The Lynchburg Police Department made an arrest in a sex-trafficking investigation

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — In an ongoing investigation into a sex-trafficking operation, the Lynchburg Police Department, in partnership with the Virginia State Police Human Trafficking Unit, made an arrest Thursday.

The investigation began in June 2024 and focused on the 700 block of Leesville Road in Lynchburg and was aimed at dismantling a sex trafficking ring in the area.

On Thursday, December 12, LPD and VSP conducted “Operation White Rabbit”, executing search warrants in both the city of Lynchburg and Thomasville, North Carolina.

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Thomas Lee Thomas II, 58, of Thomasville, North Carolina, has been charged with several felony counts of sex trafficking.

He is currently awaiting extradition back to Virginia to face the following charges:

• Receiving money from the earnings of male or female prostitutes
• Commercial sex trafficking
• Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking
• Keeping, living in or visiting an obscene place for immoral purposes
• Receiving money for procuring or placing a person in a location for the purpose of sex trafficking

“The Lynchburg Police Department would like to express its appreciation to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office in Lexington, NC for their valuable assistance and partnership throughout this investigation,” LPD wrote in the statement. “Additionally, the department expresses its gratitude to Freedom424 and its dedicated staff for their outstanding support and resources during the operation.”

The investigation is ongoing and authorities encourage anyone with information that could help in this case to contact Detective Davis of the Lynchburg Police Department at 434-455-6166 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900.