Senior Pentagon official arrested in Georgia human trafficking operation.
A high-ranking official overseeing federally run school systems in the Americas was apprehended in a human-trafficking operation conducted in Georgia. Stephen Hovanic, the former chief of staff for the Americas division of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), was among the 26 individuals arrested by the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in connection with an alleged human-trafficking ring. Hovanic’s LinkedIn profile indicates he held this position since 2010.
In Georgia, authorities charged Hovanic, aged 64, with pandering, a misdemeanor, for reportedly soliciting sex from an undercover agent in a motel room, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. An anonymous agent highlighted the significance of targeting sex buyers, emphasizing their role in perpetuating the victimization of females and the need to remove them from such exploitative situations.
The operation spanned November 15 to 16 and led to the rescue of six human trafficking victims. The Haralson County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with CCSO in this investigation and ensured the victims’ relocation to safety, as mentioned in a post on X (previously known as Twitter).
Among the 26 arrests, 12 were for prostitution, 10 for pandering, and four for pimping. Additionally, three individuals are under investigation for charges related to human trafficking and drug offenses, as stated by the HCSO. The DoDEA acknowledged the alleged incident involving an employee in the Americas Region, refraining from further comments due to ongoing legal procedures and redirecting inquiries to local law enforcement.
The DoDEA, responsible for managing prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD), operates across 11 countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico, overseeing 160 schools. It serves approximately 70,000 children from military and DoD families, employing about 15,000 individuals. The organization is committed to providing a top-notch education for these students, preparing them for future success and active participation in their communities and the globalized society of the 21st century.
