Twenty-six individuals were arrested over an 11-day period in a statewide child exploitation operation named “Operation Sneaky Peach.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit along with 24 participating agencies that are all part of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force participated in the operation.
Sneaky Peach was a statewide, multi-jurisdictional coordinated effort by all agencies involved to identify and arrest individuals involved in technology facilitated crimes against children. The operation involved three months of planning and included both proactive and reactive cases investigated by the GBI and affiliate agencies with the Georgia ICAC Task Force.
Proactive investigations consisted of targeting peer-to-peer network users sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material, commonly known as child pornography, and undercover chat investigations targeting those that communicate with and arrange to meet what is believed to be a child for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts.
Reactive investigations consisted of working CyberTips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that involved the possession, distribution, and/or manufacturing of CSAM.
During Operation Sneaky Peach, law enforcement agencies with the Georgia ICAC Task Force executed 34 residential search warrants and three additional enforcement actions in 28 counties across Georgia. These search warrants and other enforcement actions resulted in the arrest of 26 individuals.
Digital forensic investigators previewed 296 electronic devices on scene and seized 281 electronic devices to include cellular phones, tablets, computers, hard drives, and various electronic data store devices.
Sneaky Peach identified 30 children that were residing in households where online child sexual exploitation was occurring. Four of those arrested as a result of the operation admitted to current or prior hands-on sexual offenses against a child.
The following individuals were among 26 arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of children and other related offenses.
Christopher Williams, 37, and Kieran Michael O’Connor, 31, Hinesville
Randy Ho, 22, Forest Park
William Ellis, 33, Cleveland
Russell Summerville, 38, Athens
Jeffery Lynn, 51, Rossville
Michael Beane, 58, Waycross
James Lail, 48, Macon
Jeremy Gunn, 33, Fayetteville
Douglas Strong, 64, Auburn
Bennie House, 35, East Ellijay
Thaddeus Anderson, 34, and Ethan Cook, 18, Canton
Jimmy Evans, 65, Milledgeville
Paul Angel, 70, Danielsville
Trent Bailey, 33, Hartwell
Brian Jones, 38, Roopville
Carl Hill, 42, Cartersville
Damian Wright, 22, Acworth
Dustin Bohrer, 39, St. Simons Island
Carey William Wiley Lewis, 35, Savannah
Trevious Murrell, 35, Americus
Jesse Kelley, 31, Talking Rock
David Latta, 52, Lawrenceville
Zachary Mitchell Allen, 40, Decatur
More arrests may be forthcoming in this investigation once complete forensic processing of the seized electronic devices have occurred.
Anyone with information about these cases, or other cases of child exploitation, is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Unit at (404) 270-8870.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling (800) 597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online