Smithville Man Arrested In Undercover Human Trafficking Operation

A Smithville man faces charges after a two-day undercover human trafficking operation in Murfreesboro.

20-Year-Old Michael Lee Sovern, one of 12 men arrested and accused of seeking illicit sex from minors. Authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex cases. The focus was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.

TBI Human Trafficking Unit, Murfreesboro Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of the 16^th District Attorney General and Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the operation.

All 12 were booked into the Rutherford County Jail.