Clayton News Daily

By Kathy Jefcoats

kjefcoats@news-daily.com

JONESBORO — Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents arrested a Jonesboro woman Tuesday on human trafficking charges, said officials.

Jessica McKenzie Washington, 25, of Upper Riverdale Road is being held in the Clayton County Jail on prostitution charges including pimping, pandering and keeping a house of prostitution; enticing a child for indecent purposes and human trafficking.

GBI spokesman John Bankhead said the allegations involve two teenage girls. During the arrest, the Georgia State Patrol SWAT team was deployed out of concerns over weapons.

"We used SWAT due to information on weapons at the apartment but she was not there," he said. "Agents later found her and had her under surveillance in another area of the complex."

When Washington returned, agents arrested her.

Washington was arrested in January for interference with custody. Clayton County police said a 14-year-old girl ran away from home in Columbus on Christmas Day. The girl was found inside Washington's Upper Riverdale Road apartment.

Washington told police she was paid $200 to house the girl until a bus ticket arrived. Washington posted a $5,000 bond and was ordered to stay away from the girl and her family.

Bankhead said Tuesday's case is being investigated by the GBI Child Sex Trafficking Unit.