A former Dawson County Sheriffs Deputy is leading the charge to stop human trafficking and the sexual exploiting of young girls in Atlanta, Georgia.

Frank Sosebee, a former 16-year veteran with the local force, is coordinating a statewide golf tournament with the Hall County Correctional Institute in an effort to end the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 11 in Atlanta.

The number one city in America for sexual trafficking is Atlanta, Sosebee said. A pimp in Atlanta earns about $33,000 a week. Yearly in the city, about $290 million exchanges hands, untaxed.

All proceeds of the golf tournament will help stop sexual exploitation in Georgia,

Ive been blessed to coordinate several golf tournaments such as the Georgia Sheriffs Associations, but these young ladies really need our help and support, Sosebee said.

Christina Robeson is a community volunteer in Gainesville and said girls who runaway from home are the highest risk group.

One in three runaway girls are picked up and trafficked within the first 72 hours, Robeson said. Theyre on the street in need of food and shelter, and theyre easy targets.

Many are 11- to 14-years old.

Robeson is also the PTA coordinator for Street Grace, one organization that will benefit from the tournament.

Its a faith based organization that mobilizes financial resources, volunteer power, and material to help people, Robeson said.

Beautiful Feet Ministry is another.

We run ads and go to strip clubs offering encouragement to girls, and if they need help earning a G.E.D., finding a job, housing, we will help them with that.

Revved Up Kids is the third benefactor and teaches young children self-defense through local YMCAs.

The golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, May 4, Chatahoochee Golf Course, 301 Tommy Aaron Dr., Gainesville. Shotgun start at 8 a.m. Teams of four are $100 per person. Entry deadline is Monday, April 20. For more information or sponsorship, 770-536-3672.