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Authorities: 13 arrested in Gainesville prostitution, drug sting
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Forsyth County News

GAINESVILLE — More than a dozen people were charged Thursday in an undercover investigation regarding prostitution.

“Agents did encounter both men and women that were seeking sexual services in exchange for currency and or narcotics,” Hall County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Bailes wrote in an email.

Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad agents and the sheriff’s department of community supervision conducted the undercover investigation. Bailes said 13 people met at predetermined locations.

Those charged with pandering were: Eduardo Espinoza, 21; John Hunter Roberts, 20, and Taylor Jordan Welch, 24, both of Cleveland; Daniel Muir, 21, of Clermont; and Jeffery Robert McBurney, 54, Ricardo Rivas, 23, and Jesus Romero, 44, all of Gainesville.

Those charged with prostitution were: Bethany Hood, 25, Taylor Odenthal, 19, and Mariah-Marie Jassenia Simpson, 18, all of Gainesville; Brittany Grizzle, 22, of Dahlonega; and Rhonda Haugland, 57, and Mariah Denise Wilson, 24, both of Flowery Branch.

Espinoza, Rivas, Hood, Odenthal, Simpson, Grizzle and Wilson remain in the Hall County Jail.

Roberts, Muir and Romero declined to comment to The Times of Gainesville. Haugland said her last name is Cogar and declined to comment further.

Two numbers listed for McBurney in the Comprehensive Justice Information System were not operational.

An attempt to reach Welch for comment was unsuccessful.

Espinoza faces additional charges of possession of amphetamine and marijuana.

Wilson and Rivas were also charged with possession of hydrocodone.

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