Sandy Springs trafficking suspect indicted; charges added

One day after 11 of 14 charges were dropped against him, an Atlanta man has been indicted in connection with women he allegedly held at a Sandy Springs house, the Fulton County district attorney said Friday.

Kenndric Roberts, 33, was indicted on six counts of trafficking a person for labor servitude, six counts of false imprisonment, two counts of possession of a firearm during commission of/or attempt to commit certain crimes, and participation in criminal street gang activity, District Attorney Paul Howard said.

The indictment means that Roberts will be held without bond in the Fulton County jail, Howard said. A judge had set bond at $80,000 on Thursday during a preliminary hearing.

“It was distressing,” Howard told Channel 2 Action News on Friday about the previous day’s developments. “We thought it put our victims in a state of vulnerability.

“We thought it was important that this defendant remain in jail.”

Roberts was arrested March 8 after one of the women called 911, telling police, “I’m in a very bad situation, and I need to get help,” officers said.

Eight women were removed from the house, police said. Six indicated they were held against their wills.

Police also found expensive cars and an AK-47 in the 6,800-square-foot house, Carter said.

Detectives learned the women were forced to dance at local strip clubs, according to a news release from Howard’s office. The money they earned would be given to Roberts.

Police also said Roberts was a Gangster Disciples member and required the women to get gang-related tattoos as a sign of loyalty.

In Thursday’s hearing, attorney Mike Maloof Sr. referred to Roberts as a “poor man’s Hugh Hefner.”

“Everybody had grand designs on making money, and they lived well,” he said. “That’s not trafficking.”

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