(LibertySociety.com) – For the second time in the last four years, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia arrested multiple people who were attempting to solicit juveniles for wanton acts. Partnering with local authorities is Alpharetta, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the sheriff’s office conducted a three-day operation called Operation Masquerade and arrested 11 people. A variety of charges were filed against the offenders. A 33-year-old Lawrenceville man claimed he was from Guatemala during the online conversations. He was attempting to entice juveniles by saying that he was selling Bibles as part of his mission trip.
Another suspect that authorities apprehended was previously charged and convicted of a similar crime back in 2014. During this operation, he was charged with attempting to flee from authorities in addition to the charges related to online solicitation. The operation was seen as a success, as authorities aimed to arrest people who “prey on juveniles online and solicit them” for wanton activity. Most of the suspects were charged with computer crime, illegal solicitation, and enticing or seducing a minor. Some were charged with obscene internet contact with a minor.
Erick Rafael Garban-Ochoa, 31, of Stone Mountain was identified as an illegal migrant who came from Venezuela to the United States just over a month ago. The district attorney’s office reported that there are five other suspects who have warrants pending for their arrest as a result of the operation. Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman said that he has a simple message for predators. “You want to harm a child? Not in Forsyth County!” He advised parents to be aware of what their children are doing online, warning that predators are opportunists and are actively awaiting children to solicit. Freeman also expressed appreciation for the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the other agencies that assisted in the operation. Back in 2019, the county arrested 24 suspects during Operation Just Cause and charged them with similar crimes.
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