By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Two Alabaster men have been released from the Shelby County Jail after posting bonds shortly after they were arrested and charged with allegedly operating an illegal escort service involving at least one juvenile victim in and around Alabaster, according to the Alabaster Police Department.

The APD arrested Jeffrey Todd Langley, 52, and Sutton Stafford Burleigh, 35, both of who lists an address on Cambridge Pointe Circle in Alabaster, on Sept. 29.

Langley was charged with one count of first-degree human trafficking, one count of second-degree human trafficking, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He was released from the Shelby County Jail on Sept. 30 after posting bonds totaling $136,000.

Langley faces up to life in prison if he is convicted of the first-degree human trafficking charge, and up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted of the second-degree human trafficking charge.

Burleigh was charged with one count of second-degree human trafficking. He was released from the Shelby County Jail the same day he was arrested after posting a $60,000 bond.

Burleigh faces up to 20 years if he is convicted of the second-degree human trafficking charge.

The arrests came after Alabaster obtained information regarding an illegal escort service

operating in Alabaster and surrounding areas. After receiving the information, APD detectives launched an investigation into the matter, which involved surveillance and intelligence gathering.

“People who prey on our young people for financial gain will always be a top priority of this agency,” said Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney. “We are going to do all we can to provide help and support for the victims of this horrible crime.”

According Langley’s arrest warrants, he allegedly “knowingly obtained, recruited, enticed, solicited, inducted, threatened, isolated, harbored, held, restrained, transported, provided or maintained any minor for the purpose of causing a minor to engage in sexual servitude” between July and September of this year.

Both Langley and Burleigh were allegedly involved in arranging or providing “individuals for the victim … to engage n sex with for U.S. currency” in June of this year.

In addition to the Alabaster Police Department, the Pelham Police Department, the United

States Marshal Service and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office were also involved in the investigation.

Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney said the case remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone having information regarding the two suspects should call the Alabaster Police

Department Criminal Investigations Division at 664-6850.