Illegal alien sentenced to federal prison for attempting to lure Georgia teen for sex

illegal-alien-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-attempting-to-lure-georgia-teen-for-sex

 

A Mexican national who attempted to lure a young teen for sexual activity has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison.

Alvaro Hernandez, 36, of Bristol, Ga., a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 76 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Herndandez will be required to register as a sex offender and to serve 10 years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Alvaro Hernandez was enjoying his illegal access to the American dream, living and working in rural Georgia, when he tried to pay for sex with someone he believed was a child,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our law enforcement partners helped protect our community from this predator by intercepting him during the perverted attempt.”

According to court documents and testimony, in March 2019, investigators with the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted a joint operation targeting child predators operating near Submarine Base Kings Bay. Hernandez, who responded to an internet message purporting to be from a 14-year-old offering sex for money, was arrested after he drove from his residence in Pierce County, Ga., and arrived at what he believed was the teen’s residence in St. Mary’s, Ga.

“This sentencing should serve as a warning that sexual predators who target vulnerable children will be fully investigated and prosecuted,” said NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo. “NCIS is grateful to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office for its continued partnership in keeping communities where Navy and Marine Corps families live safe.”

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.

AllOnGeorgia

AllOnGeorgia

 

 

Source: https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-public-safety/illegal-alien-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-attempting-to-lure-georgia-teen-for-sex/

Valdosta State University dean among 14 arrested in online child predator sting

valdosta-state-university-dean-among-14-arrested-in-online-child-predator-sting

VALDOSTA, Ga. — 14 people were arrested in South Georgia last week after a four-day operation targeting child predators.

According to the GBI, Operation Broken Arrow was based around the Valdosta area and took several months of planning to execute.

The GBI says the 14 people arrested range in age from 24-57 and they traveled from areas around South Georgia with the intent to meet a child for sex.

They were identified as:

  • Dave Vincent Almon, 43, retail manager
  • Billy Stephen Carter, 57, truck driver
  • Eric Bernard Copeland, press operator
  • Walter Lee Curry, 33, laborer
  • Jamian Hogan, 34, retail associate
  • John Henry Hursey, 45, carpenter
  • Eugene Andega Mainah, 35, unemployed
  • Keith Morrison, 43, truck driver
  • Wyman Rene Phillips, 36, electrician
  • Wilford Sermons, 28, customer service representative
  • Josue Trejo, 31, forklift driver
  • Bronson Jamari D. Tripp, 24, retail associate
  • Keith Walters, 44, university Dean
  • Justin Na’eem Warren, 24, student

The Valdosta State University web site lists Walters as the dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.

The GBI says at least one of the people they arrested had previously been arrested on a peeping tom charge, and at least two of the other arrestees had been investigated for sex crimes before.

19 mobile devices were seized as evidence in the operation.

According to the news release, investigators had more than 120 exchanges with people on social media or the Internet platforms. Over 40 cases were established that met the threshold for arrest, and 14 of those cases were concluded with arrests.

The 14 are formally charged with violating the Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007 and/or Trafficking of Persons for Labor or Sexual Servitude.

Additional charges and arrests may be forthcoming.

For more information on the operation, click here.

 

Source: https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/crime/valdosta-state-university-dean-among-14-arrested-in-online-child-predator-sting/93-815ec188-e7eb-42ef-b1c6-f86e6ed44756

Operation Good Shepherd: 10 arrested in Hall County child predator sting

operation-good-shepherd:-10-arrested-in-hall-county-child-predator-sting

The operation began back in October.

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Ten people were arrested after a months-long Hall County child predator sting, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

The undercover investigation, known as Operation Good Shepherd, targets online child predators.

The operation began back in October when investigators began communicating with adults online who thought they were speaking with children. Authorities said they talked to the adults through several platforms including social media and text messages.

The adults who were alleged to be communicating with — who they believed to be minors — range in age from 24 to 47 and are residents of Georgia cities from Lilburn to Cleveland.

Officials said some of them offered money to detectives, who they thought were children, to perform sexual acts and others sent obscene pictures and described obscene sexual acts.

Hall County authorities said they began taking people into custody on Thursday, Nov.21 and the arrests happened nearly daily after that. It came to an end after its final arrest Nov. 27, according to authorities.

“I’m very proud of the efforts of our own Criminal Investigations Division in heading up and executing this operation,” Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said.  “I’m confident the hard work of our team and partner agencies in this effort will make the community safer for our children.”

Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC), the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and Floyd County Police Department were in collaboration to carry out Operation Good Shepherd.

The operation is complete, but authorities said each case remains under investigation and additional charges may occur.

The 10 arrested are: 

Patrick C. Reese, 32, of Flowery Branch
• Sexual exploitation of children
• Aggravated child molestation, criminal attempt

Alan Alberto Rojas, 24, of Lilburn
• Child molestation, criminal attempt
• Aggravated child molestation, criminal attempt
• Obscene material, furnish electronically to minor
• Enticing a child online
• Human trafficking

Cynthia Lynn Michelle Lloyd, 25, of Gainesville
• Prostitution

Patricia Erica Burt, 37, of Cumming
• Prostitution
• Human trafficking

Michael Ryan Jewell, 35, of Buford
• Sexual exploitation of children

Christopher Alan Hoover, 33, of Jasper
• Enticing a child online x 5
• Sexual exploitation of children
• Pandering by compulsion

Colt David Clemmer, 33, of Talmo
• Sexual exploitation of children

Matthew David Ingram, 34, of Gainesville
• Sexual exploitation of children x 3

William David Gowdy, 40, of Cumming
• Sexual exploitation of children x 3
• Electronic enticement of a minor

Jason Noel Lingerfelt, 47, of Cleveland
• Enticing a child online x 4

Source: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/10-arrested-in-hall-county-child-predator-sting/85-38d09828-35ac-43da-b0ba-02bcf8c9d1c4