Seven people were arrested in an undercover operation in Hall County aimed at arresting those using the internet for illicit sexual purposes.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said "Operation Lights Out" had been in the works since spring, with investigators setting up the sting operation at a location in western Hall County. B.J. Williams with the sheriff's office said while seven total suspects were arrested, only two are facing felony charges.
Those suspects were identified as Jorge Francisco Arevalo, age 59 of Flowery Branch, and Juan Domingo Lesther Aguirre, age 29 of Cleveland.
"Mr. Arevalo...was using his computer to lure somebody he believed to be a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, and then Mr. Aguirre used a computer wireless service to ask for nude photos from someone that he believed was under the age of 18," Williams said.
The full list of those arrested in the investigation and their charges is below:
- Jorge Francisco Arevalo, 59, Flowery Branch – electronic exploitation of a minor, grooming a child for indecent purposes (felony charges)
- Juan Domingo Lesther Aguirre, 29, Cleveland – electronic exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor (felony charges)
- James Cole Johnson, 29, Flowery Branch – pandering (misdemeanor)
- Andrew Stakoun, 56, Atlanta – pandering (misdemeanor)
- Desameria Lysandra Lattimore, 27, Winder – prostitution (misdemeanor)
- Candie Petty, 45, of Chatsworth – prostitution, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana (misdemeanor charges) and felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
- Qwantavious Dashay Tolbert, 29, Winder - possession of a Schedule II drug with intent to distribute (felony)
Arevalo, Aguirre and Petty remain in custody with no bond. Tolbert has been granted a bond of $8,100, but he remains in custody at of noon Tuesday. Johnson, Stakoun and Lattimore each posted a bond of $1,300 and have been released from jail.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Floyd County Police Department assisted Hall authorities in the operation.
