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Press Release
Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced today that Arthur Gerald Reid, 28, of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced on March 17, 2015 to serve 30 years (360 months) in federal prison for sex trafficking of children. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Hugh Lawson, Senior United States District Court Judge, in Macon, Georgia.
Mr. Reid entered a plea of guilty to the charges on December 23, 2013. As a part of his plea agreement, the defendant admitted that beginning in September, 2011, and continuing until February, 2013, he prostituted a juvenile victim from various motel rooms in Macon, Georgia, and in Tybee Island, Georgia, through the utilization of backpage.com, an erotic services website. Mr. Reid was physically violent toward the juvenile victim. At the time Mr. Reid was encountered by law enforcement on February 26, 2013 at a Macon, Georgia, motel, he was in custody and control of the juvenile victim. Two additional juvenile victims were also with Mr. Reid at the time of the encounter with law enforcement. Mr. Reid admitted to prostituting these juveniles through the utilization of backpage.com as well. Hidden within the motel room was a BB gun, which the juveniles believed to be an authentic firearm.
“Mr. Reid was willing to sell the childhood of these young victims for a few dollars, profiting on the perversions of the “johns” who responded to his internet ads and the vulnerabilities of these children. His lengthy prison sentence means that he will not be a threat to other children in Middle Georgia for the majority of his life. I want to commend the hard work of the FBI, the GBI, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for investigating this case and working with us to protect the children of Middle Georgia,” said United States Attorney Michael J. Moore.
J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “This defendant, by using intimidation and violence to prey on and exploit juveniles in this manner, truly deserves his time behind bars. The FBI will continue to dedicate significant investigative resources and assets toward the protection of our nation’s children from those individuals who would do them so much harm.”
“Child sex trafficking cases are a priority for the GBI. We will continue to work with local and federal law enforcement partners to bring individuals such as Reid to justice. People who prey on and exploit children deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Vernon Keenan, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Julia C. Bowen represented the Government in the prosecution of the case.
Inquiries regarding this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.