Southern District Assistant U.S. Attorneys chosen to conduct national training session on human trafficking

 Members of Congress, Senators, White House staff, state leaders and law enforcement participated in virtual session

SAVANNAH, GA:  Two Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of Georgia were chosen to provide training on human trafficking to a nationwide audience of leaders and law enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Tania D. Groover served as subject matter experts on the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s (FLETC) virtual Human Trafficking Awareness Training (HTAT), said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. Wednesday’s training session, part of a program that members of Congress have sponsored across the country, was sponsored by U.S. Sen. David Purdue and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, along with Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp.

“AUSAs Greg Gilluly and Tania Groover have prosecuted some of the largest international and domestic human trafficking cases in the United States, and bring unparalleled expertise to this vital training program,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office is honored that they were chosen to share their expertise, and we hope their presentation delivers a higher level of awareness to legislative leaders and law enforcement professionals as they participate in the fight against modern slavery.”  

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in serving on a panel of experts to answer questions from class participants, including nearly 200 state and local law enforcement officers from Georgia and neighboring states. The session, facilitated by FLETC instructors in Brunswick, Ga., also identified local resources in the fight against human trafficking.

As they have in previous years, Gilluly and Groover are scheduled to provide similar training to law enforcement officers during the Sixth Annual Savannah Traffick Jam, planned for virtual delivery in January 2021.

About the AUSAs:

• AUSA Tania Groover is the point of contact for all human trafficking cases in the Southern District of Georgia, and coordinator for the Federal Human Trafficking Task Force in the Southern District. She has more than 18 years of experience as a state and federal prosecutor working victim cases involving sex trafficking, labor trafficking, child exploitation, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse, and homicide. Groover also works with law enforcement, victim-witness services providers, government agencies, and non-government agencies to help identify victims and provide victim services in human trafficking cases.
• AUSA Greg Gilluly serves as the Deputy Criminal Chief and formerly served as the Organized Crime Drug Task Force Coordinator, and in two decades as a prosecutor primarily handles complex organized crime cases including dismantling violent criminal enterprises involved in international drug trafficking, international human trafficking and international money laundering. Gilluly has received multiple OCDETF national awards, a U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award, and national awards from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and various Offices of Inspector General. Gilluly has given presentations on human trafficking and organized crime throughout the United States.

If you believe you have information about a potential trafficking situation call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking. All reports are confidential and you may remain anonymous. Interpreters are available. The information you provide will be reviewed by the National Hotline and forwarded to specialized law enforcement and/or service providers where appropriate.