PERRY, Ga. (WALB) — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit arrested four South Georgia residents on pandering charges in Houston County as part of a multi-agency sex trafficking operation from March 4 through March 6.

Ahmad Rice, Brandon T. Smith, Courtney McGriff and Courtney Mills were among those taken into custody. 20 other people were also arrested on charges ranging from pimping to drug offenses, firearm charges and identity theft.

McGriff is from Cordele; Smith is from Smithville; and Rice and Mills are from Perry, according to the GBI.

Victim advocates met 13 people involved in commercial sex and offered services, the GBI said. Agents said they are working to identify and disrupt pimps and human traffickers.

The cases will be turned over to the Houston Judicial Circuit District Attorney and the Houston County Solicitor-General for prosecution.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.