Attorney General Chris Carr announced Monday that the office’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has obtained four new convictions in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Specifically, Raphel Olivia Sewer, Courdale Thayer, and Jahaundria Seabron have been convicted and sentenced to prison for trafficking a 14-year-old female in Fulton County. Courdale Thayer has also been convicted in a separate case that involves the trafficking of a 16-year-old female in DeKalb County. Jahaundria Seabron was charged in this DeKalb County case as well and previously pleaded guilty, as announced last month.
“Two years ago, our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit set out to rescue a 14-year-old girl who went missing from College Park and had become a victim of sex trafficking,” said Carr. “Our successful recovery of this young woman led not only to the arrest and indictment of multiple individuals but to the identification of another underage victim whose case involves two of these same defendants. This outcome is a testament to the resilience of our entire team as we continue our efforts to end the use and abuse of Georgia’s children.”
This year alone, the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has obtained 22 new convictions, all of which have included prison sentences.
Fulton County Case Summary
In January 2022, Raphel Olivia Sewer, Courdale Thayer, Jahaundria Seabron and a fourth individual, Jody Netter, were indicted following an extensive 10-month investigation that led to the rescue of a 14-year-old female in February 2021. At the time of her recovery, the victim had been missing from the College Park area for approximately seven weeks. The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit initiated its investigation after reviewing an alert issued by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. From this alert, Chief Human Trafficking Investigator Bryan Kimbell was able to identify, locate and rescue the underage victim.
The following law enforcement agencies also assisted in the investigation: the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit, the South Fulton Police Department, the Union City Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Field Office.
New Fulton County Convictions and Sentences
On May 26, 2023, Raphel Olivia Sewer, 44, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to the below charges. A Fulton County Superior Court Judge sentenced the defendant to 30 years, with the first 18 years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. Sewer will also be required to register as a sex offender.
- 4 counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c)
- 1 count of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-70
On June 30, 2023, Courdale Thayer, 23, of Decatur, pleaded guilty to the below charges. A Fulton County Superior Court Judge sentenced the defendant to 40 years, with the first 20 years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. Thayer will also be required to register as a sex offender.
- 3 counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c)
- 1 count of Aggravated Assault – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-70
- 1 count of False Imprisonment – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-41
On June 30, 2023, Jahaundria Seabron, 27, of College Park, pleaded guilty to the below charges. A Fulton County Superior Court Judge sentenced the defendant to 30 years, with the first 18 years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. Seabron will also be required to register as a sex offender.
- 3 counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c)
- 1 count of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-70
This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kaitlyn (Fain) Salinas with the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
The State’s case against Jody Netter, the fourth individual indicted in Fulton County in January 2022, remains active and ongoing.
DeKalb County Case Summary
Following the indictment of Courdale Thayer and Jahaundria Seabron in Fulton County in January 2022, Carr’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit opened a new case against the two defendants in DeKalb County. An investigation conducted by Chief Human Trafficking Investigator Bryan Kimbell, Investigator Jason Arsenault, and Investigator Frances Reyes led to the discovery of potential victims who were identified only by an image and a nickname. In continuing with their investigation, the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit was able to identify and later interviewed a 16-year-old female in DeKalb County. Courdale Thayer and Jahaundria Seabron were subsequently indicted in DeKalb County on Nov. 29, 2022, in a case that involves the trafficking of this underage victim.
As previously announced last month, Jahaundria Seabron pleaded guilty to four counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c) as it relates to this DeKalb County case. A DeKalb County Superior Court Judge sentenced Seabron to 30 years, with the first 18 years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. Seabron will also be required to register as a sex offender. Seabron’s Fulton and DeKalb County sentences will be served concurrently.
New DeKalb County Conviction and Sentence
On July 6, 2023, Courdale Thayer pleaded guilty to the below charges. A Fulton County Superior Court Judge sentenced the defendant to 40 years, with the first 20 years to be served in prison and the remainder on strict probation. Thayer will also be required to register as a sex offender. Thayer’s Fulton and DeKalb County sentences will be served concurrently.
- 4 counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude – O.C.G.A. § 16-5-46(c)
This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kaitlyn (Fain) Salinas with the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
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