COVINGTON, Ga. - A 32-year-old Covington man was among nine recently arrested by the Conyers Police Department in a pandering sting operation. 

 “The ultimate goal of such operations is to deter the violent criminal acts that take palce which are facilitated by an internet underworld,” according to a CPD news release. “Various online advertising sites and mobile applications are available to solicit for prostitution despite the site’s own ‘warning’  prohibiting such activity.”

CPD made the following arrests during the March 22 sting:

1. Karlos Demond Dubose, 19, Lithonia, Pandering

2. Marcos Rene Morales-Hernandez, 36, Conyers, Pandering

3. Treymane Davis, 33, McDonough, Pandering, Possession of marijuana

4. Johnny Ray Turner, 52, Decatur, Pandering

5. Wenshel Berius, 40, McDonough, Pandering

6. Demetrius Bernard Hazel, 34, Stone Mountain, Pandering

7. Demonte Sanchez Franklin, 23, Stone Mountain, Pandering, Possession of marijuana and Obstruction

8. Antwuan M. Galloway, 32, Covington, Pandering

9. Sterling Thomas Wimberly., 52, Waynesboro, Pandering

“In early summer of 2013 two violent incidents occurred which brought to light a

common criminal activity occurring at local motels,” according to the CPD release. “One panderer, or ‘John,’ was robbed by two men after setting up a meeting with a prostitute using one popular advertising site. One month later, four men were arrested after kidnapping, raping, and robbing two women who had posted an ad for prostitution on another advertising site.”

Since these incidents, CPD Chief Gene Wilson and the CPD criminal investigations divisions formulated a plan to combat prostitution and pandering locally. 

CPD has conducted more than 20 of these stings since 2013 and according to the release, “Would-be Johns and prostitutes have proclaimed ‘Conyers is hot’ and are deterred from bringing their business and the violent crime that comes with it to our city.”