23 arrested in Gwinnett County online child sex sting
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County authorities arrested 23 men in an online child sex sting, according to a statement GBI released Monday. The arrests were made over a five-day period.
The men, ranging in age from 19 to 48, traveled from areas around metro Atlanta with the intent to meet a child for sex, the statement said.
"The arrangements were made for a meeting point in Gwinnett County. They all thought that they were going to meet with a minor. Once they arrived, they were taken into custody. It was very clear that these men knew that they were setting out to have sex with minors absolutely no doubt," said GBI spokesman Bahan Rich.
One of the men arrested, 24-year-old Edward Harold Ramsey, is a member of the United States Air Force. The other professions included electrician, construction worker, retail employee, mechanic, hotel employee, janitor, and some were unemployed.
The men were all charged with computer or electronic pornography and child exploitation. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
Rich said investigations will continue into the background of all of the men to determine if there's any prior history of this type of behavior.
"I would say, historically, this is not the first time someone has done something like this," Richard said Monday at GBI headquarters in DeKalb County.
The following were arrested and charged in Gwinnett County as part of “Operation Spring Cleaning”:
- 1. Scott Robert Baxter, W/M, Tucker, GA, 34 years of age, retail employee
- 2. Andrew Sean Carroll, W/M, Dacula, GA, 19 years of age, grounds maintenance
- 3. Brian Dwayne Clark, W/M, Winder, GA, 41years of age, mechanic
- 4. Alisha Gagguturu, I/M, Suwanee, GA, 23 years of age, unknown
- 5. Connor Fionn Hale, W/M, Lawrenceville, GA, 23 years of age, unemployed
- 6. Demetrius Deshawn Harper, B/M, Lawrenceville, GA, 22 years of age, automotive technician
- 7. Joel Blake Jackson, W/M, from Braselton, GA, 22 years of age, gas station attendant
- 8. Rasesh Jagtap, I/M, Alpharetta, GA, 33 years of age, information technology specialist
- 9. Akshat Jasra, I/M, Alpharetta, GA, 35 years of age, software consultant
- 10. David Kelley, B/M, College Park, GA, 22 years of age, model display builder
- 11. Steven Anthony King, B/M, Clarksville, GA, 26 years of age, warehouse employee
- 12. Horacio Mendoza, H/M, Lawrenceville, GA, 48 years of age, construction worker
- 13. Andrew Ryan Murphy, W/M, Norcross, GA, 22 years of age, janitor
- 14. Max Park, A/M, Suwanee, GA, 37 years of age, unemployed
- 15. Edward Harold Ramsey, B/M, Wichita, KS, 24 years of age, USAF
- 16. Melchior Simon, B/M, Duluth, GA, 28 years of age, unemployed
- 17. Martinez-Torres Sixto , H/M, from Norcross, GA, 30 years of age, electrician
- 18. Brett William Smith, Jr., W/M, 35 years of age, floor installer
- 19. Zadok Smith, B/M, Duluth, GA, 27 years of age, furniture assembler
- 20. James Evan Soggs, W/M, Sandy Springs, GA, 20 years of age, warehouse employee
- 21. Adis Spahic, W/M, from Lawrenceville, GA, 40 years of age, warehouse manager
- 22. Ertiza Talukder, I/M, Lawrenceville, GA, 23 years of age, hotel employee
- 23. William David Warren, W/M, Winder, GA, 41 years of age, shop foreman