3 men arrested after task force investigation targeting online child predators

Karlton Clay
·1 min read
28

GROVETOWN, Ga. (WJBF) – Three men have been arrested by the Grovetown Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force during a investigation aimed at targeting on-line child predators known as “Operation Sweet Tee.”

According to the Grovetown Police Department, Rubicel Castro-Cruz, 33, of Edgefield, S.C., Anthony Daquan Harley, 30, of Aiken, S.C., and James Charles Walker, 31, of Evans, Ga., were among the ones arrested during this operation.

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According to authorities, from Thursday, February 14th to Sunday, February 17th, undercover agents and investigators were engaged with over 1000 individuals, of which 157 verified adults expressed a desire to meet for sexual activity despite being advised that they were talking to a “child.”

Authorities add that of that number, 12 individuals stated that they would be willing to travel to meet with the “child” for sex and offered payment in exchange with some identified as living as far away as Chattanooga, Tennessee.

According to the Grovetown Police Department, Castro-Cruz, Harley, and Waller were each charged with one count of Sexual Exploitation of Children and committed to the Columbia County Detention Center with multiple electronic devices and two vehicles seized as part of the operation.

Authorities state that this is an ongoing investigation, and additional charges are expected.

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