According to the GBI, 17 people were arrested as part of the human trafficking operation “Operation Wrong Room”

DECATUR, Georgia. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested 17 people as part of Operation Wrong Room, a coordinated effort to combat human trafficking in Georgia, according to a press release. This operation was part of a larger, multi-state initiative called Coast to Coast, in which law enforcement and service providers from 26 states worked together to address the critical problem of human trafficking.

On August 22, authorities from across the United States joined forces in a proactive effort to identify victims of human trafficking, provide them with essential services, and apprehend traffickers. Operation Wrong Room, conducted in Georgia, contacted 15 adults and offered a range of services, including food, shelter, medical care, drug rehabilitation, counseling, and child care. In addition to these efforts, law enforcement officials seized over $255,000 from suspected traffickers during two home searches.

Those arrested as part of Operation Wrong Room are facing a variety of charges, including pimping, pandering, and violations of Georgia drug laws. Those arrested include:

• Siow Ding Chan, 57, of Alpharetta, charged with pimping.
• Idelbrando Jose Vargas Ballestero, 34, of Grayson, charged with pimping.
• Larry Bruce Moyer, 41, of Duluth is charged with pimping.
• Roberto Martinez, 29, of Willacoochee, charged with pimping.
• Stewart Notice Jr., 27, of Fayetteville, charged with pimping.
• Joe Anthony Obboye, 25, of Duluth, charged with pimping.
• Carlos Anaya Carrasco, 30, of Atlanta, charged with pimping.
• Daniel Strycek, 25, of Las Vegas, is facing pimping charges.
• Melissa AnnMarie Stombaugh, 32, of Akron, Ohio, is charged with violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
• Ashley Alexander, 35, of Winston, is charged with violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
• Lindsay Roberts, 25, of Midway, is charged with pimping and violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
• Thomas Piper, 56, of Woodstock, charged with pimping.
• Brendan Ahn, 35, of Alpharetta, charged with pimping.
• Christopher Horne, 35, of Decatur, charged with pimping.
• Jeffrey Li, 28, of Lawrenceville, charged with pimping.
• Marco Gamboa Lopez, 39, of Tucker, is charged with pimping.
• Justin Sanders, 23, of Decatur, charged with pimping.

These individuals were taken to the DeKalb County Jail.

The GBI worked with multiple agencies during this operation, including the Chamblee Police Department, DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Operation Coast to Coast contacted 94 adults and one minor nationwide and offered similar support services. The operation involved law enforcement agencies from Maine to California, with additional support from private organizations such as the Human Trafficking Training Center, the Safe House Project and Nurses Against Trafficking.

During the operation, a child under one year old was also taken into protective custody and later placed under the care of the state social services. As part of the larger operation, the authorities arrested 39 adults.

Further details remain under wraps as the investigation continues, but this operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking across the United States. The GBI encourages anyone who suspects human trafficking in their area to report it by calling 911 or the Georgia Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-ENDHTGA (1-866-363-4842). Anonymous tips can also be submitted online or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app.