Henry County is a county located on the northwestern border of Tennessee, and has a population of approximately 32,000 residents. Its government seat is Paris, TN. Instances of prostitution and sex trafficking have been documented in the county. Among the more serious issues associated with the county’s prostitution market is sex trafficking of adults and minors. For example, in 2021, a 54-year-old Paris man was one of five men arrested during a sex trafficking sting in Union City. The sex trafficker was charged with two counts of trafficking for commercial sex act, as well as introduction of contraband into a penal institution, possession with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana). The operation was led by the TBI Human Trafficking Unit, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Obion County Sheriff’s Office along with the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Union City Police Department, and the 27th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, and was aimed at individuals seeking prostitution acts with minors. The Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force includes the Henry County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies. The five men were booked into the Obion County Jail.

In order to reduce the demand for prostitution in the county officials have conducted at least one reverse sting operation. For example, in 2016, a two-day operation targeting the online sexual exploitation of minors and sex trafficking was conducted in the county, and resulted in the arrest of six individuals. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) led the investigation in conjunction with the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Paris Police Department, Metro Crime Unit, Jackson Police Department, Puryear Police Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol. Five of those arrested were from out of town traveling through Henry County to undisclosed locations to commit the crimes. Investigators were able to identify and apprehend five sexual predators who were using social media to target underage victims of sexual exploitation. One suspect was charged with solicitation of prostitution. According to reports, this was the first time an operation like this had been conducted in the county:

“This is the first time this type of investigation has been conducted in Henry County. Five of the suspects were traveling from out of town to an undisclosed location to commit the sexual crime. I cannot stress enough the importance of parental monitoring of the internet and social media. The investigation was very successful and will be conducted again in Henry County.”

The identities, ages, charges, and photos of arrested offenders were released by police to local media outlets.