Updated 10/31/19

A Giles County man was one of 16 men arrested and accused of seeking illicit sex from minors.

According to a press release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Michael Romero of Prospect is accused of trafficking a person for a commercial sex act.

Romero along with 15 other men were arrested as the result of a two day undercover operation by several law enforcement agencies which began on October 24th.

The investigation was aimed at addressing human trafficking in Rutherford County, authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to commercial sex.

The focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.

All men were booked into the Rutherford County Jail.

Those participating in the operation included the TBI, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Smyrna police department, Homeland security investigations, and the office of 16th district attorney general Jennings Jones.