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Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
19 men, ages 21-68, arrested in 4-day human trafficking operation in Georgia
MUSCOGEE COUNTY, Ga. - Nineteen men ranging in age from 21 to 68 have been arrested in a four-day human trafficking operation in Georgia targeting online predators who attempted to exploit children. What we know Dubbed Operation Lights Out, the undercover sting was led by the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The operation ran from April 25 to April 27 and involved 12 law enforcement agencies from across Georgia and beyond. According to officials, the suspects engaged in sexually explicit communication online with people they believed to be minors and arranged to meet them for sex. Some traveled to do so, unaware they were actually interacting with undercover agents. Authorities say both boys and girls were targeted. What they're saying "These predators will travel from near and far to victimize your children," said a statement from the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office. "We take these crimes against children very seriously." Officials urged parents to closely monitor their children's online activity, warning that many predators use social media and internet chat platforms to make contact with minors and introduce them to sexual content. What's next Several of the suspects face charges under Georgia's Human Trafficking law, while others were charged under the Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act. Three of the men arrested are also subject to ICE detainers due to their immigration status. Those arrested include: Isael Alvarez, 43, Columbus, GA – Human Trafficking, ICE detainer Marquise Anderson, 37, Seale, AL – Human Trafficking Darnell Brooks, 40, Box Springs, GA – Human Trafficking Roger Burkes, 62, Columbus, GA – Computer/Child Exploitation charges Javious Davenport, 30, LaGrange, GA – Human Trafficking Kevin Edosmwan, 38, Atlanta, GA – Computer/Child Exploitation charges Jonathan Evans, 46, LaGrange, GA – Human Trafficking Galvin Gordey, 44, Pittsview, AL – Human Trafficking Muhammed Gwandu, 68, Ontario, Canada – Human Trafficking, ICE detainer Gene Melner, 37, Palatine, IL – Human Trafficking Greggory Meeks, 45, LaGrange, GA – Human Trafficking Colton McLamb, 23, Valley, AL – Computer/Child Exploitation charges Zidarius Poole, 21, Columbus, GA – Computer/Child Exploitation charges Hunter Salmi, 22, Phenix City, AL – Computer/Child Exploitation charges Marco Santos Chavez, 30, Fort Payne, AL – Human Trafficking, ICE detainer Anthony Seldon, 34, Columbus, GA – Human Trafficking, Fleeing, Obstruction, Reckless Driving Cameron Shelley, 25, Columbus, GA – Human Trafficking Jungmok Shin, 33, Phenix City, AL – Human Trafficking Carl Sprayberry, 32, Columbus, GA – Human Trafficking Additional arrests and charges may follow as the investigation continues. Agencies involved in the operation: Muscogee County Sheriff's Office Georgia Bureau of Investigation Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Secret Service Homeland Security Investigations U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division Forsyth, Cherokee, Jasper, and Colquitt County Sheriff's Offices Polk County Police Department Gwinnett County Police Department Officials say this will not be the last human trafficking operation conducted in Georgia as law enforcement remains focused on ending child exploitation.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
19 arrested in major human trafficking bust by Muscogee County and GBI
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — A multi-agency human trafficking operation, named 'Operation Lights Out', ended in the arrest of 19 people on numerous charges. The four-day online, undercover investigation was coordinated by the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office. Operation Lights Out focused on people engaged in sexually explicit communications with children on the internet, who arranged to engage in sex with a child, and to travel for the purpose of having sex. The following were arrested and charged: • Carl Sprayberry, 32, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking.• Isael Alvarez, 43, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking and subject to an ICE Detainer.• Marquise Anderson, 37, of Seale, Alabama, charged with Human Trafficking.• Darnell Brooks, 40, of Box Springs, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking.• Roger Burkes, 62, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007.• Javious Davenport, 30, of LaGrange, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking.• Kevin Edosmwan, 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007.• Jonathan Evans, 46, of LaGrange, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking.• Galvin Latrell Gordey, 44, of Pittsview, Alabama, charged with Human Trafficking.• Muhammed Gwandu, 68, of Ontario, Canada, charged with Human Trafficking and subject to an ICE Detainer.• Gene Melner, 37, of Palatine, Illinois, charged with Human Trafficking.• Greggory Corbitt Meeks, 45, of LaGrange, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking.• Colton Lee McLamb, 23, of Valley, Alabama, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007.• Zidarius Poole, 21, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007.• Hunter Salmi, 22, of Phenix City, Alabama, charged with Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007.• Marco Antonio Santos Chavez, 30, of Fort Payne, Alabama, charged with Human Trafficking and subject to an ICE Detainer.• Anthony Seldon, 34, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, Reckless Driving, and Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers.• Cameron Shelley, 25, of Columbus, Georgia, charged with Human Trafficking.• Jungmok Shin, 33, of Phenix City, Alabama, charged with Human Trafficking. Operation Lights Out ran from April 24 – April 28. Additional charges and arrests may follow. Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman is now urging parents to closely monitor their children to ensure they are not communicating with these individuals. Online child predators use social media sites, messaging apps, and websites on the internet to find children, begin conversations with them, introduce sexual content and arrange meetings with children for the purpose of having sex. Both boys and girls are targeted by these predators. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
