Three men arrested during a child sexual exploitation operation based in Forsyth County entered plea deals this week.
A months-long investigation concluded over four days in September 2019, when 24 people were arrested as part of "Operation Just Cause" for computer or electronic pornography, violating the Child Exploitation Prevention Act and trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude. Of those arrested, three men from Cumming entered the pleas this week, according to a release from the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
Steven Vinnenberg, 66, Robert Harley Martin, 38, and John O'dell, 40, all entered guilty pleas.
Vinnenberg was sentenced to 30 years with four in custody and the balance on probation; Martin was sentenced to 20 years with eight to serve in custody and the balance on probation; O'dell was sentenced to 20 years with one year in custody suspended upon 180 days in Probation Detention Center.
Additionally, the release states a Gainesville man was also charged during the operation when agents arresting the driver located meth during a search of the vehicle Roger Nicholson, 44, was a passenger in. Nicholson also pleaded guilty to his charges of violation of Georgia Controlled Substances Act and possession of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 5 years probation.
13 other law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation as members of the Georgia ICAC Task Force.
