5 men arrested in western Tennessee human trafficking sting

UNION CITY, Tenn. — An undercover human trafficking investigation led to the recent arrests of five men in western Tennessee.

Each of the five suspects is being held on a $10,000 bond in the Obion County Jail, KFVS reported.

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According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the suspects have been identified as:

• Lewis R. Harris, 52, of Memphis, Tennessee, charged with two counts of trafficking for commercial sex act and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor;

• Kevin L. Jackson, 31, of Paducah, Kentucky, charged with two counts of trafficking for commercial sex act;

• Abraham M. Labastida, 28, of Murray, Kentucky, charged with two counts of trafficking for commercial sex act;

• Shannon L. Palmer, 44, of Union City, Tennessee, charged with two counts of trafficking for commercial sex act; and

• Eddie R. Robbins, 54, of Paris, Tennessee, charged with two counts of trafficking for commercial sex act, introduction of contraband into a penal institution and possession with the intent to manufacture, deliver or sell.

The two-day investigation began March 5 and included resources from the TBI’s Human Trafficking Unit, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, the Obion County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Union City Police Department and the 27th District Attorney General’s Office, KFVS reported.

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