Twelve people from across the state of Georgia, including one man from Lawrenceville, have been arrested in an online child exploitation crack-down.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials announced the arrests Monday from "Operation Golden Eagle," which was a three-day operation beginning on Thursday, May 4.
“'Operation Golden Eagle' took several months of planning and involved the collaboration of 12 law enforcement agencies," officials said in a release. "The arrestees, ranging in age from 24-64, traveled from areas around Bartow County, GA, with the intent to meet a child for sex. Eleven of those arrested believed they were going to a location to meet with a child and engage in prearranged sex acts. One was arrested for possession of child sexual abuse material found during a search warrant execution."
The Hall County Sheriff's Office was among the law enforcement agencies assisting in the operation. The investigation mostly involved suspects from Northwest Georgia.
GBI officials said investigators operated undercover to have exchanges with the suspects, many of which officials said led to the suspects having sexual conversations with people they believed to be minors.
A list of those arrested in the operation is below:
- William Biggs, Jr., age 64 of Cartersville
- Curtis Breeden, age 33 of Cartersville
- Jonathan Brumit, age 42 of Lindale
- Tyler Jordan Croft, age 24 of Hull
- Senaca Terry Darns, age 43 of Cartersville
- Ameziane Hadjaz, age 38 of Acworth
- Dannis Lucious Jackson, age 43 of Rome
- Jose A. Martinez-Medina, age 45 of Cave Springs
- Jason Rogich, age 47 of Adairsville
- Algenone Kenonta Shaw, age 33 of Cartersville
- Justin Leo Tan, age 24 of Lawrenceville
- Melvin Walcott, age 56 of Cartersville
