NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A sting operation conducted on May 6 led to the arrest of a man accused of running a sex trafficking operation at a Super 8 Motel in Antioch. Angel Diaz Carvajal, 29, was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence that he had been exploiting a woman for commercial sex.
According to court documents, investigators had been tipped off about an advertisement featuring a scantily clad woman with an emoji obscuring her face. The phone number in the ad was traced, and undercover officers arranged a meeting at the motel on Bell Road in Antioch. When the officers arrived, Carvajal and the woman exited the motel room, and the woman attempted to enter the undercover officer’s vehicle.
Upon the announcement of the officers’ presence, the woman was arrested, and Carvajal allegedly tried to flee the scene. However, he was quickly apprehended and placed under arrest.
The victim later told authorities that she had met Carvajal in Chicago. She was reportedly lured to Nashville with the promise of a cleaning job. Upon her arrival, however, Carvajal informed her that no such job existed and instead forced her to engage in sex acts and take explicit photographs for money. Carvajal allegedly posted the photos online as part of a commercial sex advertisement campaign, controlling every aspect of the victim’s exploitation, including the clothes she wore and the money she earned.
Metro police further revealed that Carvajal had withheld food from the victim for more than 24 hours prior to their arrests. He also collected payments from men purchasing sex through the advertisements.
Carvajal has been charged with felony sex trafficking, felony promoting prostitution, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and misdemeanor evading arrest. He was booked into the Metro Jail, and his bond has been set at $185,000.
The case highlights the continued challenges faced by law enforcement in combating sex trafficking, particularly in cases where victims are coerced or manipulated into exploitative situations. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity in the ongoing fight against human trafficking.
