Man accused of holding 8 women against their will facing more charges
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - Friday, police announced 12 additional felony charges against a man accused of holding eight women against their will inside a multimillion-dollar home in Sandy Springs. Meanwhile, the FBI wants other women who are likely scared, but may have been involved to come forward.
"Based on many of these victims having come from out of state, there will be more victims and we are appealing to the public, whether they think of themselves as victims or and , to come forward, " FBI agent Steve Emmett said.
WATCH: The FBI is urging other possible victims to come forward as more charges are levied
Sandy Springs police confirmed Roberts owned an entertainment business called Livestar Nation. Roberts appears in several Instagram videos promoting the business and a lavish lifestyle of diamond Rolex watches, upscale homes, and lots of cash.
Police said Kenndric Roberts, 33, is now facing five counts of false imprisonment, five counts of trafficking a person for labor and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Roberts was scheduled to appear in court Friday morning after waiving his first appearance at the Fulton County Jail on Thursday. He waived again Friday.
Thursday, the mother of one of the ladies held against their will said her daughter dropped out of college and was promised a job paying $80,000 a year by her “boss.” The Roswell mother, who did not want to identify herself, said her daughter joined the so-called business Roberts was allegedly running back in August, just two months after she graduated from high school.
WATCH: Family members of the women speak out against the Kenndric Roberts
The mother said Roberts forced her daughter and several other young women to dance at strip clubs around Atlanta, but the mother said the girls were never paid. She said Roberts would buy them lavish gifts and take them to restaurants, but never gave them the money they earned. She said she only saw her 19-year-old daughter about four times from August to March.
"He is a dangerous man who constantly threatened the girls and even told them he would hurt their families if they left," the Roswell mother said.
According to police, a woman called 911 Tuesday morning asking for help getting out of the Sandy Springs home, which is located in the 100 block of Strauss Lane.
Police released the 911 call Wednesday, which revealed the 20-year-old woman who asked for help wanted to leave the home, but feared her "boss" would kill her. She said during the call that the other women in the home were being forced to dance for money.
WATCH: Hear excerpts from the 911 call which prompted the investigation
Sandy Springs police requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation's assistance in the investigation. Officers and agents ended up rescuing the eight women from the home, and Roberts was taken into custody.
Roberts remains at the Fulton County Jail.
Any other victims or persons with more information are asked to contact authorities.
The 6,800-square-foot house where the women were found is located in a gated community, and last sold for $1.2 million.
FOX 5's Aungelique Proctor spoke with Sentinel Ferry on the River Homeowners Association President Mark Feinberg, who said the community is shocked.
WATCH: Residents are shocked to hear of a human trafficking arrest in their neighborhood
"Everybody in the neighborhood is very shocked and upset about what's been going on. Now, anybody in the know, knows the issues that are going on in the city of Atlanta in regard to sex traffic, would not necessarily be shocked. This has happened in other nice neighborhoods as well," Feinberg reflected.
"I'm not aware that any of the neighbors heard from this gentleman [Roberts], other than maybe a passing hello," Feinberg said.
Neighbors said they noticed lots of luxury cars and people going in and out, but they never suspected anything as heartbreaking as this.