Three Men Arrested in Beaufort County on Human Trafficking Charges in Ongoing Case

Alleged Trafficking of Underage, Missing Girl from the Beaufort Area

Three men in Beaufort County, South Carolina are facing human trafficking charges following arrests made on June 11th in a multi-agency investigation. Empowered by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the arrest warrants reveal the nature of the alleged crimes, involving a minor who was reported missing from the Beaufort County area.

Alban Bryan, 63, of Saint Helena Island, is charged with trafficking in persons (victim under 18 years old) on a first offense and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Guy Frank Talley III, 27, of Beaufort, faces similar charges along with sexual exploitation of a minor in the second and third degree. William James Youmans, 34, also of Beaufort, encounters charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and trafficking in persons, victim under the age of 18 years old.

Investigation Reports

Bryan’s arrest warrant outlines his alleged involvement in a human trafficking scheme. The accusations suggest that Bryan provided the underage victim with housing and drugs, facilitating sex trafficking from his residence between February 1 and 13, 2024. An identical timeline is listed on Talley’s warrant, whereby he is also accused of intentionally possessing and distributing exploitative materials featuring minors.

Youmans’ charges circle around the same time span, attributing to him the intentional offense of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The warrant alleges that Youmans was aware that the victim was a reported missing person and, like Bryan and Talley, provided her with shelter, drugs, and involved her in sex trafficking activities.

Cooperation between the Joint Agencies for an Ongoing Investigation

Numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Beaufort Police Department, and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, joined forces with U.S. Homeland Security in the ongoing investigation. The public is urged to bring forward any information related to the case by contacting either the National Human Trafficking Hotline or SLED.

Addressing Human Trafficking

Hardeeville Police Chief Sam Woodward has informed of his department’s efforts to resolve cases of human trafficking, acknowledging that such activities involve sexual exploitation, child endangerment, and forced labor. The public was encouraged to report any suspicious activity, and the department offered educational resources to help the community understand and identify instances of human trafficking.

Supporting Community Involvement

In fostering efforts to involve the local community, Woodward emphasizes the importance of attention to uncommon occurrences and suspicious activities. To bolster this, the police department has launched a citizens police academy aimed at improving public awareness about serious crimes, including human trafficking, engaging the community in the initiative to curb such offenses.

Looking Forward

The authorities are hopeful that the arrests might act as a catalyst to uncover more suspects, encouraging victims to come forward with information and help the agencies in addressing the issue of human trafficking in the community. The ongoing investigations may also lead to more arrests, serving as a preventive measure and strategy to manage the increasing rate of human trafficking in South Carolina.