As part of a special operation designed to identify and apprehend scammers and child predators, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office has made six arrests in the past week. Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says partnering with Trilogy Media, Inc., an organization dedicated to alerting the public about scams and shedding light on scammers through video observation and recording, as well as assisting law enforcement with investigations and apprehensions, the sheriff’s office made three arrests relating to scamming activities and three involving sexual predators preying on children.
SCAMMER ARRESTS
The first scammer arrest happened last Wednesday when law enforcement learned a “money mule” was coming to a bait house in Mountain Home from Hardy to pick up $45,000 in cash from a decoy elderly male for a scammer. The money mule met with the undercover at a grocery store parking lot, and the hand-off of the package occurred. The money mule then left the area by vehicle, followed by law enforcement. A traffic stop was initiated on U.S. Highway 62/412 East and the occupant of the vehicle was identified as 73-year-old Patti Lynn Dunlap of Hardy.
Patti Lynn Dunlap
Dunlap told investigators she would be allowed to keep $10,000 of the $45,000 for herself in exchange for making the pick-up.
Dunlap is facing a felony charge of theft of property. She is being held in the Baxter County Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 cash bond.
The other two money mule scammers were arrested together the next day under similar circumstances. Both arrived at a pre-determined location, and the transaction was completed with a hand-over of a package from the decoy victim that purportedly contained $45,000 cash.
An investigator attempted to make an apprehension, but one of the suspects fled on foot and got into a vehicle being driven by his partner. The vehicle sped away, and the box was tossed out the window. A traffic stop was conducted nearby, and both the driver and passenger were taken into custody.
Jinbu Lin
They were identified as 47 year old Jinbu Lin of Brooklyn, New York and 34 year old Jiaming Yu, the driver of the vehicle, also of Brooklyn, New York.
Jiaming Yu
They were found to have over $4,000 in cash between the two of them. Approximately two grams of methamphetamine was found in the vehicle as well.
Jinbu Lin is facing felony charges of theft of property, possession of controlled substance and fleeing. He also has an
immigration detainer from the Department of Homeland Security/ICE. He is being held without bond due to the immigration detainer.
Jiaming Yu is also facing felony charges of theft of property, possession of controlled substance and fleeing. He also has an
immigration detainer from the Department of Homeland Security/ICE. He is being held without bond due to the immigration detainer.
CHILD PREDATOR ARRESTS
Christopher Dyson
Also last Thursday, a Gassville area man, 44-year-old Christopher Dyson, was arrested after investigators learned he had initiated contact with a decoy victim who was posing as a 14 year old boy on online platforms. Dyson expressed interest in meeting with the purported minor at a local hotel for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Dyson transmitted photographic images of his face and private area to the purported minor.
Surveillance was set up at a Mountain Home hotel where the meeting was set to occur. Dyson went to the designated room at the hotel and was met there by officers and taken into custody.
Dyson is facing a felony charge of internet stalking of a child. He is free after posting $25,000.
On Friday, two more men were arrested for similar activities.
Brady Dale Terry
40-year-old Brady Dale Terry of rural Mountain Home engaged in online contact with a decoy posing as a 14 year old girl. Terry expressed his desire to have sexual contact with the purported minor and arranged to meet with her.
When he arrived at the meeting location, he was greeted by officers who took him into custody.
Terry is charged with a felony count of internet stalking of a child. He is free after posting $25,000 bond.
Travis Lewis Dollins
Also on Friday, 29-year-old Travis Lewis Dollins of Yellville engaged with online contact with a decoy victim posing as a 14 year old girl. He stated his intent to engage in sexual contact with the minor and made arrangements to meet at the bait house.
Upon his arrival, he was confronted by officers and taken into custody.
Dollins is charged with a felony count of internet stalking of a child. He remains in the Baxter County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond.
During the week long operation, it was known that other money mule scammers were in the Mountain Home area but no further encounters were able to be finalized or arranged.
Sheriff Montgomery says Trilogy Media partnered with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Home Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations for this operation, with assistance also provided by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Sharp County Sheriff’s Office. He says Local law enforcement will continue working together to detect and apprehend scammers and those preying on children.
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