Carr Appoints New Chief of Statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit

ATLANTA, GA - Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Chris Keegan has been appointed as the new Section Chief of the office's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. He fills the role of Hannah Palmquist, who previously served as the Section Chief since the Unit's formation in 2019. Palmquist recently transitioned to a new role as Senior External Engagement Liaison. Both appointments took effect on Aug. 3, 2026.

"Since joining our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2023, Chris Keegan has been a vital part of our team - helping to oversee major recovery operations and prosecutions," said Carr. "His leadership will prove essential as we work with all levels of law enforcement to rescue even more victims and take down even more offenders. We also want to recognize and thank Hannah Palmquist for her service over the past seven years. She has played a critical role in our Unit's success and assisted hundreds of victims in the process. We know both Hannah and Chris will continue to represent our state well in these new roles."

In 2019, with the support of Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp and leaders in the Georgia General Assembly, Carr created the first-of-its-kind statewide Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Since its inception, the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has secured more than 70 criminal convictions and rescued and assisted over 200 children. This Unit is based in Atlanta, with regional, satellite prosecutors and investigators in Macon and Augusta. The Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit is housed in the Attorney General's Prosecution Division, which also includes Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit, his White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, and his Organized Retail Crime Unit.

Chris Keegan - Senior Assistant Attorney General and Section Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit

Chris Keegan joined the Attorney General's Office as Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Section Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2023. In this role, he has helped to lead a team dedicated to the prosecution of domestic minor sex trafficking.

Keegan earned his bachelor's degrees in Political Science and History from Kennesaw State University and his law degree from the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Law. While in law school, he interned with the Cobb County District Attorney's Office. As a result of his hard work in Cobb County, Keegan was named the "Most Outstanding Prosecution Student" in UGA's School of Law Class of 2016.

After law school, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Coweta Judicial Circuit, eventually specializing as the county's gang and organized crime prosecutor. During this time, Keegan obtained convictions on murder, gang, child molestation, rape, child pornography, and domestic violence charges.

He has conducted national human trafficking trainings for the National Association of Attorneys General, the Attorney General Alliance, and the National District Attorneys Association.

Hannah Palmquist - Senior External Engagement Liaison

Hannah Palmquist joined the Attorney General's Office as Senior Assistant Attorney General and Section Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in 2019. In this role, she oversaw teams in Atlanta, Macon, and Augusta dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of domestic minor sex trafficking. Palmquist also provides training to local, national, and international audiences.

She previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for DeKalb and Cobb counties. In Cobb County, Palmquist started in the Trial Division before moving to the Special Victims Unit, where she prosecuted sexual offenses and crimes against children, including human trafficking. In September 2018, she became the supervisor of the Cobb County Juvenile Unit, where she worked with juvenile runaways and victims of human trafficking.

Palmquist earned her law degree from Emory University School of Law.