Gwinnett Man Sentenced In Undercover Human Trafficking Case: AG

ATLANTA, GA — A Gwinnett County man pleaded guilty to one count of human trafficking in a historic case for the attorney general's office, according to a news release.

Demonte Engle, 23, is accused of attempting to solicit online a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover officer, for sex, Attorney General Chris Carr said Monday.

The case is the first ever undercover chat case for the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and the fourth conviction for the unit, Carr said.

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office began the investigation into Engle between Oct. 19, 2021, and Nov. 1, 2021, Carr said.

According to authorities, Engle thought he was speaking online to a teen girl when he offered to meet her in Buford and pay her $40 for sex. Engle is accused of falsely identifying himself as a 17-year-old, Carr said.

During the meet, Gwinnett County deputies arrested Engle, and he was indicted in January, Carr said.

Engle was sentenced to five years of house arrest, followed by 20 years of probation, Carr's office told Patch. He also has to register as a sex offender.

“By partnering with local law enforcement, our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit is utilizing every available resource to apprehend buyers before they reach potential victims,” Carr said in a news release. “Demonte Engle took active steps to solicit a purported 14-year-old female for sex, and now he is paying the price for his illegal actions. This is a novel case and should send a message to all those who attempt to exploit our children by engaging in this criminal industry – you will be stopped and held accountable.”