Latest news with #OperationByteDown
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
GBI arrests 2 local men for Sexual Exploitation of Children, part of statewide ‘Operation Byte Down'
GEORGIA (WJBF) – A statewide child exploitation operation dubbed 'Operation Byte Down' has led to the arrest of 17 people, 2 locally. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, along with 33 other agencies that are members of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, participated in the operation. Operation Byte Down identified 13 children that were living in households where online child sexual exploitation was occurring and one of those arrested admitted to current or prior hands-on sexual offenses against a child. The following people were arrested during Operation Byte Down and charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children and other related offenses:Kong Hon Yim, age 63, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Ezequiel Ortiz, age 30, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Jianglin Meng, age 26, of Norcross, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Morgan Albright, age 18, of Winder, Georgia, booked into the Barrow County Jail , age 28, of Evans, Georgia, booked into the Columbia County Jail Chaunansheng Fu, age 28, of Doraville, Georgia, booked into the DeKalb County Jail Steven Ray Mendenhall, age 53, of Macon, Georgia, booked into the Bibb County Jail Elvis Beltran Pineda, age 25, of Alpharetta, Georgia, booked into the Forsyth County Jail Richard Jason Lowery, age 43, of Augusta, Georgia, booked into the Richmond County Jail Patrick Dulebohn, age 43, of Savannah, Georgia, booked into the Chatham County Jail Dennis Farmer, age 65, of Tifton, Georgia, booked into the Tift County Jail Christian Havanki, age 29, of Pooler, Georgia, booked into the Chatham County Jail Thomas Walker, age 37, of Helen, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail Derrick Long, age 25, of Kingsland, Georgia, booked into the Camden County Jail Jonathan Sells, age 39, of Cleveland, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail Todd Shelton, age 61, of Acworth, Georgia, booked into the Cherokee County Jail Timothy Grimsley, age 36, of Tifton, Georgia, booked into the Tift County Jail The GBI says that during Operation Byte Down, law enforcement agencies within the Georgia ICAC Task Force executed 30 residential search warrants across the State of Georgia. These search warrants and other enforcement actions resulted in the arrest of 17 people. Digital forensic investigators previewed 137 electronic devices on scene and seized 361 electronic devices, including cellular phones, tablets, computers, hard drives, and various electronic data storage devices. More arrests are possible once complete forensic processing of the seized electronic devices are complete. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
17 arrested in statewide operation targeting child sexual exploitation
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests of 17 people accused of technology-facilitated crimes against children. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Operation Byte Down involved the GBI and 33 law enforcement agencies in Georgia. Through Operation Byte Down, suspects were arrested for various child exploitation charges, including sharing child pornography and contact or attempted contact with a minor for sex. The GBI said they found 13 children living in homes where online child sexual exploitation occurred, with one of the suspects admitting to current or prior hands-on sexual offenses against a child. Investigators seized 361 electronic devices, including phones, tablets, computers, hard drives and various data storage devices. TRENDING STORIES: North Georgia man reported his mom missing. Deputies say he was hiding her body Surveillance video captures mugging, Atlanta neighborhood searching for attacker South Fulton mayor stripped of most duties, must return expensive items he purchased The following people were arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of children and other related offenses: Kong Hon Yim, 63, of Duluth, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Ezequiel Ortiz, 30, of Duluth, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Jianglin Meng, 26, of Norcross, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Morgan Albright, 18, of Winder, Georgia, booked into the Barrow County Jail Steven Michael Yanizeski, 28, of Evans, booked into the Columbia County Jail Chaunansheng Fu, 28, of Doraville, Georgia, booked into the DeKalb County Jail Steven Ray Mendenhall, 53, of Macon, booked into the Bibb County Jail Elvis Beltran Pineda, 25, of Alpharetta, booked into the Forsyth County Jail Richard Jason Lowery, 43, of Augusta, booked into the Richmond County Jail Patrick Dulebohn, 43, of Savannah, booked into the Chatham County Jail Dennis Farmer, 65, of Tifton, booked into the Tift County Jail Christian Havanki, 29, of Pooler, booked into the Chatham County Jail Thomas Walker, 37, of Helen, booked into the White County Jail Derrick Long, 25, of Kingsland, booked into the Camden County Jail Jonathan Sells, 39, of Cleveland, booked into the White County Jail Todd Shelton, 61, of Acworth, booked into the Cherokee County Jail Timothy Grimsley, 36, of Tifton, booked into the Tift County Jail More arrests are possible. Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation can call the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or report the tip online. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling 1-800-597-8477, submitting a tip online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
17 arrested on sexual exploitation of children charges: GBI
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — 'Operation Byte Down,' a statewide law enforcement effort, led to the arrest of 17 people for sexual exploitation of children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said Tuesday. Law enforcement agencies executed 30 residential search warrants across Georgia, the GBI said. Digital forensic investigators also previewed 137 electronic devices and seized 361 electronic devices, including cellular phones, tablets, computers, hard drives and various electronic data storage devices. A GBI spokesperson said the search warrants resulted in the 17 arrests. Operation Byte Down also found 13 children that were living in households where online child sexual exploitation was occurring. The GBI released the following list of people who were arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of children and other related offenses: Kong Hon Yim, 63, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Ezequiel Ortiz, 30, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Jianglin Meng, 26, of Norcross, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail Morgan Albright, 18, of Winder, Georgia, booked into the Barrow County Jail Steven Michael Yanizeski, 28, of Evans, Georgia, booked into the Columbia County Jail Chaunansheng Fu, 28, of Doraville, Georgia, booked into the DeKalb County Jail Steven Ray Mendenhall, 53, of Macon, Georgia, booked into the Bibb County Jail Elvis Beltran Pineda, 25, of Alpharetta, Georgia, booked into the Forsyth County Jail Richard Jason Lowery, 43, of Augusta, Georgia, booked into the Richmond County Jail Patrick Dulebohn, 43, of Savannah, Georgia, booked into the Chatham County Jail Dennis Farmer, 65, of Tifton, Georgia, booked into the Tift County Jail Christian Havanki, 29, of Pooler, Georgia, booked into the Chatham County Jail Thomas Walker, 37, of Helen, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail Derrick Long, 25, of Kingsland, Georgia, booked into the Camden County Jail Jonathan Sells, 39, of Cleveland, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail Todd Shelton, 61, of Acworth, Georgia, booked into the Cherokee County Jail Timothy Grimsley, 36, of Tifton, Georgia, booked into the Tift County Jail One of those arrested admitted to current or prior hands-on sexual offenses against a child but was not directly identified by the GBI in their press release. The GBI Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit and 33 other agencies that are members of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, participated in the operation. You can view the agencies by clicking here. Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
