A now-dismissed United States Army Lieutenant Colonel was convicted of attempting to sexually assault a child last month after he was arrested as part of a child sex sting operation in Hall County in early 2024.
The U.S. Army issued a statement on Wednesday, July 30, saying Lt. Col. Rene G. Gamara, age 45 of Bonaire, was convicted by a military judge on July 22, 2025. He was found guilty on a charge of attempting to sexually assault a child, and was found not guilty of a charge of attempting to sexually abuse a child by indecent communication.
Gamara was one of 16 people arrested in a phase of "Operation Good Shepherd," a multi-agency operation where law enforcement, including the Hall County Sheriff's Office, participated in online communications with adults who believed they were communicating with minors. They then arranged for the suspects to meet them at various locations for what the suspects believed was the purpose of having sex with minors.
"Gamara, a U.S. Army Reserve officer on active duty serving at Fort Gordon (in Augusta,) engaged in online communications with a member of the HCSO posing as a 14-year-old female child," the statement from the U.S. Army said. "He traveled over two hours from Martinez, Ga. to Braselton, Ga in order to meet the child in person."
Gamara was sentenced to three years in jail as well as being dismissed from the Army. He was reportedly a cyber officer assigned to the Army's Cyber Command.
Gamara will serve his jail sentence at the Joint Regional Confinement Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Army officials added that he will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.
U.S. Army prosecutor, Maj. Steven Poland, condemned Gamara's actions and thanked the Hall County Sheriff's Office for their help in arresting Gamara.
"As a lieutenant colonel, Rene Gamara held a position of significant trust and responsibility. His actions represented a grave violation of the standards expected of officers in the U.S. Army," Maj. Poland said. "We commend the Georgia ICAC Task Force, operated by the Hall County Sheriff's Office, for their outstanding work in this case and their unwavering commitment to protecting our communities."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/8/1295864/us-army-captain-convicted-after-2024-child-sex-sting-in-hall-county