COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Eight men from the Midlands are facing charges after an undercover online operation on social media conducted by several law enforcement divisions, including Irmo Police.
According to officials, investigators posed as either a child or an adult with access to children. During the operation, multiple suspected predators not only contacted them but also revealed what law enforcement said was, ‘harmful intentions‘.
When the law enforcement officers moved beyond online communication and arranged in-person meetings to engage in sexual activity with those they believed to be children, officers, the suspects were met by law enforcement instead.
“The importance of proactive Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operations cannot be overstated,” said Irmo Chief Bobby Dale. “The safety of our children and the integrity of our community depend on our ability to stay one step ahead of those who seek to harm our most vulnerable members. We are sending a CLEAR message: If you seek to harm our children, we will find you and you will be held accountable.”
The operation included participation from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s (SLED) SWAT Team; Lexington Police Department; Charleston County Sheriff’s Office; Anderson County Sheriff’s Office; South Carolina Department of Corrections; United States Army Criminal Investigations Division; United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Secret Service.
The eight arrested are:
- Brittain Cody Ratliff, 25 of Lexington, SC was charged with Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree and Criminal Solicitation of a Minor
- Joshua Robert McCullough, 29 of West Columbia, SC was charged with Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree and Criminal Solicitation of a Minor
- Jose Hermilo Gonzales Moreno, 49 of Newberry SC was charged with Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree, Criminal Solicitation of a Minor and had an ICE Detainer
- Timothy Bernard Woods, 53 of Lugoff, SC was charged with Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree and Criminal Solicitation of a Minor
- Drasan Lee King, 28 of Woodruff, SC was charged with Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree, Criminal Solicitation of a Minor, Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Reckless Driving, Disregarding Traffic Control Device, Open Container and Littering
- Phillip Scott Westmoreland, 44 of Winnsboro, SC was charged with Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2nd Degree, Criminal Solicitation of a Minor (2 Counts), Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree and Unlawful Dissemination of Obscene Material to Persons Under 18 (2 Counts)
- Thomas Michael Raimondi, Jr., 59 of Aiken, SC was charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree, Criminal Solicitation of a Minor and Unlawful Dissemination of Obscene Material to Persons Under 18 (2 Counts)
- Jason Adam Wilson, 34 of Anderson, SC was charged with Criminal Solicitation of a Minor, Unlawful Dissemination of Obscene Material to Persons Under 18. He was also wanted by South Carolina Probation, Pardon and Parole.
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