Operation Byte Down, a state-wide operation aimed at combating child exploitation, has resulted in the apprehension of a total of 17 individuals, with six of them hailing from local areas.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, along with 33 other agencies that are part of the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted the operation.
“Operation Byte Down identified 13 children that were living in households where online child sexual exploitation was occurring and one of those arrested admitted to current or prior hands-on sexual offenses against a child,” a GBI press release read.
The police made several arrests and charged a number of individuals with Sexual Exploitation of Children and other related offenses.
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Kong Hon Yim, 63, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
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Ezequiel Ortiz, 30, of Duluth, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
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Jianglin Meng, 26, of Norcross, Georgia, booked into the Gwinnett County Jail
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Morgan Albright, 18, of Winder, Georgia, booked into the Barrow County Jail
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Thomas Walker, 37, of Helen, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail
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Jonathan Sells, 39, of Cleveland, Georgia, booked into the White County Jail
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A 63-year-old man named Kong Hon Yim from Duluth, Georgia, has been arrested and taken into custody at the Gwinnett County Jail.
Ezequiel Ortiz, a 30-year-old resident of Duluth, Georgia, was arrested and taken to the Gwinnett County Jail.
Jianglin Meng, a 26-year-old resident of Norcross, Georgia, was arrested and subsequently booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.
Morgan Albright, an 18-year-old resident of Winder, Georgia, was recently taken into custody and booked into the Barrow County Jail.
Thomas Walker, a 37-year-old resident of Helen, Georgia, has been booked into the White County Jail.
Jonathan Sells, a 39-year-old resident of Cleveland, Georgia, has been incarcerated at the White County Jail.
During the operation, the ICAC Task Force carried out 30 residential search warrants across the state, with the participation of law enforcement agencies.
Digital forensic investigators thoroughly examined approximately 137 electronic devices at the crime scene. They seized a total of 361 electronic devices, which included cell phones, tablets, computers, hard drives, and other electronic data storage devices.
Operation Byte Down encompassed both proactive and reactive investigations.
Law enforcement agencies are actively conducting investigations to apprehend individuals who share child sexual abuse material through peer-to-peer networks. Additionally, they are carrying out undercover operations to target individuals attempting to engage in sexual acts with children.
In our proactive investigations, we actively pursue cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that pertain to the possession, distribution, or production of CSAM.
The GBI collaborated with several local agencies in Operation Byte Down. These agencies include the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, and Helen Police Department.
If you come across any incidents of child exploitation, please reach out to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870. Alternatively, you can report it through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org.
You can also submit anonymous tips by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visiting the website https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.