one year to life in prison.

Both Johnson and Tolentino are charged on suspicion of one count of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and could face life in prison, if convicted, Carr said.

“Our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit works each day to get traffickers off the streets and help every victim within our reach,” Carr said in a news release. “Whether a buyer or a seller, we will not rest in our pursuit of those who abuse and exploit Georgia’s children for sex. By working hand-in-hand with local, state and federal law enforcement, we will continue to dedicate every resource available to protecting the most vulnerable in our state.”