The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 06:32 PM

Missing North Carolina Child Reunitd With Family After Human Trafficking Bust In West Knox

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A missing North Carolina child is being reunited with her family after a human trafficking bust in West Knoxville resulted in three arrests.

At 12:26 a.m. Tuesday, the Knox County Sheriff's Office Vice Unit conducted a sting at the Holiday Inn on Executive Park Drive.

After viewing an advertisement on Backpage.com, an undercover detective responded to the ad and made an appointment for a "two girl special." KCSO made contact with the person who posted the ad and was reportedly told to swing by room no. 358 to make a deal with Jesse McMinn and Tabitha Banks for $340 in exchange for sex.

The undercover detective said Timothy King provided security for McMinn and Banks while they provided "sexual services."

According to police records, the hotel room was registered under King's name. Both McMinn and Banks told officers King transported them from North Carolina.

Banks and McMinn were taken into custody for prostitution. King was taken in for human trafficking. Investigators said King had $2,708 when he was arrested. Banks allegedly told authorities some of King's money was from her prostitution.

The KCSO Vice Unit found a juvenile in King's vehicle. The child was verified through the National Crime Information Center as a missing juvenile from Asheville, N.C. The juvenile was taken to the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center to be reunited with family.