Seven people have been charged following an undercover sting targeting online sexual predators, Woodstock police said Friday.
The seven men believed they were communicating online with girls under the age of 16, according to Brittany Page, police spokeswoman. The men arrived at various locations to meet the girls, but investigators were waiting instead, Page said.
The three-day operation was a joint investigation between Woodstock police and the GBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, police said.
Those arrested at the scene include Jason Bryan Major, 33, of Dawsonville; Robert Jones, 37, of Atlanta; Garrett Hick, 21, of Atlanta; Bryan Gomez, 24, of Canton; and Mark Shin, 38, of Newnan, according to police.
All five were charged with child exploitation, criminal attempt of child molestation, and criminal attempt of enticing a child for indecent purposes. Major was also charged with criminal attempt to commit sodomy, according to police. The five were being held without bond Friday at the Cherokee County jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
Two others were also charged in the investigation. David Nelson, 63, of Gadsden, Ala., was charged with computer pornography, child exploitation and criminal attempt to commit child molestation, Page said. Nelson was arrested in Alabama, according to police. The seventh suspect was not identified and not in custody late Friday morning.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the national cybertip line at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com. Reports may be made 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
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