Man accused of holding women captive faces 14 felony charges

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The man accused of holding eight women against their will in a Sandy Springs mansion faces more than a dozen new felony charges and is now the subject of a federal investigation.

Just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a 911 call from a woman who asked for help leaving a residence in the 100 block of Strauss Lane, Sandy Springs police Sgt. Sam Worsham said Wednesday.

When they got to the 6,806-square-foot home, officers said they found eight women and helped them leave the home, Worsham said.

Sandy Springs investigators arrested Kenndric Roberts, 33, on charges of false imprisonment and trafficking of persons for labor, Worsham said.

Additionally, Roberts faces five counts of false imprisonment, five counts of trafficking person for labor and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

An AK-47 pistol and a Glock .45 caliber handgun were recovered during the investigation, police said.

RELATED STORIES: 

• Woman held captive was forced to dance at strip clubs, mother says
• Man accused of holding 8 women captive in Sandy Springs mansion

A warrant obtained by Channel 2's Mike Petchenik says Roberts is a member of a dangerous street gang, recruited women through a sugar daddy matchmaker site and then forced them to dance at area strip clubs.

Petchenik uncovered a 911 call Roberts made a few hours after the alleged victim had left the home.

According to the warrant, Roberts told police the woman had taken a number of items, including expensive shoes, purses, and jewelry.

“Just an ex-employee apparently left and took some items in the process while leaving for whatever reason,” Roberts told the 911 dispatcher. “Just need to file it for court purposes, insurance purposes.”

Friday, an FBI spokesman told Petchenik his office had launched its own investigation.

“Human trafficking is really a crime that doesn’t know any boundaries or jurisdictions,” said Special Agent Stephen Emmett. “The FBI is well-suited to go after those individuals crossing state lines, crossing county lines.”

The warrant said the FBI had received information about Roberts being a “dangerous pimp” in January 2016.  Petchenik asked Emmett why agents didn’t arrest Roberts last year.

“It’s premature to address those types of questions to go into those types of details,” he said. “I’m confident that will come out at a later time.”

Emmett confirmed investigators believe others could face charges related to the case.

He also pleaded for other victims to come forward with information.

“The reality is some of these individuals might not even think of themselves as victims, but this individual was…very dominating, and manipulating to these individuals,” Emmett said of Roberts.

Any other victims or people with additional information can contact the Sandy Springs Police Department or the FBI at (404) 679-9000.

Cox Media Group