17 Arrested in Human Trafficking Sting Dubbed Operation Wrong Room, GBI Says

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

On August 22, authorities across the United States joined together in a proactive effort to identify trafficking victims, provide them with critical services, and apprehend traffickers. Operation Wrong Room in Georgia reached out to 15 adults who were offered a range of services, including food, housing, medical care, drug treatment, counseling, and child care. In addition to these efforts, law enforcement seized more than $255,000 from suspected traffickers during two residential search warrants.

Those arrested in Operation Wrong Room are charged with multiple counts, including pimping, pandering and violating Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act. Those arrested include:

• Siow Ding Chan, 57, of Alpharetta, charged with pimping.
• Idelbrando José Vargas Ballestero, 34, of Grayson, charged with pimping.
• Larry Bruce Moyer, 41, of Duluth, 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, charged with pimping.
• Melissa AnnMarie Stombaugh, 32, of Akron, OH, charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
• Ashley Alexander, 35, of Winston, charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
• Lindsay Roberts, 25, of Midway, charged with pimping and violating Georgia’s 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, charged with pimping.
• Justin Sanders, 23, of Decatur, charged with pimping.

These individuals were booked into 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.

Across the country, Operation Coast to Coast reached 94 adults and one minor, all of whom received similar support services. Those involved in the operation included law enforcement from Maine to California, with additional assistance from private organizations such as the Human Trafficking Training Center, the Safe House Project, and Nurses Against Trafficking.

A child under the age of one was also taken into custody during the operation and later handed over to state social services. Authorities arrested 39 adults as part of the wider operation.

While investigations continue, further details remain under wraps. However, this operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in the United States. The GBI urges 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.