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7 arrested in Louisville human trafficking investigation

Police said the suspects responded to fake ads posted on websites.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An undercover human trafficking operation has led to the arrest of seven men, according to Louisville Metro Police. 

Police said 45-year-old Amos Brown, 36-year-old Jeffrey Stutts, 47-year-old Richard Tong, and 34-year-old Bradley Martin were arrested Friday while responding to fake ads on multiple different websites.

The men contacted an undercover officer who was posing as a minor, arranging to engage in different sexual acts for money. According to arrest slips, multiple men agreed to sexual acts with underage girls.

Suspects then went to a hotel to meet the undercover officer after reaching an agreement over the phone. Martin also had cocaine and marijuana on him when he was taken into custody.

LMPD said 40-year-old Blake Jeffreys, 53-year-old Edward Phillips, and 47-year-old Fabio Arguello were also arrested.

Arguello is a former jockey and joined the board of directors at the Backside Learning Center located at Churchill Downs five months ago, according to Executive Director Sherry Stanley.

The Backside Learning Center is a nonprofit that works with equine workers and their families. Stanley said they began to remove Arguello from the board once they heard the news of his arrest.

All of the men are facing charges including promoting human trafficking and prohibited use of an electronic system to procure a minor.

Police encourage everyone that if you see something say something. Whether you're a hotel, an airport or another place and something doesn't seem right--just make a phone call to police.

RELATED: Man accused of using children to sell candy facing 12 felony charges of human trafficking, $45K in fines

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