NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Five men were arrested Wednesday morning in connection with a possible human trafficking operation.
Authorities told News 2 the raid was connected to prior suspected brothels in the Nashville area.
“This morning the Metro Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and TBI are executing a search warrant here on Hobson Pike,” director of MNPD Media Relations, Don Aaron, said. “The search warrant involves suspected human trafficking.”
The suspected brothel sat on five acres of land. The driveway was filled with cars and tactical officers were seen breaking the windows of vehicles on the property. The MNPD said when they arrived on scene, five men inside the home ran. Two men ran across Hobson Pike but were captured near J. Percy Priest Lake.
“This is a large-scale investigation beyond just this one particular property,” Aaron added. “…One of the five who was inside the home this morning was wanted by the Nashville Police Department for a shooting back in September on Mt. View Road,” Aaron added.
All five men were taken in custody. No other people were found in the home.
The MNPD told News 2 one of the men arrested, 31-year-old Gianfranco Augusto Barazarte-Morales, is suspected in a non-deadly shooting that happened at another alleged brothel on Mt. View Road. In addition to charges sustained Wednesday, Barazarte-Morales has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, felony reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and use of a gun during a dangerous felony for the Sept. 17 case.
Felix Rafael Ortega, 27, has been charged with promoting prostitution, evading arrest, felony marijuana possession, felony gun possession, and felony possession of “Tusi,” which the MNPD said is a combination of cocaine, ecstasy, fentanyl and other drugs.
Elmer Humberto Aparicio-Castillo, 27, was charged with promoting prostitution, evading arrest, felony marijuana possession and felony gun possession. According to the MNPD, a specially-trained dog with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) located a semi-automatic pistol in the brush where Aparicio-Castillo was arrested. He later told the MNPD the gun was his.
Idenis Alexander Sanchez-Paredes, 22, was charged with promoting prostitution, felony marijuana possession, evading arrest, and criminal impersonation. Additionally, 37-year-old Wilfredo Jose Mata-Fornerino was charged with promoting prostitution, felony marijuana possession and evading arrest.
“Today’s law enforcement action is part of a large-scale local, state, and federal investigation that has been ongoing for months and is very much continuing,” the MNPD said in a Wednesday press release.
Mark Wynn, a former MNPD investigator and current domestic violence consultant, said investigators look for certain things to nail down suspected human trafficking operations. Often, they look for the recruiting, moving or harboring of people. They also look for evidence of force or fraud leading to involuntary servitude or debt bondage.
“If I fear deportation from the local authorities, then that means that I’m an easier target for trafficking [and] I’m an easier target for sexual assault and other crimes,” Wynn added.
The federal Department of Homeland Security is leading the investigation. Wynn noted investigating and prosecuting these cases come with their own difficulties.
“It is a major gender-based violent crime committed in every community of the country,” Wynn said.
According to 2023 data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 114 cases of human trafficking were identified in 2023, with 210 victims involved in the cases.
Wynn told News 2 neighbors or bystanders can help crack these cases.
“I can tell you from my years as an investigator how many serious crimes we solved just by one phone call from somebody who said, ‘Look, I hate to be nosey, but I think something is happening here,'” Wynn said.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text the 24/7 national hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
