Georgia gang member sentenced to 25 years for trafficking missing teen
Georgia Attorney General says 16-year-old girl was exploited by gang members in Albany trafficking case
ALBANY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A member of the Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for trafficking a missing 16-year-old girl from Albany, state officials announced Wednesday.
Ronaldo Patterson, 33, of Albany, pleaded guilty earlier this month to two counts of trafficking persons for sexual servitude, four counts under Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and three counts of racketeering. He will serve 15 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation and is required to register as a sex offender, according to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
Girl was missing nearly one month
Authorities said the teen had been missing from the Albany area for nearly a month before she was located. Investigators later determined she had been trafficked by Patterson and other members of the Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods.
“Georgia’s children are not for sale,” Carr said. “As soon as we locate a victim, we commit every resource to ensuring their traffickers are held accountable.”
Other gang members previously convicted
Several additional gang members were convicted in connection with the case, including high-ranking associates Robert Wingfield Jr., Jamie Rosier, and Bryant Hooker, who authorities say directed operations from federal custody. Others convicted include Johnny Howard and Tre’Shawn Smith.
Case part of broader crackdown on human trafficking in Georgia
The prosecution was led by Assistant Attorneys General Christopher Keegan and Michael Tabarrok, working in partnership with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Albany Police Department, and the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking and Gang Prosecution Units.
“The GBI will continue to work with state and local agencies to ensure justice for human trafficking victims,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “This case highlights the violent nature of gang-led exploitation.”
Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said he was thankful for the Attorney General’s Office efforts, calling human trafficking a source of trauma and harm in the community.
Gang and trafficking units expand convictions in Albany
Since their creation in 2022, Carr’s specialized Gang Prosecution Unit and Human Trafficking Unit have secured nearly 20 convictions in Dougherty County.
State leaders praised the case as a model for ongoing efforts to combat organized crime in Georgia.
“Georgia will not tolerate violent sexual predators,” said Rep. Bill Yearta. “We’ll keep giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep our communities safe.”
