Covenant Rescue Group (CRG), a non-profit aimed at combatting human trafficking and child exploitation, has felt the impact of a challenging economy. However, operators said the group is conducting operations and bringing justice to victims despite the lack of donations.
Former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson and his wife founded the organization in 2019. CRG trains law enforcement free of charge and sets up stings. The goal is to train them to conduct the stings independently.
Marketing and information officer Stephen Nix told 1819 News that dozens of offenders have been taken off the streets thanks to the effort. Even in small towns and rural areas, Nix said law enforcement officials have been surprised at the organization's success. As word travels, he said demand for services increases.
"The agencies are starting to see we're not just a bunch of vigilantes running around trying to publicly shame these pedophiles," Nix said. "We're providing an incredible way to get these guys off the street and to get them prosecuted."
"I mean, we help these agencies create a case that is pretty tight," he added. "It's hard for these guys to get out of this once they have these charges against them. We have all the text messages that are kept. We have everything that we hand over to the department."
"We basically gift wrap the case for them and say, 'Here it is, guys,' and we're able to stand by them and make sure they do everything right," he said.
Nix iterates you teach participants that you can't judge a book by its cover.
"Not all the guys we arrest are the way you would think," he explained. "We get a plethora of young to old, white, black, Hispanic. It doesn't matter. It's across the board."
"A lot of people think that, 'Hey, you know, it's only these rough-looking dudes that I need to stay away from," he said. "These creep-looking guys is what people look for but I mean, it can be anybody. We've arrested guys that seem like stand-up individuals."
Nix said many of those arrested are repeat sexual offenders, and some have had as many as 50 to 100 victims.
So far this year, the group has conducted eight Alabama operations and others in Arkansas and Tennessee.
CRG holds annual fundraisers and has received state grant money, but the majority of funds come from donors. Nix said inflation and the economy have been tough.
"But we're still chugging along," he told 1819 News. "I would probably say we're half of what we were at this point last year, so they've dropped anywhere between 40 to 50%. We're still doing everything we can to make these operations happen."
"We're diligent with the money that comes in," he said. "Everything that comes in goes directly to operations, and I think this year alone, we've had 76 felony arrests and operations that we've had our hand in."
Nix said the number of predators is "mind-blowing."
"We're averaging about 10 arrests per operation," he said. "Getting 10 guys in a rural area is pretty insane. You know, we're getting 15 guys in Montgomery or getting 17 guys in Lee County in two nights. That's what's scary is that we could do this every day and get people every day."
CRG wants offenders to know the tough economy will not stop them from the mission.
"Stop preying on our children," Nix said. "Stop preying on minors, stop preying on women because there's an organization that exists that's going to help bring you to justice."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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