A senior Pentagon official responsible for overseeing federally operated school systems in the Americas has been arrested in a human trafficking sting operation conducted in Georgia.
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) announced the arrest of 26 individuals, including Stephen Hovanic, the former chief of staff for the Americas division of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Hovanic, 64, is accused of soliciting sex from an undercover agent in a motel room.
Authorities charged Hovanic with pandering, a misdemeanor in Georgia. This incident highlights the ongoing battle against human trafficking and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to protect vulnerable individuals.
The two-day sting operation, which took place between November 15 and 16, resulted in the rescue of six human trafficking victims, who have since been “moved to safety,” the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia, which assisted with the CCSO investigation, said in a Thursday post on Twitter.
A total of 26 arrests were made, 12 for prostitution, 10 for pandering, and four for pimping. Three of the individuals are currently under investigation for human trafficking and drug charges,” HCSO said.
The DoDEA told Channel 2 Action News in a statement that it is “aware of an alleged incident involving a DoDEA employee in the Americas Region.”
“As there are ongoing legal processes, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Any questions regarding the incident should be directed to the local law enforcement agency involved,” the entity said.
The DoDEA is described as “one of only two Federally-operated school systems” that is “responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing prekindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD),” according to its website.
The DoDEA operates 160 schools located across 11 countries, seven states, Guam and Puerto Rico.
The school system employs about 15,000 people and serves nearly 70,000 children of military and DoD families.
“DoDEA is committed to ensuring that all school-aged children of military families are provided a world-class education that prepares them for postsecondary education and/or career success and to be leading contributors in their communities as well as in our 21st century globalized society,” the website states.
This incident is a stark reminder of the pervasiveness of human trafficking and the need for continued vigilance in combating this heinous crime. Law enforcement agencies across the country are working together to identify and dismantle human trafficking rings, and they need the public’s help to do so.
If you see something, say something. Report any suspicious activity to your local law enforcement agency.
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