Knoxville, TN (KPD / WOKI) – Detectives with the Knoxville Police Department and Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested Travis Dewayne Mitchell Jr. (DOB 08/28/78) on Friday, August 22 on federal child sex abuse charges.

With the support of KPD Special Operations Squad personnel, Mitchell Jr. was taken into custody after he arrived at a business on North Broadway with his 4-year-old child to meet with an undercover officer who was posing as a potential child sex trafficker.

Further investigation revealed that Mitchell had left a 10-year-old child at his home. Detectives went to Mitchell’s residence and found the 10-year-old in the home unattended, with no running water and with no phone or other means of communication. The Department of Children’s Services responded to the scene and removed the children to temporary safe housing.

Mitchell was charged with a violation of USC 18-2422b, online enticement of a minor, and is being held at the Blount County Detention Center. His initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee will be held on Monday.

This child rescue operation was the result of an investigation into suspected child sex trafficking by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Knoxville Police Department. KPD is the lead agency of the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.