Authorities in South Carolina say over a dozen men are facing charges after an undercover operation targeting online child sexual exploitation.
The Irmo Police Department and many other agencies said 14 males have been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor, with several facing further charges.
Investigators stated that one or two further suspects have yet to be located, but they will be held accountable.
The procedure took place during a week in April. According to investigators, the males attempted to arrange sexual contacts with people they suspected to be minors.
“The goal of the operation was to identify offenders, gather evidence, and intervene before any child was harmed,” Irmo Police Sgt. Kelly Mountzouros explained. “Every arrest represents a potential victim who was protected.”
According to officials with the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, online predators use various gaming systems, chat apps, and social platforms.
The task force said that the majority of the suspects were apprehended once they arrived at a designated location.
Specific applications utilized in the operation were not revealed, but investigators did mention platforms that parents should be cautious of, including as Roblox, Minecraft, and any app with direct chat features.
According to investigator Kevin Atkins, predators may give presents and money to their victims. However, there is no typical criminal profile.
“It knows no bounds; we’ve arrested doctors, police officers in these things, in these undercover chat operations, so there’s no prototypical offender that we’re looking for,” Atkins stated. “People take advantage of children all the time, and it’s easy to do it online.”
Stephanie Hite, the task force’s education and outreach coordinator, advised parents to observe changes in their children’s behavior to help prevent them from becoming a victim.
“Be nosey; they may be upset with you, but it’s a good thing to be nosey and really ask a lot of questions,” Hite replied.
Changes in clothes, withdrawal, and attitude or manner are all examples of behavioral red flags, according to Hite.
Authorities stated the investigation is still ongoing, and no children were involved in the operation.
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